he paused before the amen. “And, Lord, give our son a calm spirit this day as he prepares to give his speech. We all know he will do a fine job, now please calm him inside and out.” He raised his gaze to wink at his son. “Amen.”
Never had Thorliff spoken a more heartfelt amen.
“Thorliff, you are handsome.” Astrid stared openmouthed at her big brother, dressed now in his new brown tweed suit, sewn with love by his mother, grandmother, and aunt Kaaren.
He could feel his ears flaming at her unabashed delight. “Mange tusen takk.” He resisted the urge to pull at the neck of his new white shirt or loosen the knot in his tie. This was a day of firsts for all kinds of things. A new suit, a new tie, and even new boots that shone with all the polish Haakan could apply. And it would be the first time he would have his photograph taken. Pastor Solberg had said that Uncle Hjelmer had arranged for a photographer to come from Grand Forks to take pictures of the graduating class, since this was the first for Blessing School.
Instead of running across the prairie as was his wont, Thorliff rode in the wagon with his family.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw Anji waiting with the others by the front door of the church. A vision in a daisy-sprigged white dress trimmed with a yellow sash, she smiled nervously when he approached.
“You . . . you are . . . are . . .” He stopped to clear his throat. He who could cover a page with words so effortlessly—where had they all gone now when he needed them? She touched a hand to her throat where a cameo hung on a yellow silk ribbon.
He still hadn’t found his vocal cords by the time they filed into the church to sit in the front row. His heart pounded so loud he was sure Pastor could hear it clear up by the altar.
CHAPTER SIX
The Sunday morning service proceeded as usual with the opening hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” All Thorliff could think about was the beautiful young woman beside him who kept giving him questioning glances when his voice continued cracking instead of rising strong on the familiar words.
Before the closing prayer, Pastor Solberg waited for the shuffling to cease. “And, Father God, we beseech thee to send rain in the right amounts this year. We confess to our fear of another drought and thank thee for thy great mercy in seeing us through the last one. Now to Him be all glory and honor as we praise His holy name. Amen.” Pastor Solberg looked over his congregation. “As you all know, we will be having dinner together first, and then we will celebrate the graduation of four young people from our school. I invite all of you to attend and help these fine members of our congregation celebrate this large milestone in their lives.” He smiled at the four in the front pew. “And now”—he paused and raised both hands—“the Lord bless and keep thee, the Lord make his face to shine upon thee . . .”
So often the words were just for closing the service, but today they smote deep into Thorliff ’s mind and soul. Every Sunday around the world those words were spoken and had been for centuries. And they would continue just as there always would be young people graduating from school and going on with their lives.
He glanced at Anji, who apparently feeling his attention, turned to smile at him. That, too, felt like a benediction, a blessing. He smiled back, wishing he dared take her hand. He could get lost in Anji’s smile. His throat clogged, and the backs of his eyes burned. He looked forward again and commanded himself to take deep breaths. Together they stood for the closing hymn, each holding half of the hymnbook. His voice cracked on the first notes, so he swallowed and tried again, harmonizing as naturally as she did.
If life could get any better than right this moment, he was hard put to think what it might be.
Sometime later Pastor called everyone back inside the church. “We are gathered again now to honor these young people of
Never had Thorliff spoken a more heartfelt amen.
“Thorliff, you are handsome.” Astrid stared openmouthed at her big brother, dressed now in his new brown tweed suit, sewn with love by his mother, grandmother, and aunt Kaaren.
He could feel his ears flaming at her unabashed delight. “Mange tusen takk.” He resisted the urge to pull at the neck of his new white shirt or loosen the knot in his tie. This was a day of firsts for all kinds of things. A new suit, a new tie, and even new boots that shone with all the polish Haakan could apply. And it would be the first time he would have his photograph taken. Pastor Solberg had said that Uncle Hjelmer had arranged for a photographer to come from Grand Forks to take pictures of the graduating class, since this was the first for Blessing School.
Instead of running across the prairie as was his wont, Thorliff rode in the wagon with his family.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw Anji waiting with the others by the front door of the church. A vision in a daisy-sprigged white dress trimmed with a yellow sash, she smiled nervously when he approached.
“You . . . you are . . . are . . .” He stopped to clear his throat. He who could cover a page with words so effortlessly—where had they all gone now when he needed them? She touched a hand to her throat where a cameo hung on a yellow silk ribbon.
He still hadn’t found his vocal cords by the time they filed into the church to sit in the front row. His heart pounded so loud he was sure Pastor could hear it clear up by the altar.
CHAPTER SIX
The Sunday morning service proceeded as usual with the opening hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” All Thorliff could think about was the beautiful young woman beside him who kept giving him questioning glances when his voice continued cracking instead of rising strong on the familiar words.
Before the closing prayer, Pastor Solberg waited for the shuffling to cease. “And, Father God, we beseech thee to send rain in the right amounts this year. We confess to our fear of another drought and thank thee for thy great mercy in seeing us through the last one. Now to Him be all glory and honor as we praise His holy name. Amen.” Pastor Solberg looked over his congregation. “As you all know, we will be having dinner together first, and then we will celebrate the graduation of four young people from our school. I invite all of you to attend and help these fine members of our congregation celebrate this large milestone in their lives.” He smiled at the four in the front pew. “And now”—he paused and raised both hands—“the Lord bless and keep thee, the Lord make his face to shine upon thee . . .”
So often the words were just for closing the service, but today they smote deep into Thorliff ’s mind and soul. Every Sunday around the world those words were spoken and had been for centuries. And they would continue just as there always would be young people graduating from school and going on with their lives.
He glanced at Anji, who apparently feeling his attention, turned to smile at him. That, too, felt like a benediction, a blessing. He smiled back, wishing he dared take her hand. He could get lost in Anji’s smile. His throat clogged, and the backs of his eyes burned. He looked forward again and commanded himself to take deep breaths. Together they stood for the closing hymn, each holding half of the hymnbook. His voice cracked on the first notes, so he swallowed and tried again, harmonizing as naturally as she did.
If life could get any better than right this moment, he was hard put to think what it might be.
Sometime later Pastor called everyone back inside the church. “We are gathered again now to honor these young people of
Similar Books
