Dearest Lois (Christian Romance)

CHAPTER THREE.

Lois furtively smiled in gratefulness as Angel rounded up the meeting with the pastor. She silently stepped out of the office, not wanting to idly wait for the men who appeared to be in deep discussion.

The quiet sound of her stealthy footsteps in the still hallway was drowned by her rowdy thoughts.

How could this man possibly want her?

Lois wasn't exactly one to dwell much on issues as she had become accustomed to hardship throughout her life and deemed it as normal. Nonetheless, she still could not understand the man that stood in the office conversing with the pastor.

What did he say again? His God sent him?

Lois scoffed bitterly, her steps leading her to the end of the hallway and out of the huge door. She turned to shut it quietly behind her and started descended the stairs noisily, trying to drown her overwhelming thoughts. Not like it had ever worked anyways.

Who did his God think He was?? A savior?? Please.

No matter how insulted she had wanted to feel (at least to reassure her that she had a little bit of pride remaining), she could not deny his offer of marriage. She obviously did not need a husband and the few residents of Uptown, Fairbanks seemed to agree with her but she needed help, if not..

Lois shuddered in fear and shook her head to avoid thinking about what could happen if she passed up this golden opportunity to be helped.

How old was she? Twenty and one years, going twenty two in fall, yet she had seen all the cruelty life had to offer- not to mention the unplanned opportunity of being a mother.

A mother. A child with no father.

At least, the child would not grow up without one. You're married now, Lois.

She did not know whether to feel relieved or even more terrified now that she was bound by marriage. What if he was worse than..

Her feet almost tripped over one another as her body fought to slow down her thoughts like it had attempted to slow her pace. She caught herself before she could mention his name in her mind or walk into the despairing thoughts of her past.

Lois blinked rapidly to try to cover up the tears that threatened to fall as sudden exhaustion hit her heart. She could not bear to think of- to remember- the weight of his betrayal.

Guess she was unlucky with men.

The marriage didn't exactly reassure her but actually failed to allay her fears and concerns. Sure, he knew she was with child but how would he treat the child?

Would he change when she bears him his own?
Would he accept another man's child or pretend to love her child only in public because society demands it?
Would he be indifferent but polite to her child because responsibility demands it?
Would he learn to love or just tolerate her existence?

Her breath was already coming out in little pants as she reached the last set of stairs and she could no longer resist the urge to lean against the wall in fatigue. She closed her eyes and waited for the rhythm of her heart to normalize while she massaged her waist and back to the best of her ability.

What Doctor Burton had said earlier about the uterus expanding to accommodate the growing foetus- did it also cause back pain or was it just the stress of walking down the stairs?

"It is not like I expect love but just existing around each other, uncomfortable silence in the house. I don't know if I can cope with that." Lois murmured out loud and opened her eyes to see that she had arrived outside the building after climbing down the many flights of stairs.

She sighed and winced at the discomfort she still felt around her waist area. Turning her head to look back at the stairs she had survived, she squealed in fright, shocked to find Angel towering over her and gazing at her in concern.

"W-what are—?! H-How long have you been here?"

Lois could not suppress her stutter and closed her eyes to calm her racing heart that had not recovered from the stair journey. She could hear another pair of footsteps descending from the stairs and opened her eyes once more, zeroing them on an older version of Angel.

Noah.

"I sincerely apologize for startling you. I thought you heard me coming down the stairs. I couldn't help but come closer in case you needed help. You looked like you were in discomfort.."

Lois watched Angel trail off as he started to look uncomfortable. She assumed it was because of her staring so she looked back to assess Noah one more time before dropping her gaze to her hands.

"It's alright, Angel."

Angel's eyes moved to land on her in surprise. He didn't understand why he felt so relieved hearing her call his name. He felt like it was a sign that they might get along sooner than he expected. He was not expecting much but he assumed that they could at least come to a point where they regarded each other less as strangers and more as friends.

Friends with your wife?? Are you joking?

He ignored the mocking voice in his head and moved past her, offering her an assuring smile as he walked out of the building to find where he stationed his wagon earlier.

Patting his horse- Rhett, He looked back to see his father walking his wife to where he stood.

His wife.

The reality of what just happened in the last two hours came crashing down on him and he had to undo the first button of his white shirt to allow him breathe.

Last week, he was an unsuspecting traveler along the plains and prairie trails of Anchorage, heading for Fairbanks. Now? He was a married man with a pregnant wife.

His father's voice broke him out of his reverie and he looked up, schooling his features to seem light and accepting instead of brooding and concerned like he truly felt.

"Angel! I'm glad to see you truly happy. Take care of this beauty here. I shall be returning to Palmer, can't leave Eliora alone for too long or she would have my head. You do not have to worry about me, however, for I would be taking the train."

Angel genuinely smiled as he recalled his mother's beautiful face. She was very bubbly and a surprisingly young woman as she had him early but sadly, she could not accompany his father to witness the quiet union because of her tendency to be horribly road-sick.

He nodded and fully turned to his father to bid him an affectionate farewell. Since the train station that ran from Fairbanks through Wasilla to Seward was not far from the church which they were in, Angel did not worry about how his father would get home.

He would only pray for his safety.

"Farewell for now, father. I would personally come myself to see you, preferably after our baby is born so I can come with my wife. Mother would be ecstatic to meet her. She must be distraught that she could not make it."

Angel did not miss the shock on his father's face when he referred to the baby as his and he certainly did notice the manner in which his wife froze. Acting like he didn't notice the surprise on their faces, he hugged his father and handed him a note for his mother.

Noah watched his son gently help his wife into the wagon and smiled a bit, His son had truly grown up to be a fine, God-fearing gentleman. He was proud.

They would get along just fine.

~Word count- 1,306.