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Joseph lifted his head. “I like that baby Jesus had a father. And his name was Joseph, same name as me.”
“I did not know your Christian name was Joseph,” Mr. Morton said, going down onto one knee so that he was eye level with her little boy.
Alice sat back and let the two of them speak.
“Mama said she named me Joseph because it was a fine, strong name. But it wasn’t my father’s name—he’s dead. I wish I had a father, like Jesus did.”
Tears pricked against Alice’s eyes. She truly was trying to give her son everything he could possibly need. Nonetheless, she could never be a father for him. And sometimes, she gathered, a boy just needed a papa.
“You have a Father in heaven,” Mr. Morton said, pointing up.
“But I want a fatherhere. I asked Father Christmas to bring me one, but he hasn’t yet.”
“Perhaps Father Christmas simply needs more time. Some blessings take a while to arrive, you know.”
Alice certainly knew—if she could manage to take another year or two to find the right man while also not breaking Joseph’s little heart, she would do it in an instant.
“Well,” Mr. Morton said at length, “Father Christmas is a fine man, but if you’re going to ask anyone, have you tried asking the Father of us all?”
Joseph’s brow creased. “I didn’t think of that.”
Mr. Morton’s smile was gentle and sincere. “There’s no better place to pray and ask something of God than in a church house. Would you like to sit here and pray for a bit?”
Joseph thought for a moment, then nodded.
“I shall leave you to it then,” Mr. Morton said, standing. “I’ll just see to some of the others. If you’ll excuse me, my lady.” He bowed to them both, but then paused before walking away and once more turned to Joseph. “You’re always welcome here, Lord Hoskins, no matter the time of day or your reasons for praying.”
Alice mouthed a silent “thank you” to the vicar just before he moved off to speak with other parishioners.
Joseph clasped his hands together and shut his eyes. Alice had never seen her little boy pray so intently. She sat quietly, giving him all the space and time he wished for. While he was praying, Alice sent her own prayer up to heaven.
She prayed that she might find a man worthy of her son’s admiration. A man who would treat them both well, who would love them and cherish them.
And, Alice prayed, if that was not to be, that she might find a way to be both mother and father to this little man of hers who was her entire world.
