The Haven Read Online Free Page A

said.
    Sadie shook her head. “It was pretty busy when the bus arrived, but then, when I woke up, it had cleared out. I walked all around the station looking for someone, and then I went to ask the stationmaster if he had seen anyone who was holding a basket.”
    “What did he say?” Fern asked.
    “I tried to explain myself a couple of times, but I don’t think I did a very good job of it. He finally pointed to the basket and asked if I was feeling okay, and maybe he should call the police or paramedics because they can help with confused people.” Sadie frowned. “I didn’t want the police or paramedics to take the baby away. Or me, either. And just then the Stoney Ridge bus arrived and I got on it. With the baby.” She set her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palms. “Dad, what are we going to do?”
    Amos sat quietly for a long while. Too quiet for M.K.
    Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer or she would pop. “We should keep him! Don’t you see? He was brought to Sadie by an angel! Ruthie said there are angels all around us. Ruthie knows about these things, now that her dad’s a minister.” As soon as the words flew out of her mouth, she regretted them. The entire family looked at her as if she had spoken Chinese.
    Then Sadie spoke. “Mary Kate might have finally said something today that was worth saying.” She looked at her father. “I think she’s right. That baby was meant for me. For all of us. I think that’s why I felt such a strong pull to get back here today, Dad. I was meant to be in that bus station, at just that moment. On this day, of all days. I’m just sure of it, and I think I felt sure of it in the bus station too. Today was no accident. That baby is meant for us.”
    Amos fingered a seam on the tabletop. “Sadie, I’m not sure that’s for you to decide.”
    Sadie’s eyes went wide. “Well, why ever not? The baby was given to me.”
    Fern picked up the basket of biscuits and passed it to Amos. “Bringing home a baby isn’t the same thing as bringing home a stray kitten or puppy.”
    As Amos broke a biscuit in half, a puff of white steam was released. His eyes were fixed on the biscuit as he quietly said, “We need to do what’s best for the baby. And what’s best for the baby is to find his family.”
    Something awful began to break in M.K.’s mind, and Sadie’s too, judging by the stunned look on her face. This isn’t fair! The baby was given to Sadie! To all of us.
    Sadie’s eyes started to well with tears. “Dad, we have to keep this baby. We just have to.”
    Amos looked a little puzzled. “We’ll get it all sorted out, Sadie. But we want what’s best for that baby.”
    “We’re what’s best for that baby,” Sadie said, more forcefully. “I know that’s what the mother wanted. I’m sure of it.”
    “What makes you so sure of that, Sadie?” Amos said. “Anyone who would abandon a baby in a bus station must not be thinking too clearly.”
    “But she left the baby with me.” Sadie had stopped crying now. “Not with anyone else but me.”
    Uncle Hank slammed his palms on the table. “SHE’S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!” He was getting excited now, and that meant his raspy voice would get louder and louder. “THAT ANGEL KNEW OUR SADIE WOULD BE A STELLAR CHOICE!”
    This was starting to get interesting, M.K. thought, observing the exasperated look on her father’s face. She had never seen Sadie so adamant about anything before. She always thought Sadie could sit on a fence and watch herself walk by. She was that prone to changing her mind, to seeing a situation from all directions. But as she looked over at her sister, she realized a change had come over Sadie since her visit to Berlin. More than one change. Usually, Sadie was the one to mollify others, a peacekeeper, determined that no one should remain unhappy for long. Tonight, she held her chin up high, a look of determination set in her eyes. She looked trimmer, taller, and even held