Free The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) by Becky Riker Page B

that Karlijna d idn’t understand. Karlijna looked to her. There were tears in the woman’s eyes.
    “I’d better get to work,” she decided to make a hasty exit.
    “We will do this,” Rachel spoke up, “It will be done next week. Come to see us next week and to get your coat.”
    Karlijna waved and hurried off to work.
    One week later, Karlijna hurried to the Goldbloom house again early in the morning. Not thinking of anything but receiving and paying for her coat, she knocked on the door. Julius answered.
    Karlijna was angry with herself for not checking his w hereabouts before approaching. There was no turning back now, though.
    “Hello,” she greeted him as a stranger, knowing he would not appreciate familiarity from a Gentile.
    “Can I help you?” his tone was almost civil. Could it be he did not recognize her?
    “I am here to pick up my coat. Regina was making me a coat.”
    “Ah,” he opene d the door wide to let her in. He turned and called for his sister-in-law, “There is a girl here to pick up a coat.”
    Karlijna let out the breath she had n’t realized she was holding. Turning slightly away from him so he wouldn’t have the chance to identify her, she waited for Rachel to enter.
    Regina came down and smiled at th e girl, “You have come.  Good. We finished it yesterday.”
    Julius sat down in a chair and picked up a newspaper, but clearly his eyes were not missing the scene before him. Karlijna wondered how she could inform Regina of the situation. She thought fast.
    “May I see the coat before I pay you?”
    Regina looked surprised that Karlijna would ask such a thing. Not only that the girl would mention the pay as if it were Rachel’s idea, but also that she would question the older woman’s workmanship.
    “Certainly,” she led Karlijna to the room where Karlijna had stayed while living in their home.
    Karlijna pulled the door shut gently, “Regina, Julius has no idea it is me.”
    Regina made a noise of disbelief.
    Loudly Karlijna said, “This is beautiful work, Regina,” then back to a whisper, “I’m serious.  You know he would not be happy to know you are helping me again.”
    Regina opened the door quietly before turning back to her guest, “You’re probably right. You do look different now that you’ve put on some weight and your hair has grown a little.”
    Karlijna walked into the kitchen, carrying the coat, “Thank you, Regina.  I will pay you what we agreed on.”
    Regina’s look was placid as she reached out her hand for the money. Her eyes widened as she saw the amount she held. The older woman began to hand it back, but Karlijna would have nothing to do with it.
    “This coat is worth every penny of what you charge.”
    Regina had nothing to do but accept it. It was either that or give Karlijna away to Julius. 
    “Would you like me to wrap that with the excess fabric?” Regina’s small voice told the young girl her friend was overwhelmed by the circumstances.
    “Excess fabric?”  Karlijna was going to get all she could out of the predicament.
    “Yes,” Regina was still not sure what had hit her, “There was leftover material after we finished your coat.”
    “I’m sure I can’t use it,” she said with a wink in Regina’s direction. She began walking toward the door, carrying her coat over her arm, “If you have no use for it, give it to someone who does.”
    Karlijna let herself out and nearly flew to work.
    “Karlijna ,” Mr. Sodergaard greeted her at the door some weeks later, “I have received word from Mr. Beauchamp.”
    “Yes?”  Karlijna didn’t think this was noteworthy as Mr. Sodergaard expected weekly reports from the man. By his tone, she knew there must be something different about this missive.
    Mr. Sodergaard helped her with her jacket, “He sent his report with a note saying her would be in Sweden this week.”
    Karlijna didn’t respond. She still wasn’t sure what this had to do with her.
    Mr. Sodergaard saw she didn’t