for her daughter.
For a long time, God had seemed so far away, but in this humble pastor’s home, Sophie thought that the breath of the Lord’s presence came a little nearer. She dried her tears. The commotion in the kitchen pulled her out of her reverie as she heard Maggie greet her son, Philip.
A few minutes later, everyone made their way toward the dining room table. Once grace had been said, Sophie nibbled at a warm biscuit spread with honey. “Delicious biscuits. Would you mind giving me your recipe?”
“I’d be happy to give it to you though Esther may have it in her box of recipes … somewhere.” Maggie chuckled.
“Do I have to eat the peas?” Philip’s face crinkled with disgust.
“If you want to grow tall and strong, yes. Besides, I didn’t give you much. Eat them up.” She tsked at her son.
“Yes, Mama.” Philip’s bottom lip went out, and he pushed the peas around in his potatoes as though hoping to hide them.
“Once again, you’ve outdone yourself with this tasty dinner, Maggie.” A forkful of the smoky ham nearly hid Ian’s grin.
Sophie had to smile as the creamy mashed potatoes almost melted on her tongue. Being with the pastor’s little family nourished not just her body, but also her soul as the meal continued.
Once Caira had half eaten the food on her plate and squashed the rest, she rubbed her eyes and yawned. Sophie let her daughter down from her lap and untied the napkin from around the toddler’s neck.
“May I be excused?” Philip wiped his mouth with a crisp linen napkin. “I’ll play with Caira and show her some of my toys.”
“That’s a good boy now, but mind you don’t be too rough. Remember, she’s a lot smaller than you are.” Maggie’s stern look was a warning in itself. “And keep the marbles away from her. I don’t want her to swallow anything.”
“Yes, Mama.” The little red-haired boy grinned and revealed a space missing a baby tooth.
“He’s only six, but he thinks he’s older. He’s grown up more than a little boy should, since my husband died.” Maggie sighed as she watched after her son.
“I’m so sorry.” Sophie spoke barely above a whisper. She longed to say that she understood somewhat how such a loss might feel, yet the words wouldn’t form.
“Well, it’s been a whole year now. Nothing we can do about it, but accept it as the good Lord’s will.”
It grew quiet enough to hear the ticking of the mantel clock.
Reverend McCormick leaned back into his chair with both hands behind his neck. “How about some music?”
“Would you play something for us, Reverend McCormick?” Her heart did a little pitter-patter at the thought of hearing music once again. “That is, after I help Maggie clean up.”
“Actually, I was hoping that you would do us the honor.”
“Me?”
He sat up and folded his hands on the table. “I remember hearing someone say how they used to play the piano. I daresaythat your landlady’s pianoforte is hardly fit for Beethoven or Chopin. Sadly enough, that instrument has already seen better days.”
Sophie couldn’t contain the joy that bubbled up. Her fingers almost throbbed with the desire to touch a fine instrument again. She reached for the empty plates near her place and stacked them.
“You really don’t have to, Miss Biddle. You’re our special guest.” Ian tugged at the back of her chair and pulled it away from the table when she allowed him.
“But the sooner Maggie’s done, she can join us. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” She raised an eyebrow at him.
“All right then.” He lent a hand as well. A little while later, the last dish was dried and put back in place.
“Come, Miss Biddle, let me show you the piano I’ve been blessed with.” Ian offered his arm. Sophie placed her hand in the crook of his elbow ever so lightly.
“I inherited it along with my sister.”
“I think he only let Philip and me move in because we were bringing the piano.” Maggie
For a long time, God had seemed so far away, but in this humble pastor’s home, Sophie thought that the breath of the Lord’s presence came a little nearer. She dried her tears. The commotion in the kitchen pulled her out of her reverie as she heard Maggie greet her son, Philip.
A few minutes later, everyone made their way toward the dining room table. Once grace had been said, Sophie nibbled at a warm biscuit spread with honey. “Delicious biscuits. Would you mind giving me your recipe?”
“I’d be happy to give it to you though Esther may have it in her box of recipes … somewhere.” Maggie chuckled.
“Do I have to eat the peas?” Philip’s face crinkled with disgust.
“If you want to grow tall and strong, yes. Besides, I didn’t give you much. Eat them up.” She tsked at her son.
“Yes, Mama.” Philip’s bottom lip went out, and he pushed the peas around in his potatoes as though hoping to hide them.
“Once again, you’ve outdone yourself with this tasty dinner, Maggie.” A forkful of the smoky ham nearly hid Ian’s grin.
Sophie had to smile as the creamy mashed potatoes almost melted on her tongue. Being with the pastor’s little family nourished not just her body, but also her soul as the meal continued.
Once Caira had half eaten the food on her plate and squashed the rest, she rubbed her eyes and yawned. Sophie let her daughter down from her lap and untied the napkin from around the toddler’s neck.
“May I be excused?” Philip wiped his mouth with a crisp linen napkin. “I’ll play with Caira and show her some of my toys.”
“That’s a good boy now, but mind you don’t be too rough. Remember, she’s a lot smaller than you are.” Maggie’s stern look was a warning in itself. “And keep the marbles away from her. I don’t want her to swallow anything.”
“Yes, Mama.” The little red-haired boy grinned and revealed a space missing a baby tooth.
“He’s only six, but he thinks he’s older. He’s grown up more than a little boy should, since my husband died.” Maggie sighed as she watched after her son.
“I’m so sorry.” Sophie spoke barely above a whisper. She longed to say that she understood somewhat how such a loss might feel, yet the words wouldn’t form.
“Well, it’s been a whole year now. Nothing we can do about it, but accept it as the good Lord’s will.”
It grew quiet enough to hear the ticking of the mantel clock.
Reverend McCormick leaned back into his chair with both hands behind his neck. “How about some music?”
“Would you play something for us, Reverend McCormick?” Her heart did a little pitter-patter at the thought of hearing music once again. “That is, after I help Maggie clean up.”
“Actually, I was hoping that you would do us the honor.”
“Me?”
He sat up and folded his hands on the table. “I remember hearing someone say how they used to play the piano. I daresaythat your landlady’s pianoforte is hardly fit for Beethoven or Chopin. Sadly enough, that instrument has already seen better days.”
Sophie couldn’t contain the joy that bubbled up. Her fingers almost throbbed with the desire to touch a fine instrument again. She reached for the empty plates near her place and stacked them.
“You really don’t have to, Miss Biddle. You’re our special guest.” Ian tugged at the back of her chair and pulled it away from the table when she allowed him.
“But the sooner Maggie’s done, she can join us. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” She raised an eyebrow at him.
“All right then.” He lent a hand as well. A little while later, the last dish was dried and put back in place.
“Come, Miss Biddle, let me show you the piano I’ve been blessed with.” Ian offered his arm. Sophie placed her hand in the crook of his elbow ever so lightly.
“I inherited it along with my sister.”
“I think he only let Philip and me move in because we were bringing the piano.” Maggie
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