Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
time for herself. The children were fine. They had seen Paul several times.
He helped them dig their new well.
“Let’s take our coffee outside and sit under that apple tree,” Miriam said.
Michael was chopping wood. Angel called out, asking if he wanted coffee,
but he called back no.
“Mama’s in a family way,” Miriam said as they made themselves comfortable
in the shade. “She always blooms when a baby’s coming.”
“How’s your father taking it?” Angel asked, thinking of her own.
“Oh, he’s very smug,” Miriam said. She smiled impishly. “Are you and
Michael working on a family?”
The question sent a sharp pang through Angel. She shrugged and looked
away.
Miriam took Angel’s hand. “Why did you leave? We were all so worried.”
“I can’t explain,” Angel said.
“Can’t or won’t? Do you even know the reason yourself?”
“Partly.” She wouldn’t explain further. How could she and make this
naive girl understand? She was so open, so free. Angel wished she could be
like her.
“We never told Ruthie,” Miriam said. “We just said you and Michael were
very busy and we couldn’t come for a while.”
“Thank you,” Angel said. She watched Michael stacking firewood, her
heart aching.
Miriam smiled. “You’re terribly in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Terribly. I’m consumed with it. Sometimes he only has to look at me—”
She stopped, realizing she was speaking her most private thoughts aloud.
Miriam looked at her. “Isn’t that as it should be?”
“I don’t know. Is it?”
“I hope so,” Miriam said dreamily. “Oh, I really hope so.”
Miriam brought Ruth the next time. Angel left her gardening when she
saw the child racing down the flower-strewn hillside. Dashing the dirt from
her hands, she came through the gate and took a couple of running steps to
meet the child.
“Mandy! Mandy!” Ruthie cried joyously, and Angel swept her up in her
arms and hugged her.
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