Family of the Heart (24 page)

Clayton clenched his hands and cleared his throat. “That night Deborah told me the doctor had given her precautions, and I yielded. Her wish was granted. Though she grew weaker daily she lived to give birth to the baby conceived that night. Her heart stopped beating a few minutes later.

“To my shame, I could not look at the child. She was, to me, a living symbol of my guilt, my failure to uphold the deathbed vow I had made to my friend. I was consumed with that guilt. I lost sight of anything good and saw only the shame of my weakness. I blamed God for everything and turned away from him. My heart, my life, was full of darkness.”

Sarah had turned back to face him. The anger was gone, her eyes shimmered with tears.

“And then you came to Stony Point.”

She did not move, her expression did not change, but he could feel a sudden tension emanate from her.

He took a step closer. “I did not understand, Sarah. I was so consumed with my own ugliness I thought you were a punishment from God. A test of my will. I was drawn to you from the start, but I was determined that this time I would not fail—I would not give in to my feelings for you though they grew stronger every day. And then you told me you still loved your dead fiancé and wanted no other. I determined then my only course was to avoid you. And when you asked to go home, I let you go. It was the hardest thing I have ever done.”

She raised her hand, pressed the tips of her fingers against her lips.

To still an outcry? To protest his mention of her beloved? Clayton took another step toward the chair. “I have made so many mistakes, Sarah. But God in His mercy has forgiven me and set them right. All but the last. That is for me to do.”

He bent down and picked up the small chest he had polished until the wood gleamed, sat it on the chair cushion, opened it, unfolded the unfinished sampler and handed it to her. “God showed me the answer to why He sent you to Stony Point, Sarah. You hold it in your hand.” He took the last step that separated them as she read it. “You are my gift from God, Sarah. The light that brightened my darkness. I love you, Sarah, with all my heart and soul. Please forgive my foolishness, marry me and come home.”

Sarah blinked away tears, looked up. Flames burned in the dark-blue depths of Clayton’s eyes. Her knees buckled. She gave a little cry, dropped the sampler and grabbed for the chair back.

Clayton caught her. He lifted her up, drew her close against him and lowered his head. “I told you I would not let you fall.” His warm breath whispered across her skin. He brushed his mouth against hers. “I told you you are safe with me.”

Safe?
Calm, comfortable, serene safe?

Clayton’s arms tightened, his hand slid up and cupped the back of her head. His mouth claimed hers.

Sarah sighed, slipped her arms around his neck and answered his kiss, quite certain she would never be safe again.

T
he carriage climbed over the break of the hill and there it was, Stony Point. Her home. Every nerve in Sarah’s stomach fluttered to life. She leaned out and drank in the sight of the rectangular stone house, with its set-back kitchen ell, sitting square in the middle of the point of land that forced the road to curve. It was not large. And there was nothing ornate or fancy about it. Its solid wood-plank front door had deep gashes in it from Indian tomahawks. But it was her home, and she loved every inch of it.

Clayton squeezed her hand, smiled when she looked back at him. He reached up and cupped her cheek, leaned down and kissed her lips. “Welcome home, Mrs. Bainbridge.”

Sarah’s heart overflowed into her eyes and blurred her husband’s handsome face. He kissed the tip of her nose, then climbed from the carriage and offered her his hand. She placed hers in his, reveling in his touch, and stepped out of the carriage. He placed his arm about her shoulder, leaned down and opened the gate sandwiched between the two lamp-topped stone pillars that anchored the low stone walls enclosing the front yard.

Maaaa.

One of the sheep grazing on the lawn lifted its head and followed their progress up the slate walk. Sarah’s pulse quickened. Her new life was starting.

The front door opened. Sarah caught sight of a smiling Eldora standing in the opening, and then a small figure darted out of the dim interior onto the stoop.

“Nanny!” Nora held up her pudgy little arms and bounced up and down, beaming a smile that rivaled the sun overhead.

Sarah laughed through her tears, scooped the toddler into her arms and hugged and kissed her until Nora squealed.

“I misseded you, Nanny!”

“She is not your nanny, Nora.” Clayton wrapped his arms about them both and kissed Nora’s rosy cheek. “She is your mama.”

Mama. How wonderful that sounded. Sarah smiled up at her husband. He looked down at her, blue flames flickering in the depths of his dark-blue eyes, and her knees turned to water. Clayton’s strong arms stopped her from tumbling backward off the stoop. He lowered his head, covered her lips with his, and her heart melted. No. She would never be safe again.

1. Sarah Randolph, beloved daughter of wealthy parents, member of Philadelphia’s socially elite, takes a position as a nanny. What drove her to do such a thing? Do you think God had a hand in her decision?
   
2. Grief comes to everyone in this life. How did Sarah handle her grief? How do you feel about her decisions?
   
3. Elizabeth sees God’s hand in Sarah’s decision to become a nanny. And in the results of that decision. Do you agree or disagree with her views? Why?
   
4. Clayton Bainbridge also suffers from grief. What complicates his grief? Do you think it keeps him from healing? In what way? Do you feel the complication to his grief is a common one? How can people get beyond this complication?
   
5. Are there similarities in the ways Sarah and Clayton deal with their grief? What are they? Do you feel these are common reactions to the loss of loved ones? What common trait(s) of human failing do you see in Sarah and Clayton? How does this trait(s) affect their personal relationship with the Lord?
   
6. Sarah and Clayton are both blinded to the Lord’s goodness and love for them because of how they reacted to the things they suffered. How did the Lord open their eyes and hearts to the truth of His love?
   
7. What circumstances forced Clayton, Sarah and little Nora together? Do you believe God
   created
   those circumstances? Why? Or why not?
   
8. What had to happen in both Sarah’s and Clayton’s hearts before they could receive the blessings of healing and love God had for them?
   
9. Do you think Nora played a large part in the healing of both Clayton and Sarah? Do you think that was orchestrated by God? And if so, why is He able to use children?
   
10. Sarah and Clayton both got angry with God and stopped praying. What were the results?
    
11. Prayer, or the lack of prayer, plays an important role in the story. Do you believe the same is true in real life? What Scriptures can you think of to illustrate your belief?
    
12. Another aspect of Sarah’s and Clayton’s reluctance to enter into a relationship was the subject of loyalty to their departed loved ones. Do you believe, as they did, that it is betrayal of a departed fiancé or spouse to open your heart to another? Why? Or why not?
    
13. Harsh, hurtful things happen in this world, as they did in this story. Do you believe God uses such real-life events to draw people closer to Himself? Can you give an example?