A Test of Faith by Karen Ball Read Free Book Online

her head hit the pillow, Anne lay there, staring at the ceiling, savoring the anticipation,picturing the delight on her daughter’s face.
    On Faith’s face or yours?
    Anne frowned. Well, both, of course.
    Do you really think Faith will be pleased? Isn’t this more something you would like?
    Anne rolled over and punched her pillow. That was ridiculous. What little girl wouldn’t like what Anne had planned?
    Your little girl
.
    This time she pulled the pillow over her head. She would not listen to this voice of doubt. Everything would work out the way she’d planned.
    Early the next morning, Anne pushed away her fatigue and went to wake Faith with a kiss. “Mornin’, sleepyhead.” She sat on the edge of her daughter’s bed. “Did you know today is a special day?”
    Faith blinked up at her and yawned, stretching her child arms up over her head. “Is it Christmas?”
    “No—”
    She sat up. “My birthday?”
    “No, honey.”
    Faith stood, now fully awake, and started bouncing on the bed. “Your birthday?”
    “Faith!”
    The little girl plopped back on the bed and fell silent. Anne drew a steadying breath.
    “
Do not exasperate your children
…” Anne hesitated. That’s what she’d done. She came in, woke Faith up, and got her all excited. And now she got irritated at Faith for reacting like any child would.
    Anne looked at the smiling bears on Faith’s bedspread. Why was it Anne could be so patient with others, but when it came to her own daughter, she seemed primed for frustration?
    Sorry, Lord. Please, help me to do better
.
    “Mommy?”
    Faith crawled over to sit next to her, and Anne drew her daughter close. “Yes, honey?”
    “What’s special about today?”
    Anne smiled at her little girl’s wide-eyed expression.Emotions swelled in Anne’s throat, and she had to swallow a couple of times before she could speak. How she loved this child! Yes, Faith might drive her to distraction at times, but Anne loved her more than she could ever express. “Well, we’re going to do something special. Something my mommy did with me with I was your age.”
    “What?”
    “It’s a surprise, but I’ll show you part of it.” She went to pick up the gift she’d left outside the door. She hid it behind her back, then returned to sit on Faith’s bed again. “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
    Faith complied, though the bouncing resumed. Anne pulled the gift from behind her back and let herself take another look at it. It was the most exquisite doll she’d ever seen. The porcelain face was perfection, with its deep blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and plump pink lips. Long blonde curls held back with a blue ribbon cascaded over the doll’s shoulders. She was dressed in a beautiful deep blue dress adorned with tiny roses, lace, and ribbons. Her little feet sported patent leather shoes, complete with a shiny buckle.
    Anne held the doll carefully and set her in Faith’s outstretched hands. The little girl’s bounces doubled.
    “Can I look now?”
    “Go ahead.”
    Faith’s eyes popped open. Anne waited for the smile to fill her daughter’s features.
    And waited.
    And waited.
    Faith stared at the doll, then looked up at her mother. “Is it for you?”
    For a moment, all the doubts that had nudged Anne last night surged back to haunt her. But she pushed them away and mustered up a smile. “No, honey, she’s for you.”
    Faith looked at the doll. “Oh.”
    That one word spoke volumes.
    “I don’t want you to be disappointed, Annie.”
    She watched Faith stick out a finger to poke at the frilly dress, then pull on the long locks of golden hair. Anne swallowed.What was tightening her throat? Not disappointment. Never, in a million years, would she admit it was that.
    She leaned forward to touch first the doll’s cheek, then Faith’s. “This isn’t just any doll, sweetie. It’s your own special tea-party doll.”
    Faith’s brow furrowed. “Tea party?”
    Anne infused her tone with excitement.