by Riker, Becky
“Finn,” she looked up at him, tears in her eyes, “you brought her home.”
He would admit to not knowing his wife as well as he should, but it appeared Naomi was actually happy about that. He could not have predicted that.
“Hello,” she spoke to the little person just waking, “how are you, dear? Will you come to me?”
The tiny child inched from her place on the seat and cautiously stepped forward into Naomi’s arms. Naomi lifted her up brought her into the sunlight to better look at her.
“Naomi,” Finn found his voice though it still sounded strange to his ears, “this is my . . .”
He could not finish the sentence.
Naomi did not appear to expect any more, “I think we will take dinner first. This one is probably hungry.”
Considering he may be in a dream, he followed his wife into the house.
“Mrs. Smythe,” Naomi spoke as soon as they entered, “I think we will have our dinner in the breakfast room. Ten minutes?”
The housekeeper nodded and left without question though she must have been mightily confused.
Naomi started toward the nearest powder room, but stopped suddenly, looking at her husband, “My dear, what is her name?”
He was sure he looked like an escapee from a madhouse, his mouth open and his brow furrowed in bewilderment.
Naomi chuckled and looked at the girl, “Can you tell me your name?”
The tiny pixie stuck a finger in her mouth and shook her head.
Naomi did not seem to be bothered by it. She simply stroked the golden curls and looked back to Finn, “It will have to be you, my love, though it seems you have lost your tongue.”
“It, it’s Eloise,” he stuttered out the name. “Her name is Eloise.”
Naomi brushed her hand across her husband’s face before returning her attention to the little person, “Shall we go cleanup for supper, Eloise?”
The finger did not leave her mouth, but she nodded.
Dinner was eaten with little conversation between the adults. Mostly, Naomi was focused on getting a response from the child next to her. By the end of the meal, she had coaxed a handful of words from the little girl.
Finn needed to speak to his wife. He thought it was probably best to have that conversation without the child, but he was willing to go that route if necessary. He was not, however, willing to converse with Naomi on the subject of the little girl while there were servants about. He planned to go to the parlor immediately after the meal was finished.
“Regina,” Naomi turned to a maid Finn did not know, “do you know where Missy is?”
“Yes, ma’am. She is taking her meal in the kitchen right now.”
“Please tell her I would like to see her in the garden when she is finished.”
The maid curtseyed and left.
Frustration nipped at Finn. He was not going to be able to speak with his wife with maids and under gardeners about.
She set down her napkin and Finn hurried to assist her from her seat. Instead of picking the baby up, Naomi held out her hand and led the tot from the room.
“Naomi,” he spoke softly as he followed, “I would speak with you.”
She took his hand with her free one, “I should hope so, my love. There is much which we need to discuss.”
They passed through the doors and onto the paved walkway, “I’ll not have such a conversation out here.”
“Of course not,” she agreed. “Oh, there is Missy already.”
She pulled free of him and led the child to the maid, “Eloise, this is Missy. She is my personal maid and is a very nice girl.”
Finn wondered how Naomi would explain the child’s presence to the maid now.
“Missy, I would like you to watch Eloise for a time.”
Missy smiled at the task and crouched to the little girl’s level, “It is so nice to meet you, Eloise.”
Finn breathed a sigh of relief when no questions were forthcoming. Naomi turned to her husband as if awaiting direction.
He offered her his arm, “Shall we take a turn about the pond?”
She nodded.
“I suppose you know who that child is,” he began as soon as they were far enough away that there was no danger of being overheard.
“Yes, but how have you come to have her?”
“Her grandparents were killed in a carriage accident as they travelled to Ireland.”
Naomi gasped, “Was she not with them at the time?”
“She had already gone up with the uncle.”
“And the aunt and uncle?”
“No longer want her,” he knew his voice conveyed his disgust in the matter. “They were apparently taking her because they assumed they would increase their chance of a greater inheritance from the child’s grandfather.”
Naomi scowled.
“They sent her back to the woman’s husband, and he brought her to me.”
Naomi squeezed his arm.
“I am sorry,” he brought her to a stop and looked down at her. “I am so sorry, but I could not leave her.”
He felt tears threatening; he could taste them in the back of his throat.
“Naomi,” he needed to make her understand, “he was going to bring her to the children’s home if I would not take her. I am sorry.”
She put her hands on his cheeks and brushed at a tear with her thumb, “Sorry for what?”
“I couldn’t let him take her there,” he was not making himself clear, apparently.
“Certainly not,” she looked annoyed at the thought.
“Naomi, my love,” he had to make her understand, “we have to keep her. There is no other place for her to go.”
“I know that, Finn.”
He stepped back, “You know?”
“I wanted her from the moment you told me she existed.”
His eyes widened; he stumbled backward.
“She is a part of you.”
Finn felt the strength leave his legs. He moved to sit down on a nearby log, but he ended up on the ground next to it instead.
“Are you hurt?” she laughed as she knelt beside him.
He ignored the question, “How are you not furious? Or humiliated at the thought?”
“It occasionally gives me pain that I am not the only woman you have. . .”
He waved a hand in irritated dismissal.
“But I am not so petty that I would take that out on a child, Finn. We can raise this child as one of ours. I need not share her blood to do so.”
“What will we tell people?”
She shrugged, “Whatever you wish. We can say we have adopted her,” she started but then looked wide-eyed at him, “you have begun a process to make sure nobody takes her away from us?”
He nodded, “I have sent word to Perdue, my solicitor. He will take care of the details.”
She sighed in relief
“There is no danger of anyone taking her, however. Nobody wants her.”
“Except us,” Naomi reminded him. “We want her.”
Finn leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, “I am so lucky to have you.”
She draped her arms over his shoulders, “We are blessed, my love.”
He agreed just before his lips captured hers.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Naomi had no problem losing herself in her husband’s embrace, but they were, after all, outside.
“Finn,” she pulled away with a laugh.
He groaned, “I know.”
She rose first and dusted herself off. He followed suit immediately.
“Did you resolve what you went to town for?” she dared broach the subject as they continued their walk. “Or was this the issue?”
“No,” Finn blew out a puff of irritation. “That was regarding my brother.”
Finn then relayed all that had occurred with Rowan since their father’s death. It was almost too much for Naomi to take in. She was aware of the gambling, but she hadn’t realized about the poor managem
ent of the estates.
Something was not adding up.
“But how was your mother controlling your inheritance if it was passed on to you because of an entail?”
“She wasn’t,” he scowled. “I have had full control of all that was my father’s since his death.”
“You said she was forcing you to marry.”
He nodded, “She was still in control of my brother’s property.”
“Why did that matter to you?”
Finn helped her step over a puddle, “I bought a piece of land on the Isle of Wight.”
“The piece that your father sold to Mr. Shelser?”
He looked surprised at her understanding of the matter.
“I put the puzzle together myself,” she explained without being asked.
“There were some conditions connected to that first sale that made my purchase of it rather precarious. My mother was the only one with the ability to press the matter.”
Naomi stopped walking and frowned up at him, “You married for a piece of land?”
He didn’t answer.
“For one piece of land?”
He nodded, “There was also the condition that she would relinquish her hold on my brother’s estate.”
That surprised her, “Why would you bother?”
“I was under the foolish assumption that if he had complete control over his own finances, he would behave more responsibly.”
Naomi wondered if Rowan had any idea what his brother had done for him.
“After I married, thereby ensuring I would provide an heir to my father’s estate, she signed the island property to me and her father’s estate over to Rowan.”
“But it did no good.”
He shrugged.
“I am sorry I was not more understanding of what you were going through.”
He pulled her to himself with a laugh, “No woman could be more understanding than you.”
She rested her head against his chest.
“I talked with George last night.”
She left her cheek against his chest where she could hear his heartbeat.
“We talked about Jesus again.”
She was silent.
“I believed on Him last night, Naomi.”
Did she dare believe her ears?
“You are such an example of a godly woman, and I could see the change in you since you believed..”
Her throat closed up, and she could not speak.
“I love you,” he pressed a kiss to her hair.
She pulled away, wishing for a handkerchief. Finn must have been expecting it because he pulled one from his pocket.
They rounded the pond and saw that Missy was still playing in the garden with Eloise.
“We should get to know our daughter, Finn,” she forced herself to speak slowly.
He nodded, “She seems a compliant child, but I have never spent much time with children.”
Naomi would have assumed as much.
"There is no time like the present to begin learning.”
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
“He has the most marvelous little legs,” Tessa cooed over her nephew as the ladies sat with the children on the lawn. “So fat and soft.”
“I hope you are speaking of your son,” a deep voice heralded the men’s return, “and not of your husband.”
Naomi looked up at her husband, “He was actually speaking of your son, dear.”
Tessa poked at little George’s rolls, “Conrad’s legs were much thinner than that, even before he began crawling.”
The men sat down on the blanket next to their respective wives.
“Papa,” Eloise climbed instantly upon Finn’s lap, “is Grandmother coming down?”
“She will in a little bit. She is just finishing packing the food that Missy and Liz are taking in to the village.”
Eloise jumped up, “Can I help?”
Naomi rose, “I’ll take her in.”
Tessa watched her brother’s wife leave, “It is so amazing how Eloise has taken to mother.”
“More amazing,” Finn picked up his son, “is that mother can accept her.”
“Your wife has had quite an impact on our family,” Tessa eyed the man her brother had become.
“She would say it is Jesus, Tess.”
Nicholas spoke up, “She would be right.”
THE END
Cover art by Viola at www.estrellacoverart.com . Thanks for an awesome experience.
