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Chapter Forty
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Adeline's Story.

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An aroma of tempting fragrances greeted Nathan and Adeli as they entered the Cottage. Bill and Allie had been busy!

"We're here and hungry!" Nathan announced as he took Adeli's coat and hung it beside the door. He unbuckled his belt and strap and loosened a few buttons on his serge, following Adeli to the kitchen. "Hi there!"

Allie squealed a greeting to Adeli and to her dad, engulfing them in hugs.

Bill, looking very at home in Nathan's denim apron, turned from the stovetop and grinned. Adeli went right to his side as he opened his arm to her, kissing his cheek. "Hello there!"

Adeli peered around him and questioned what smelled so delicious.

"I haven't made this in a long time, but I decided to try it tonight. Beef Stroganoff on egg noodles, with roasted vegetables. Allie and I made a special dessert as a surprise!" Bill kissed the top of Adeli's head, then nudged her away from the stove.

"I'll be right back. This sounds and smells wonderful!" Nathan exited the kitchen to change out of his uniform, returning with a light blue striped shirt, gray slacks and gray suspenders. As always the top few buttons were unbuttoned to give him room to breathe.

As the Grants, Adeli and Bill sat at the table, Nathan blessed the food and then Adeli complimented the table setting. "This china is lovely and the flowers are gorgeous! I am surprised that a bachelor has such beautiful things, Nathan."

"I would be surprised as well." Nathan chuckled. "But all of this is Allie's and passed down from her mother. We only bring it out on very special occasions so you are privileged tonight, Adeli!"

"Well I will enjoy it then. Thanks for sharing these lovely things tonight, Allie."

Each of those around the table shared about their day, with Nathan's recounting of his telling Zach he was a member of the family winning as the best story of the day! Nathan explained a little more detail to Adeli than he had to Zach and gave her a brief overview of his family history.

"Oh Nathan, Allie. I had no idea. I am so sorry. Yet I am so happy for what God has done because you are both a delight and a joy to be around. I am sure it is the trials you have gone through that have given you the depth and authenticity you display. Bill is blessed to be considered a part of your family!" Adeli was tearful as she spoke, but swallowed her tears for the moment.

"Isn't that what God does?" Nathan shared. "'[He] sets the solitary in families.' (*11) Maybe he has done that for each one of us in different ways."

Those around the table were quiet as they contemplated this truth in their own lives.

"God is doing that for Zach now too." Continued Nathan after some moments of silence. "The Chief has given Zach permission to share the afternoon with us on Saturday. I think it is best if Allie and I have him to ourselves over lunch and for a few hours, but I was wondering if both of you could join us for dinner? It turns out Zach's twenty-first birthday is the thirty-first so I thought we could have a special meal and cake for both our birthday people! Do you mind sharing a celebration on Saturday, Allie?"

Thinking for a moment before responding, Allie replied. "There is so much going on and new people in our family and it is all very exciting, so I don't mind at all. Actually, let's make the day for Uncle Zach. It will be fun! But, may I have the day off from cooking and clean-up?"

Nathan laughed, agreeing it was a small concession for the birthday girl. "Shall I talk to you, Bill, about the menu?"

Adeli interrupted. "I would love to be here, but only if I can contribute. Maybe I haven't cooked in a Café, but I can find my way around a kitchen!" Adeli offered. "Bill? If you could come to my house in the afternoon, we could prepare the meal and then bring it over here to enjoy as a family. How about that?"

Bill grinned. "That sounds like fun! Any ideas, let me know, okay? We can shop in the morning, cook in the afternoon and eat in the evening. Sounds like my kind of day!"

Nathan laughed. "Sounds like my kind of evening!"

After enjoying Allie's crumb-topped apple raisin pie, Nathan and Adeli volunteered to clean up so Allie could finish her homework and Bill could relax. But Bill wanting to be wherever Adeli was, joined them in the kitchen and clean-up was quickly completed.


Returning to the front room, Adeli shared that she had something to tell them. "I haven't even had a chance to tell you, Bill, but after hearing Zach's story, I want you to know my story. You see I was raised by my grandmother, along with a brother and a 'sister.'"

"My brother, Matthew, is almost two years older than I am, but my 'sister,' Josephine, is eighteen years older than I. My grandfather lived until I was fifteen so I knew him, but I never knew my father. You see, my 'sister' really wasn't my sister." Adeli had tears forming in her eyes and her voice trembled to share such personal information. "She was my mother."

Adeli was quiet, looking from Bill to Nathan, grateful she saw no judgement in their expression, but only compassion. "My mother was also my brother's mother and evidently we share the same father so we had that in common too, but it was just after my grandfather passed that Matt and I found out. Grandfather had wanted to preserve the family's respectability and reputation, so insisted the secret was kept. Grandfather worked as an architect and we never lacked for anything. Evidently he had arranged for a year-long assignment out of town twice to hide our mother's pregnancies and our births."

"Schoolmates questioned why our grandparents were raising us, but we had no answers to give except that our father had died in an accident soon after I was born. After our father died and Josephine mourned, she began to work a couple afternoons a week in a clothing store. She gradually worked her way into department management and did well for herself."

"After Grandfather died, and my brother headed off to college, I had to bear the shame of knowing the truth by myself for the last couple years of secondary school. No one knew, but I knew I was conceived outside of marriage and I felt the stigma. Josephine never married but remained living with my Grandmother, caring for her until she died. She remains in the family home in Saskatoon even now."

"Grandfather provided well for us all and even after he died he had provided for Mathew's and my advanced education."

Since Adeli had quieted, Bill asked a question. "Are you still in touch with Josephine or your brother?"

"Occasionally. I never told Josephine where I was when I was in prison, but Matthew knew. I was close to Matthew. He married while I was away and now has three sons. They also live in Saskatoon and I visit once a year or so."

"How was your relationship with Josephine after you knew she was your mother?" Bill queried again. "Was there ever a time when you called her Mom or was the established dynamic always in place?"

"Eighteen years is a big gap, so it always felt as though we were different generations. She has always been Josephine to us." Adeli wiped her eyes and blew her nose before adding. "So you see, we all have hidden burdens and family secrets. Life really is messy."

"You do know you are of equal value as any of us born within a marriage, don't you?" Nathan asked softly. "The circumstances of your birth are not your fault, Adeli, and they needn't be a burden you carry."

"Mentally I know that, Nathan, but I still struggle to feel that in my heart. I do bear that burden as well as the secret of my criminal past." Adeli hung her head.

Nathan visually questioned Bill and he nodded. Nathan stood and crossed the room to sit on Adeli's other side. He placed his hand under her chin and raised her head. "Your worth is the same as each of us, Adeli. God loves each of us so much he has provided a way for us to be in his family. God's family is the one that matters, now and going forward. He also doesn't want you to bear the weight of the sins of others. He wants to shoulder your burdens and walk beside you."

Looking at the tears forming again, Nathan confessed. "I've known the shame of my father's choices, gambling, theft and imprisonment. I've known the taunting of schoolmates when he disappeared for so much of my youth. I felt that shame again when I learned about Zachary's existence too and I certainly don't know how we'll navigate the future, the information being known out here at Depot or Headquarters or at Allie's school. I would rather keep it all private, but I don't know how we can do that to a living person and one who is my brother." He released her chin. "I am praying about it."

Nathan looked into the fireplace. "A quote by St. Augustine recently came to my attention. 'Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.' That is all I, we, can do."

Adeli reached to grasp Nathan's hand on one side while she continued to grip Bill's and whispered. "Nathan would you pray?"

"I will." Nathan closed his eyes and squeezed Adeli's hand.

"Oh Lord, How we need you. There are so many difficult situations in our families. So much sorrow, so much pain. The actions of others really affect us through no fault of our own. But I pray that you will confirm your love to Adeli, and even to Zachary. Only you know how he has felt throughout his young life.

Help us all to grasp that you are the one who lifts our heads. We can hold our heads high because of you. You are our shield and our defense, our comfort and our peace.

Help us find our worth in you and help us forgive when we need to do that.

Heal us from our past wounds and we trust you to guide our futures.

Thank you for the many new friends and family members you give to us. And, Lord, may we be a blessing to them every day, even if just through praying for them.

We give you thanks and praise, praying in your wonderful name, Amen."


(*11) Paraphrase of Psalm 68:6a