A Promise for Ellie (8 page)

“Yes, I believe so too.”

While Goodie finished packing the baskets, Ingeborg took the chickens in the roaster from the oven and tied a dish towel across the lid to keep it in place. “There, I think that is everything.”

“There will be plenty of food. Always is. I feel bad not bringing anything.”

“Coming on the train like that? I think not. You get to be the guests this time.”

Astrid and Rachel charged in the door. “We’ll start carrying things out.”

“Be careful you don’t spill on your dress.”

Astrid glanced down, and a smile made her eyes twinkle. “Not when we sat hemming it half the night.” The blue-and-white dotted Swiss draped from gathers at her waist, a deep ruffle around the bottom skimming her ankles in the newer, shorter style. The ruffle had made for a lot of hemming. A matching bow at the waist and the one in her hair proclaimed her still a girl, but one right on the verge of womanhood. At fifteen, Astrid was unaware of her charm, but Haakan had noted how she caught the gazes of males of all ages. Young Abner had blushed when he’d seen her at the train station one day.

Haakan rushed in now as they put the last basket in place. “Sorry I’m late. I’ll be ready in a moment.”

Ingeborg followed him to the bedroom. “What happened?”

“The sow is farrowing. I’m so used to Andrew taking care of the sows, I almost forgot to check on her. I put the babies under the bar in the corner. She’d already lain on one.” Haakan changed clothes as he talked. “Don’t tell Andrew, or he might just come home to take care of her.”

“How many does she have?”

“Six live. I think she’ll have more. But I can’t miss Andrew’s graduation.”

Ingeborg handed him his tie and, taking his coat off the hanger, brushed the shoulders and gave it a shake before holding it for him to put his arms in. “Astrid can drive the team while you tie your shoes and put on your tie.”

He grabbed his fedora from the peg as they went out the door.

Haakan let Astrid drive the team all the way, nodding to her smiles at him. “You’re doing just fine. I’ll sit here and enjoy the ride.”

“Your shirt isn’t buttoned right.”

He glanced down. “You’re right. Thanks for telling me. We wouldn’t want your mor embarrassed that her husband wasn’t dressed right.”

“I heard that,” Ingeborg called from the back.

Astrid giggled and smiled again at her pa. They were often coconspirators in teasing Ingeborg.

It was a good thing that pews had been saved for the families of the graduates, or they would have all been standing against the walls like some of the others. As they came down the aisle, Lars pointed out their pew across the aisle from where Kaaren and the rest of his family sat. Two of the students from the deaf school were graduating, and since their families couldn’t, or didn’t, come, Kaaren stood in for them, as she had for many others.

Ingeborg patted her sister-in-law’s shoulder when she passed by her. After all they’d been through together, from the beginning of the trip from Norway until now, the two were closer than sisters, especially after both their husbands died in the same terrible winter.

As soon as everyone settled, Pastor Solberg took his place in the front of the congregation and, with a broad smile, announced, “Welcome to the graduation for our fine young men and women in this year of our Lord, a new century, nineteen hundred.” He nodded, and the pianist crashed into the opening chords of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Everyone turned to see the first two, Ellie and Andrew, step through the doors, each carrying the Bible they’d been given at confirmation. Deborah MacCallister and Abner Thorensen brought up the rear. Eight students this year, the largest graduating class of Blessing School. As they marched to the front row, the first two went to the left, the next to the right, and at the final chord they sat as one.

Ingeborg sniffed. Her second son was graduating. Thorliff, sitting in the row behind them, laid a hand on her shoulder. He leaned forward to whisper, “You did well, Mor. He is a young man to be proud of.”

Ingeborg patted his hand and let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Andrew looked nervous, but the frown had been left at home.

“We are gathered here today to bestow graduation honors on eight fine young men and women. They have all studied hard, learned things they were not sure were necessary . . .”

A titter danced along the rows of those in attendance, from the graduates and from those who’d encouraged them.

How many times did I hear that, I wonder?
Ingeborg wanted to pat Andrew’s shoulder, but she refrained. She glanced at Astrid, who had no compunction about poking her brother in the back. Andrew sat straighter.

“. . . and discovered new worlds through their reading and discussions. The Bible says to train up our children in the way they should go, and they will not depart from it. I say to you that even if they depart for a time, although we pray they won’t, God will not let them go. He has promised that His own will not be lost.”

A shiver ran up Ingeborg’s back. She tucked her hand under Haakan’s arm, needing the feel of his strength beside her. He laid his other hand over her fingers and squeezed.
Thank you, Lord, for this
man you have given me and for all those gathered here
.

“Let us pray.” Pastor Solberg waited for silence and continued, “Heavenly Father, we come to honor these young people, your children, and to ask your blessings on all of us as we grow in grace and learn to walk in your ways and remain in your will. Be with us now as we are gathered in your name. Amen.”

He looked up and smiled across the room. “I have asked each of our young people to share with us a Scripture that they feel God has given them for this moment in their lives. Andrew, we’ll begin with you. . . .”

After all eight of the graduates had shared their verses, Pastor Solberg returned to the podium. “I have invited a former graduate to bring us a message today. Thorliff Bjorklund will share some words of wisdom he has learned in his years at college and while working in the newspaper world. Thorliff?”

Ingeborg thought she might burst with joy.While she knew pride was a sin, she couldn’t help the tears and didn’t try to stanch them.

Thorliff smiled at each of those in the front row. He’d filled out in the years since he left home to attend St. Olaf College in Minnesota. His blond hair had darkened because he no longer worked out in the fields. Instead, he published a biweekly newspaper, the
Blessing
Gazette,
and wrote as a stringer for several others, including the
Northfield News,
where he’d learned his trade.

“Graduates, families, friends, and neighbors, I thank you for this honor and privilege. If someone had told me when I was sitting where you are”—he smiled at those in the front row—“that these years would fly by so swiftly, I would have perhaps laughed. After all, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go on to college, I wanted to write, and I dreamed of marriage to a fine young woman.”

Ingeborg knew he meant Anji Baard, now Moen, who had been his sweetheart for his last year before college and a good friend since they were young. But that had not been in God’s plan, it seemed.
Perhaps that is why Andrew wants to marry now, in case something happens
as it did with his brother
. That thought made her want to say something to Haakan, but she kept still. He was right. Both Andrew and Ellie were young and would have many years together. The wait was not for long. She brought herself back to listen to Thorliff, know- ing she’d missed something. Sometimes her mind just took off without her permission, and she’d know she missed something or forgot something, and the thought would drive her crazy.

“I believe it is important that we have dreams and plans, and if we are reading God’s Word and searching for His will, He gives us dreams to follow. Our dreams become plans, and when we work hard at them, our plans can come to pass. But perhaps not all of them. When we pray ‘Thy will be done,’ we are stating that we believe God’s will should supersede our own. We must trust that His will is perfect. He has a plan for you, a plan ‘for good and not for evil.’ As children we sang the song ‘Trust and Obey.’ Trusting and obeying are not always easy. In fact, there will be times in your lives when those two will be the hardest things you will ever do. Trust and obey.” He looked each graduate in the eyes. “Trust and obey God, and I promise you that He will fulfill His part. I know He did and is still doing so for me, for my family, and for each of us. His grace is sufficient. It is new every morning. May God bless your dreams and plans and keep you until the day He comes again.”

He sat down to the applause and more than a few tears from the congregation.

Ingeborg clung to Haakan’s hand. Plans, so many plans they’d had, and God had blessed them in ways beyond measure. Not all exactly when they wanted, but . . . Another thought popped into her head. Some He ignored or changed, like her desire for more children. She and Haakan had had no more children after Astrid. She’d wanted lots of children, but that dream had been denied. While she’d quit asking why and most of the time was content, the loss was there. But now she would be having children in a new way. Grandchildren. And the first would be coming at any time. Elizabeth and Thorliff would have a baby, and she would be there to assist that baby into this world.
Thank you, Father
.

She brought herself back to the moment and saw that Pastor Solberg was again at the podium.

“And now, as I call your name, please come forward for your diploma. Andrew Bjorklund.”

Andrew stood and walked up to Pastor Solberg. Taller than his father and Thorliff, with squared shoulders and an easy confidence, Andrew wore the suit his mother had made for him for this day. He took his ribbon-tied diploma, along with the envelope containing Mr. Gould’s gift of a hundred dollars, and shook the pastor’s hand.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Go with God, Mr. Bjorklund.”

“I will.” As he returned to his seat, the next name was called and the next until Pastor Solberg said, “Ellie Wold.”

Ingeborg heard Goodie sniff when her daughter stood and walked to the podium. Ellie glowed like the sun shone just on her. Her smile brought an answering one from Pastor Solberg. “Thank you for letting me be part of this celebration.”

“You are so welcome. Go with God.”

“I will.” Her sweet voice carried to the corners of the room. Her eyes sparkled with tears as she made her way back to her seat.

The ceremony closed with the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” and Pastor Solberg’s benediction. The graduates lined up at the door so they could accept the congratulations from all those congregated.

“I’m so proud of you,” Ingeborg whispered, hugging her son.

“Thank you, Mor. You didn’t cry too much, huh?”

“No. I did well.” She hugged Ellie. “You looked so beautiful up there. Your ma nearly melted into a puddle.”

“I did not,” Goodie protested and dabbed at her eyes again.

Inside the schoolhouse the food was set up on tables, and outside, tables draped with cloth waited for the people to sit and enjoy themselves. Small children played tag among the groups of adults, and the older boys gathered in one group, eyeing the girls gathered in another.

At Pastor’s instructions they sang the grace, and lines formed for folks to help themselves to the bounty spread in celebration of the graduates.

“Hey, Prince Andrew, thought you was goin’ to announce the big wedding.” Toby Valders looked up at Andrew. While the smile said this was friendly, the eyes held no warmth.

“That’s none of your business.” Andrew smiled too, but the curt tone didn’t.

“Now, ain’t that a shame.” Toby shrugged and narrowed his eyes. “Maybe everything in life ain’t going your way all the time.”

Andrew clenched his fists but stepped back when Ellie laid a hand on his arm.

“Thank you, Toby. I know you wish us the best.” Ellie smiled from one man to the other.

“ ’Course I do.”

“Toby?” Grace stopped beside him. “I was hoping you would sit with Sophie and me.”

“Ah . . . well, thank you, but I—”

“Oh, come on.” Grace had learned to talk in spite of her deafness, but her fingers formed the signs as she spoke.

“All right.”

Ingeborg caught her breath. Toby was blushing. Was something going on here? No, of course not. Grace was just being Grace, the peacemaker of the family. But still . . .

“A
NDREW, DON’T LET TOBY
get under your skin like that.”

“I try not to, Ellie. I really do.” He shook his head slowly from side to side, as if his head were too heavy to hold up. Or something were too heavy to hold up.

“I know.”

“No, you were gone the last year he was in school. We chopped enough wood to power the Great Northern from coast to coast. But he wouldn’t leave off pestering the weaker ones, and it made me so mad.”

“And you’d hit him, and he’d yell and bleed, and you’d both be out chopping wood. There must be another way.”

“Well, if you can figure it out, you let me know. I’ll tell you one thing—if he ever gets any idea about Gracie, I’ll beat him into the ground.” Andrew glared over at his cousin still talking to Toby. “Why is she so good to him? He used to tease her too.”