Page 48 - MailOrderBrideFlipBook

Eli looked into her beautiful, soft brown eyes - eyes that revealed her fear and confusion. He could sense an innocence, and yet, there was a goodness he had never seen in any woman he had ever known. Obviously, he could marry her. Everyone expected that, even Anya. But, he didn’t want a wife that was his wife because she thought she was his property. He wanted a wife that loved him and felt she was his equal, as he did; a woman who could bring a strength to their marriage and even feel she had a right to disagree with him. He had once heard a wise preacher say, “If two people in a marriage never disagree, perhaps only one is needed. For it is in working through our disagreements that we rub off our rough edges and become better. It is not a matter of not having disagreements, but not letting them become rifts that tear apart the very fabric of the marriage.” That’s what Eli wanted. He wanted a true partner in marriage, not a maid nor a nanny for his children. He thought of his parents’ marriage and what he wanted in his own. He smiled at Anya to try to ease her concerns and tried another approach. “I mean, would there be any place you would rather be?” Anya suddenly looked very distant. “Women often talk of place where have much freedom. Place called California, where no man make go hungry.” “If you could go there, would that be what you would rather do?” Eli asked. Anya turned and looked at Eli with concern. “Eli no want marry Anya?” “Eli only wants to marry Anya if Anya wants to 45