Page 20 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“No, you don’t. You’re just angry with him because your mother died and he hasn’t been here for you in a long time. You don’t think he cares.”

The girl’s motions slowed and she looked back over her shoulder. “He was never in love with my mother, and it made her very sad.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do!” She spun around to face her. “My mother told me so. It’s because he didn’t love her that she died. It was from a broken heart.”

“Now, that’s not true. That can’t kill a person,” Rachael tried to explain.

“That’s what Mother told me, and I believe her. Then father went to fight for the king, and left me here with my grandparents when I needed him the most.”

“He pays allegiance to the king, my dear, and can’t help it if he needs to go and fight.”

“Mother thought he was always gone just because she was ill and he didn’t want to be burdened with her. She also said she didn’t want to ever see him marry again, but she knew once she died that he would.”

“Winifred, that’s not fair to your father to say that,” replied Rachael.

“Fred!” the girl shouted. “That is my name now, so call me Fred.”

“All right . . . Fred,” said Rachael, walking over and gently sitting down on the girl’s bed. “I can see you are very upset. I know you don’t want another mother, and I can’t blame you.”

“Then why did you marry my father? You’re not my mother and you never will be.”

“Wait a minute. You’re not being fair to me now. I had no choice in the matter since I was betrothed to your father. The fact is that I’m your stepmother now, whether you agree with your father’s decision to marry me or not.”

“He doesn’t love you, and I know you don’t want him. Just admit it.”

“What makes you say that?” The girl’s words cut Rachael like a knife. Especially since they were true. “Winifred – I mean Fred, I don’t even know your father. Yet. We just met so, of course, we’re not in love. But in time, that will all change, I’m sure.”

“No, it won’t. Just look at the two of you. You are always fighting and glaring at each other. Don’t think I didn’t notice. He doesn’t love you, just like he didn’t love Mother. My father is not capable of loving anyone.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“It is true. My mother is proof of it, and so am I. My father only cares about fighting and using his weapons. And now that he’s finally home again, he only cares about his work on the docks and not his family.”

“Nay. You’re wrong.”

“Am I?” Winifred looked Rachael straight in the eyes. “Do you really think he cares about you at all?”

Rachael knew the girl was right, but she couldn’t admit it. To do so would only make matters worse, and she was trying to fix things here. “I told you, I’ve just met your father. He doesn’t know me yet, and I don’t know him.”

“Well, neither do I,” said Winifred, a tear trailing down her cheek. “I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me, although he’s been my father for my entire life.”

Rachael’s heart was breaking for the girl. She could see that what Winifred really needed was some tender loving care and attention. “Come here, Fred,” she said, not caring if the girl were to object. She walked over and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. “I know life isn’t always easy, and I won’t pretend that it is. But I can tell you that if two people marry for love instead of the sake of an alliance, it would be so much better.”

“You were married before,” said Winifred with a sniffle. “Did you love your late husband?”

Rachael thought of how horrible her marriage had been. She didn’t want to scare the girl, but mayhap that is exactly what Winifred needed to hear at a time like this.

“Nay, I didn’t love him and he didn’t love me,” she admitted. “I was about your age when I was married off to a man I didn’t even know who was twice my age. I was frightened, and the man treated me poorly. He was very mean and, every day, I wished that he was dead.”

“Did you kill him?” Winifred pulled back to look at her, and her eyes opened wide.

Rachael almost laughed. “Nay, I didn’t kill him, although I must admit there were many times I wanted to do just that.”

“Just like you want to kill my father.” Winifred nodded, as if she thought she understood.

“Nay,” said Rachael, feeling a twang in her heart when the girl said the words. “I don’t want to kill your father. He is different, but he is not a bad man like my last husband.”