The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

each cheek, repeating words, Karlijna didn’t recognize.
    Karlijna’s confusion showed for Erich stepped forward and whispered in her ear, “ Elohim yevarekh otakh, ” he said, “God bless you.”
    After more commotion, the group entered the small house.
    “You must be hungry,” a woman spoke as she pulled a loaf of bread from a cupboard.
    “Maurice,” she spoke to a man standing nearby, “see if there is fish to be had.  We must have a feast tonight.”
    “Yes,” he nodded, “all our family has come together at last.”
    The woman turned back to her guests with a laugh, “That is a joke. Here there is always fish to be had.”
    The activity went on around Karlijna without her participation. At one point someone asked her name. She hoped she had given a coherent answer. Someone maneuvered her into a chair on the edge of the room and pressed a cup into her hands. She took a sip and realized it was a broth of some sort. She managed to drink almost half of it before setting it aside.
    “Karlijna where are you?” it was Mama’s voice.  Karlij na hadn’t seen Mama for weeks. How was it that Mama was calling her now?
    “I’m here, Mama, ” Karlijna tried to reply, but the words only came out in a whisper.
    “Karlijna, is that you?” this time, it was Veronike who spoke as the younger child rounded the corner of the building.  The four-year-old’s hair had grown back, with its beautiful curls.
    “Veronike,” Karlijna reached out her arms to her sister, “Veronike, you’re safe.”
    Veronike shook her head sadly, “You’re not Karlijna,” she backed away, “Karlijna has long hair.”
    “Veronike,” Karlijna cried out, “it is me.  I am Karlijna. They cut my hair just l ike they cut yours and Mama’s. Mine just hasn’t grown back yet.  Please, Veronike, come back.”
    But the child disappeared from view, callin g, “Karlijna, can you hear me? Karlijna.”
    “Karlijna?” the voice did not belong to Mama or Veronike, but it was vaguely familiar.
    “Karlijna,” the woman spoke again, “I think you should eat something.”
    Karlijna opened her eyes. Where was she? This was not home, nor even the camp, nor any of the other places she had seen in the past two months.
    “Karlijna,” Regina clasped her hand, “you’ve been asleep for hours. I think you should try to eat something.”
    Karlijna sat up, realizing that she was now in a different room, lying on a mat. It was not much, but it was not bug infested or moldy, and it did not smell like feces or death. It was the nicest place she had lain in months.
    She took the plate handed her, knowing she would not be able to eat all that was in front of her – it was more food than all she had consumed in the past week .
    “Karlijna,” Regina waited only until Karlijna put some food into her mouth to begin speaking, “Is anyone expecting you here in Sweden?”
    Karlijna shook her head, her chewing slowing.
    “Are you. . .that is, do you. . . ?” the woman did not finish her question, but Karlijna understood her.
    She swallowed and shook her head, “I am almost certain I have no family left, Regina.”
    Regina looked as though she wanted to ask more, but closed her mouth and touched the plate, “Eat up, Karlijna , and then see if you can sleep some more. We will talk more tomorrow.”
    Karlijna did as she was told, surprising herself by eating the majority of the meal.  After she returned her plate to the kitchen, thanking the middle-aged woman who stood cleaning at the sink, she lay down again on the mat and fell promptly to sleep.
    “Well, Karlijna,” Erich greeted her the next morning as she came from the small ro om, “It is good to see you up. You look as though you rested well.”
    “I did, thank you,” her words were directed toward Erich, but she looked around at the rest of the people in the room, wondering if she had met them the previous day.
    Regina came out of the kitchen, “Karlijna, I think I shou ld introduce you to