On November 2, Darlene accused me of stealing twenty dollars from her. The money was my own pay from the library, but Mrs. Perry believed Darlene and evicted me from the boardinghouse. It’s taken me all this time to work up the courage to tell you.

You see, Clay, Mrs. Perry had a reason to believe Darlene. When I was younger, I often stole. I stole food. I stole lovely things that other children misplaced. I stole lonely things that other children mistreated. A few months ago, I mentioned this to Darlene, and she told Mrs. Perry when she accused me of stealing her pay.

I haven’t stolen anything in years, and the Lord has forgiven me and has wiped my slate clean. However, Darlene and Mrs. Perry will never see me as anything but a thieving orphan. I’ll understand if you see me the same way. When you proposed, I should have told you about my past. I knew you’d been gravely injured by theft, and telling you would have been kind and fair. I’m sure you never would have married me if you’d known I used to steal. Since I didn’t tell you at that time, I’ll understand if you should annul the marriage.

For future correspondence, see the address below. Mr. and Mrs. Bellamy are letting me rent a little house on their property.

Please know I’m sorry for all I’ve done.

With deep regret,
Leah

The scarf itched and choked, and Clay tugged it off and dropped it to the sand.

Leah had a history of stealing?

Who was she? Was she an “Allotment Annie,” one of those women who tricked soldiers into marrying them so they could collect the allotment, maybe even the life insurance?

Clay rested his hands on his knees, stared at the golden sand, and groaned. No, of course not. She hadn’t tricked him. He was the one who’d pushed for marriage.

He sighed, smoothed the letter, and tucked it inside his sweater.

Growing up, he’d always had everything he needed. What if he hadn’t? What if he’d spent his childhood in an orphanage? Or on the streets? Would he have turned to theft? “I don’t know, Lord. I don’t know what I would have done in her place.”

The scarf lay rejected in a heap beside him. Clay drew it across his lap and brushed away grains of sand.

He couldn’t blame her for not telling him earlier. First, it was all in her past, in her youth, forgiven and overcome. Second, if everyone thought like Darlene and Mrs. Perry, she was wise to keep quiet.

He dug his fingers into the knit where Leah’s fingers had worked. Telling him had taken courage, especially since she thought he’d annul the marriage. Why would she think that? Why would she think he’d abandon her and make her give up that little baby?