Miss Addie. He lingered in his illness for a period of time. However, Lewis knew his burns would soon render him dead. He wanted to do the right thing. I believe Lewis told me of the boy’s existence because he wanted the child to have proper care.’’
Addie nodded. ‘‘But you may have to accept the fact that even if the boy does exist, you may not find him. Knowing about a little boy with a birthmark doesn’t mean that you have a great deal of information.’’
‘‘I also know that the mother was Irish, so there’s little doubt that someone in the Acre knows something about the boy. However, Matthew tells me the Irish are slow to cooperate, especially about personal matters such as children born out of wedlock,’’ Lilly related. ‘‘It seems that if Matthew really wanted to find the boy, he would talk to some of the men working for the Corporation. Surely one of them would trust him enough to do a bit of investigating.’’
‘‘I’m not so sure,’’ Addie replied. ‘‘The Irish have learned they have to stick together and look out for their own.’’
Lilly sighed. ‘‘You’re probably right. I just don’t want to accept the fact that I have no family left in this world.’’
Addie’s mouth dropped open. ‘‘Child! You have a husband. He’s your family. And what of Matthew’s parents? You couldn’t ask for finer relatives.’’
Lilly held up her hand to stave off the onslaught of Addie’s words. ‘‘Yes, and I love all of them very much. But they’re not blood relatives, Miss Addie. I’ve watched both my parents die, and then just as Lewis and I were beginning to mend the problems of our childhood and build a relationship, he, too, died.’’
Addie took Lilly’s hand in her own. ‘‘It’s difficult to understand the way of things, Lilly, but if you are meant to have this boy, God will direct you to him. If He doesn’t, you must learn to accept the fact that you are not the person intended to rear the boy. Otherwise, you’ll become bitter and contentious. And heaven knows I can’t deal with another Mintie,’’ she added in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood.
Lilly smiled, deciding it was time to share her secret. ‘‘I promise I’ll not become bitter—I doubt I’ll have much opportunity for such things. You see, I’ve just discovered Matthew and I are going to have a child of our own.’’
Addie clapped her hands in delight. ‘‘So you will have a blood relative, after all,’’ she responded. ‘‘Isn’t God gracious? He’s giving you your heart’s desire, Lilly.’’
Lilly’s eyebrows molded into thinly knit strips as she stared at the older woman. The ticking of the mantel clock resonated in the background, with each click of the tinny pendulum proclaiming the passing moments as she considered Addie’s words.
‘‘To be honest, I hadn’t thought of this new life in those terms, Miss Addie. It’s true that the child will be my blood relative. Yet the fact that Matthew and I are going to have a child doesn’t lessen my desire to locate Lewis’s boy. I’m sure it will sound strange to you, but Lewis’s child gives me a connection to the past, while this child is my connection to the future. One does not supplant my need for the other. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, for I realize our marriage has been blessed by God’s goodness. However, my prayers remain steadfast: I want to find Lewis’s child.’’
Addie nodded and gave Lilly a cautious smile. ‘‘I didn’t mean to imply this babe would be a replacement, dear girl. But do remember that living in the past can sometimes thwart a healthy future, not to mention the present. I wouldn’t want that happening to you.’’
‘‘Nor would I,’’ Lilly agreed.
C HAPTER 9
Bella slipped into her blue worsted gown, the normal attire for Sunday meeting among the United Society of Believers. Not that she was attending church among the Shakers—far from it. This Sunday she was
Addie nodded. ‘‘But you may have to accept the fact that even if the boy does exist, you may not find him. Knowing about a little boy with a birthmark doesn’t mean that you have a great deal of information.’’
‘‘I also know that the mother was Irish, so there’s little doubt that someone in the Acre knows something about the boy. However, Matthew tells me the Irish are slow to cooperate, especially about personal matters such as children born out of wedlock,’’ Lilly related. ‘‘It seems that if Matthew really wanted to find the boy, he would talk to some of the men working for the Corporation. Surely one of them would trust him enough to do a bit of investigating.’’
‘‘I’m not so sure,’’ Addie replied. ‘‘The Irish have learned they have to stick together and look out for their own.’’
Lilly sighed. ‘‘You’re probably right. I just don’t want to accept the fact that I have no family left in this world.’’
Addie’s mouth dropped open. ‘‘Child! You have a husband. He’s your family. And what of Matthew’s parents? You couldn’t ask for finer relatives.’’
Lilly held up her hand to stave off the onslaught of Addie’s words. ‘‘Yes, and I love all of them very much. But they’re not blood relatives, Miss Addie. I’ve watched both my parents die, and then just as Lewis and I were beginning to mend the problems of our childhood and build a relationship, he, too, died.’’
Addie took Lilly’s hand in her own. ‘‘It’s difficult to understand the way of things, Lilly, but if you are meant to have this boy, God will direct you to him. If He doesn’t, you must learn to accept the fact that you are not the person intended to rear the boy. Otherwise, you’ll become bitter and contentious. And heaven knows I can’t deal with another Mintie,’’ she added in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood.
Lilly smiled, deciding it was time to share her secret. ‘‘I promise I’ll not become bitter—I doubt I’ll have much opportunity for such things. You see, I’ve just discovered Matthew and I are going to have a child of our own.’’
Addie clapped her hands in delight. ‘‘So you will have a blood relative, after all,’’ she responded. ‘‘Isn’t God gracious? He’s giving you your heart’s desire, Lilly.’’
Lilly’s eyebrows molded into thinly knit strips as she stared at the older woman. The ticking of the mantel clock resonated in the background, with each click of the tinny pendulum proclaiming the passing moments as she considered Addie’s words.
‘‘To be honest, I hadn’t thought of this new life in those terms, Miss Addie. It’s true that the child will be my blood relative. Yet the fact that Matthew and I are going to have a child doesn’t lessen my desire to locate Lewis’s boy. I’m sure it will sound strange to you, but Lewis’s child gives me a connection to the past, while this child is my connection to the future. One does not supplant my need for the other. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, for I realize our marriage has been blessed by God’s goodness. However, my prayers remain steadfast: I want to find Lewis’s child.’’
Addie nodded and gave Lilly a cautious smile. ‘‘I didn’t mean to imply this babe would be a replacement, dear girl. But do remember that living in the past can sometimes thwart a healthy future, not to mention the present. I wouldn’t want that happening to you.’’
‘‘Nor would I,’’ Lilly agreed.
C HAPTER 9
Bella slipped into her blue worsted gown, the normal attire for Sunday meeting among the United Society of Believers. Not that she was attending church among the Shakers—far from it. This Sunday she was
Similar Books
