Chapters (38)
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- epilogue
Mr. Davidson was shaking his head. “Violet, you won’t be able to contact Samuel. He is staying with friends of ours for a few weeks. There will be no telephone. We thought that would be best.”
Violet was trembling and couldn’t seem to stop. It took a minute for her to find her voice and form words. “Mr. Davidson, there’s something you should know.”
“Nothing you can tell me will make a difference, Violet. I’m sorry. I know you care about Sam ...”
“It’s much more than that, Mr. Davidson. I...”
He held up his hands. “No more, please, Violet. The two of you will be much better off this way. Deborah and Sam are getting married and beginning a life in New York. Wish them well.”
“But I’m almost sure,” she stammered through tears. “I’m almost sure I’m carrying your grandchild.” She watched new lines etch themselves into Philip Davidson’s face. He bowed his head for a minute, then stood and reached into his pocket.
“Here is some money to help with expenses, Violet. Go somewhere and stay for a year or so. The baby—if there is one—well, it can be adopted. Surely you have family to help with your ...situation.” He glanced around to see if anyone was witnessing their conversation and spotted a wide-eyed boy peering from a doorway near the ticket window. Violet was curled into an apostrophe of sadness, rocking and clutching her stomach. Worse, his wife was emerging from their car. Esther would do nothing but make an even worse scene.
He hurried to finish. “I warn you, Violet, you must tell no one. And under no circumstances should you try to find Sam. His future is settled, and you can’t be a part of it. My son has no child with you. Do you understand?” He straightened his back and walked away from the stunned girl on the bench.
Violet felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Chet Wilson smiling down at her. He was a foot taller than the last time she’d seen him. She shook her head gently, trying to focus on how she could explain her presence in the station. It seemed easier to ask him the question instead. “What in the world are you doing here, Chet? Have you come back to live with your dad?”
“I’m just visiting. My aunt let me ride the train here yesterday, and I have to go back tomorrow.” He sat beside her and searched her eyes. “What happened, Violet? Who was that man?”