public announcements about the baby being God’s, but imagine if there had been. No one would have believed her. Not without God’s intercession.
Uncle Alex was reading the part where Elisabeth acknowledged the holiness of the child Mary carried. How that must have blessed Mary. She didn’t have to try to prove the truth of what was happening to her. God had allowed her cousin Elisabeth to know.
Alex read on to the end of the first chapter. The second would be read the following day at the noon meal, when they all gathered again. More of the family would be with them then, and it was always so much fun, especially if smaller children were there as well.
Hope was asked to sing, and with Meg accompanying her on the piano, she did exactly that. Aunt Grace always said that Hope’s voice was very much like their mother’s. Rich and melodious, with a perfect pitch that never failed.
Faith had never known a grandmother or grandfather, and she always wondered what it might have been like to grow up with an older person in her life. There was Uncle Edward, of course. He had lived in Oregon City with his family, but he was now gone. The family who remained would join them at the farm the next day, but Faith couldn’t help but wish for a grandmother, a loving and kind older woman who would offer advice and sage counsel.
The family joined in for a round of Christmas carols and then shared stories from throughout the year—events that had blessed them in particular or that had taught them something important. Throughout this time, Faith continued to crochet her scarf and think of Andrew Gratton.
Nothing can come of this friendship. He’s white, and you’re not white enough.
Faith frowned but kept her head down so no one would see. She didn’t want the others to feel bad for her.
“What about you, Faith? Was there a big blessing in your life this past year?”
Her head snapped up to find everyone watching her. Mother took a seat beside her and picked up her own crochet work. Faith knew her family wouldn’t let her get away without replying. She shared the first thing that popped into her head.
“The university moved the medical college from Salem to Portland, as you well know. At first that didn’t seem like it would be all that important to me, but it turns out it was. I get to live at Nancy’s boardinghouse and be close to my family again. I’ve missed you all very much, and I’m so blessed to be home for Christmas.”
“We’re blessed to have you here too,” Alex Armistead declared. The others immediately chimed in to agree.
“I’m glad she’s home for Christmas, even if she is bossy,” her younger brother declared. “It gets terribly quiet here, being one of the youngest.”
“I’ve never known it to be quiet when you’re in the house,” their father teased.
By the time the cider and desserts were gone, most everyone was yawning and anxious for bed.
“Before we head upstairs,” Nancy said, smiling in a knowing fashion at her mother, “we want to let you know that there will soon be an addition to the family. I’m going to have a baby in May.”
Everyone broke into cheers, and Aunt Grace had tears in her eyes. Everyone knew what this baby meant to Nancy.
“That’s the best Christmas present anyone could ever give us,” Nancy’s father, Alex, declared. He hugged his daughter close. “I’m so happy for you, honey.”
Faith felt the air catch in her throat as tears came to her eyes unbidden. She hadn’t expected this rush of emotion and regret. Biting her lip, she prayed for God to ease her sadness. She was delighted for her cousin and wanted nothing to suggest otherwise. It wasn’t Nancy’s fault that Faith was half Cayuse. It was no one’s fault.
God, this is so hard. I thought I could bear it well enough—after all, I’m thirty. I’d come to terms with this long ago, yet here I am, weeping for the loss.
A warm hand touched hers, and Faith turned to see the tears in her mother’s eyes. She knew. She understood that Faith wasn’t teary in celebration but in sorrow. Their fingers laced together, and Mother gave her hand a squeeze.
“Remember verse thirty-seven of tonight’s reading. ‘For with God nothing shall be impossible,’” her mother whispered.
Faith nodded. “I’m trying to.”
The trip back to Portland had barely gotten underway when Faith went searching for Andrew. She had wrapped the