The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) by Becky Riker Page A

hurried behind his desk and picked up the phone.
    Karlijna didn’t bother to listen to his conversation. Either it would work out or it wouldn’t. She sat back down and started her work.
    “It’s all set,” Mr. Sodergaard spoke up half an hour later, “My sister will come and stay here.”
    “Your sister?” Karlijna had never heard him mention her before.
    “Yes,” he leaned back in his chair and smiled at her, “I wonder that I didn’t think of it myself.   Helga is the perfect choice. She even goes to your church.”
    “My church?”
    “Yes,” the man rose and crossed to the door, “she’s gone there for years,” he leaned out and called to the butler before turning back to his employee, “Take the afternoon off and be here tomorrow by ten o’clock. Actually, I’ll have Olaf pick you up since you will have to bring some personal items.”
    Karlijna looked down at the task she had been working on, “But I’m not finished. . .”
    “That’s fine,” he turned to Olaf, “My sister is coming to stay for a few days. Miss Bergstrom will be with her. Please prepare both guest rooms. One for them and one for Armand Beauchamp.”
    Karlijna did n’t rush back to Leif’s store. She was feeling overwhelmed by what had just happened. Slowly, she wandered through the village, taking in sights she had not seen or noticed before.
    “Miss Bergstrom,” a voice came from behind. She turned to see Michael Gunderson coming from a shop. Behind him was Torkel Anderson.
    “Hello, Mr. Gunderson, Torkel,” she greeted them warmly.
    “What are you doing out at this time of the day?” Torkel kept walking as he took her elbow, “Don’t tell me Roald has you out running errands.”
    “No,” she laughed a little at the thought of Mr. Sodergaard doing such a thing, “No, he gave me the day off because I will have to work extended hours for the next week.”
    “Why is that?” Mr. Gunderson wanted to know.
    Karlijna glanced up at that man, “He needs me at the house more because he has a French associate coming in.”
    Karlijna was not watching the young man or she would have noticed his look of confusion.  Torkel observed his nephew’s face.
    “Karlijna works as an interpreter.”
    “Oh?” he turned to the girl, “From French into Swedish?”
    “Yes. And the other way around too,” she laughed, “And for practice I do the English papers as well, but Mr. Sodergaard always checks them. My English is not good.”
    Mr . Gunderson laughed with her, “Your English is the same good as my Swedish.”
    They were approaching the store when Torkel joined in, “I think English is a hard language. So many meanings for each word.”
    “It is easy to me,” Mr. Gunderson laughed at his own joke.
    “It is nice to see you again, Mr. Gunderson,” Karlijna turned to him before she entered her small room, “I hope you enjoy your visit.”
    “I hope I will see more of you.”
    He was very gracious to say so, but Karlijna did not believe it meant he had any particular desire to see her. He had come to see his family.
    Karlijna nodded, “I am sure you will, Mr. Gunderson.”
    “Then,” he added with a cheeky grin, “will you please call me Michael?”
    Noticing, not for the first time, how attractive the young man was, the girl only smiled and nodded before entering her room.
    Karlijna expected the entire family to turn out for Michael again, but it was not to be.  He explained to her that he would be making the rounds instead. The first night he would be dining with Leif’s family.
    Karlijna had no romantic illusions about the man, but she did not mind the opportunity to g et to know him better. As she had little experience with people her own age – men or women – he was a fascination to her. Their conversation was often stilted because of the language differences, but they were beginning to communicate more easily. She would have been pleased to know his opinion of her was the same as the tenderness he held