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“I agree.” Leah sampled the roasted duck confit they’d been served. “This is delicious. I haven’t had duck in some time.”

“As you know, it’s one of my favorite dishes,” Leah’s dad shared. “The meat is tender, and the sauce is a perfect complement to it. It’s probably the only thing my stepmother introduced me to that I liked.”

“Speaking of which, we had a letter from your grandfather last week, Leah. I forgot to mention it to you. All the east coast Garrisons are in good health.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.”

“Have you told them about your engagement yet?”

“No, not yet. It’s all still rather new to me. Speaking of new, is that a new dress, Mother? I seem to recall you looking at one like it at Donaldson’s.”

Throughout the meal, Erik was amazed at the way Leah kept the conversation from focusing too long on their wedding plans. They both agreed that they didn’t want a fancy wedding. In fact, Leah told Erik she’d be quite content to have a small family gathering at Turner House, where they could have a simple exchange of vows. He rather liked that idea. Still, they hadn’t made any real decisions and couldn’t offer answers as to their plans.

As the meal concluded, Erik noticed that his father had grown quieter and more reserved. No doubt he was tired. They’d both been working quite a bit, and the snow had added an extra obstacle to be dealt with once again. He was glad when they could finally say goodnight to the Garrisons and head home.

They dropped Leah off at Turner House, and Erik did his best to navigate the still-messy streets. It was then that his father decided to share the reason for his mood. “I had a letter today. It was a wonder that the mail even came through.”

“Who was it from? Ellie?”

“No. It was from Texas.”

Erik stiffened. The only soul he knew in Texas was his mother. He had worked hard to let go of the past and all his pain. Leah and her family had taught him to trust women again. He adored Leah’s grandmother, and Mrs. Garrison had been equally kind and encouraging. Of course, it was easy to love Leah. She had been a powerful presence from the beginning.

When his father said nothing more, Erik felt compelled to ask, “What did it say?” Not “what did she say?” He couldn’t quite bring himself to acknowledge her.

“I’m afraid it wasn’t pleasant news. Your mother . . . passed away.”

The words hit Erik hard. Much harder than he’d thought they would. “She’s dead?”

“Yes. She had a weak heart and caught pneumonia. It was all just too much. Her husband said it was quick. She was only sick a couple of days.”

“I suppose it was kind of him to let us know.” Erik kept his gaze on the road, thankful there wasn’t much traffic.

“It was. I’m glad he told us. I wrote to Ellie. Now that she’s free of the pregnancy and baby, I figured she was strong enough to know the truth.”

Ellie had delivered a little girl on the twenty-sixth of February. After giving up her baby to distant relatives, she had decided to remain with their great-aunt in Michigan, telling Erik and her father that she had never been happier. Erik wondered how she would take the news. She had been just as bitter as him at one time.

Later that night as Erik lay in bed staring into the darkness, he tried to bring an image of his mother to mind. The memories were so vague, however. He’d fought hard to forget about her. To forget her appearance and voice, her unhappiness. He had spent so much time hardened against her that even now he felt numb as he considered her death. In truth, she had been dead to him for years.

He thought of Leah. He would tell her tomorrow, and he knew she would ask how he felt.

“I don’t know what to feel, Lord. At least I don’t feel hatred anymore.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to ever feel that way again. Nothing good came out of it.”

Still, there was the need to acknowledge that she was never coming back. Erik had wondered at times if she might. Of course, having moved from Illinois and the only home she knew with her family, Erik didn’t suppose she would care to track them down in Minneapolis. He didn’t know how her husband had been able to send them word of her demise. Perhaps his father had sent them word when they left their old home.

Restless, Erik got up and went to the window, pulling back the heavy curtain. The full moon on the snow below gave an unnatural brightness to the night. Erik had always figured there was a possibility that his mother might return to them. Now that possibility was no more. He would never see her again. Never be able to ask the questions that had haunted him. Never be able to say good-bye.

An unexpected sadness came over him. She was truly gone. Erik had no idea of her spiritual beliefs, and it left him feeling something he hadn’t anticipated. Regret.

23

The celebration of Roman Turner’s eighty-fourth birthday was a grand affair put together by his wife. Since Leah had no unwed mothers to oversee at the moment, she had encouraged her grandmother to host the surprise celebration at Turner House.

Having had most everyone home for Christmas, Grandfather didn’t anticipate Easter would be a very big celebration. He hadn’t expected his children from far and wide to make the journey home to wish him well, but they had come without exception.

“I can’t believe you left Baltimore after being with us at Christmas,” Grandfather told Uncle Andrew.

“I couldn’t miss celebrating your birthday, Father.” He glanced around the room. “And seeing everyone again in the old house is always a pleasure. Oh, the memories we made here.”