Read The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) for Free Online

surprise you so we guessed.”
    Karlijna took the fabric in her hands and realized, with some dismay, it had short sleeves.
    She didn’t realize she had spoken until Regina responded, “Is that a problem?  July is warm even in Sweden.”
    Karlijna didn’t know how to respond.  She was very grateful for the dress, more than she could say. Rachel came in the doorway.
    She took Karlijna’s hand and gently pulled back the long sleeve.
    The sight of the numbers on the young girl’s arm was too much for Regina. She covered her face and ran from the room.
    “I’m sorry about the sleeves,” Rachel took the dress, “I should have thought.  There are others who come – who have also been to the camps.”
    Karlijna was still watching where Regina had exited, “I didn’t mean to upset her.  It’s a beautiful dress.  I just didn’t want people to see. . .”
    “How about a sweater?”
    Karlijna turned back to Rachel, confusion marring her features.
    “I’ll be back in a moment. You can change into the dress.”
    Karlijna changed clothes as commanded, but held onto the old dress, using it to cover the o ffending marks on her forearm. Rachel returned promptly with a lightweight sweater over her arm.
    “These marks,” Rachel spoke as she eased Karlijna into the garment, “are n ot your shame.  They  disgrace those who put them there. They are a symbol of a survivor.”
    Karlijna nodded, “I know I have nothing to feel guilty for, but I do not wish to make others uncomfortable.”
    “That is understandable,” Rachel walked her to the door, “but hiding from the truth will not help Regina or anyone else. Sometimes it is better they see it clearly, so they are forced to face it.”
    Karlijna thought of Rachel’s word s as she walked to the church. She was glad she had good directions because she was not certain she would have met anyone on the way who spoke German, and she spoke no Swedish.
    The service was in Swedish, so Kar lijna got very little from it. Still, knowing she was among a body of believers who could worship freely, gave her hope and comfort. The ending hymn was familiar to her and, aware that she sang the words in a different tongue, Karlijna softly joined in.
    As she exited the church, the middl e-aged pastor stood to shake hands.  He greeted her in Swedish, but, using the phrase Rachel had taught her, she replied that she couldn’t understand him.  He said something else, she thought this was in Polish. She repeated herself.
    “German, then?” he finally spoke so she could understand.
    “Yes, I understand German,” Karlijna was relieved he understood her.
    “That’s good,” the man said, because my Polis h is limited to asking you if you speak it, and I was running out of languages.
    Karlijna laughed at this.
    “You must be the girl who is living with the Goldblooms.”
    “I am. My name is Karlijna Bergstrom.”
    “How did this come a bout?”
    “I met them through Mr. Goldbloom’s sister and her husband, Erich and Regina Stein.”
    “We are very happy to have you here, Miss Bergstrom.  I hope you will come again.”
    “Thank you.  If my hosts do not mind, I believe I will.”
    Karlijna arrived home to find that Rachel had washed and dried her old dress.
    “I was just about to mend some small tears in it,” Rachel patted the seat next to her, “Sit down , and you can keep me company while I work.”
    Karlijna did as she was told.
    “The fabric is very sturdy.  Did you make this dress yourself?”
    Karlijna shook her head and laughed a little, “No, I did not.”
    “Your mother?”
    “No.  I don’t know who made the dress.  It was not my dre ss until just a few weeks ago. It only became mine because the one I had been wearing was missing when I went to get dressed, and this was all that was left that was suitable for me.”
    Ra chel looked at her very oddly before resuming her mending, “I suppose it is a good thing it is so near your size, then.”
    Karli jna