#2
The next morning, Leah returned to Susanna’s house with the invitation her mother had penned. When the housekeeper opened the door, she had a strange frown on her face. “I’m sorry Miss Garrison, but Susanna is no longer at home.”
“I actually came to deliver this invitation from my mother for Mrs. and Mr. Anderson.” Leah handed the envelop to the women. “But what do you mean Susanna is no longer at home?”
A deep sense of dread washed over Leah as she watched the woman’s face for clues. Had they already done something to Susanna? Surely they hadn’t whisked her away in the dead of night.
The older woman glance back toward the stairs, then lowered her voice. “She’s gone, miss. They drove her away early this morning.”
“I don’t understand. Where did they send her?”
“It wasn’t discussed, miss. I’m sorry.”
Leah felt like storming the house and hunting down Susanna’s parents to demand an answer. No doubt her poor friend had confessed her situation, but had her parents truly been so heartless as to turn her out without even thinking the matter through?
“Could I speak to Mrs. Anderson?” Leah asked. She snatched back the invitation. “My mother would want me to hand-deliver this.”
The housekeeper considered it a moment, then nodded and stepped back from the door. “Please come inside. I’ll take you to her.”
Leah followed the housekeeper down the long, stately hall to the private family salon at the back of the house. Mrs. Anderson sat sipping a cup of tea and staring at an oil painting of Susanna over the fireplace.
“Mrs. Anderson, Miss Garrison is here to see you.”
The woman seemed startled at the announcement. She looked at Leah but didn’t bother to speak. The housekeeper quickly left the room.
It was difficult for Leah to even think of how she should handle the situation. Should she admit she knew the truth? Had Susanna told her parents that she’d confided in her? They knew the two girls told each other everything.
“Good morning, Mrs. Anderson.”
“Leah.” She barely murmured the name.
“I’ve come with an invitation from my mother.” Leah held up the envelope. “She was going to have the footman bring it, but I volunteered since I love visiting with Susanna.”
“Susanna is gone.” Mrs. Anderson put her tea aside.
“Gone?” Leah hoped she wouldn’t have to drag the information from her.
“I believe you know all about it, Leah. I’m much too tired to give pretense to a most heartbreaking situation.”
Leah stepped closer and placed the invitation on the table at Mrs. Anderson’s right. “I do know but hadn’t expected she’d be gone so soon.”
“What did you expect?” The woman glared at her. “She could hardly remain in town.”
“I didn’t think there was any reason to send her away immediately. She won’t start showing for another few weeks.”
“You speak of this as if she were going to do nothing more than reveal a new hat.” The anger in the woman’s tone was surprising. Leah had never known Mrs. Anderson to raise her voice. “She completely ruined her life, and her actions would have ruined us as well if we’d done nothing.”
“Where have you sent her?” Leah tried her best to keep the conversation routine and calm. “I’d like to correspond with her. I want to offer . . . well . . . biblical encouragement and continued friendship.”
“She deserves neither.”
“This wasn’t her fault,” Leah protested. “She was persuaded by an artful cad who cared nothing for her reputation, nor for the true love she bore him. If you want to be angry at someone, then call Mr. Deveraux out for his behavior.”
“My husband went straightaway to the Deveraux house. He demanded they marry immediately. Terrance denied the child was his. He stood before his father and my husband and swore on the Bible he had nothing to do with Susanna’s condition.
” The woman’s face reddened. “I have no idea whose child Susanna carries, but she is no longer welcome in this family.”
“But she carries your grandchild.”
“No. She is nothing to me, nor is that baby.” Mrs. Anderson stood and glanced at the invitation Leah had brought. “Whatever this is, send your parents our regrets. We are going on an extended trip. We will give the town time to forget what has happened.”
“But what about after Susanna has the baby?”
“That’s not my concern. My daughter is dead to me.”
Six months later, Susanna Anderson was dead to all.
A letter came to Leah explaining that she and the baby had died in childbirth.
There was no return address, but the postmark was from somewhere in Wisconsin.
Leah had raged at the news. It was easier to be angry than succumb to her grief.
For months she had tried to find Susanna.
She had hoped and prayed her friend might somehow get a letter to her.
Father had even hired a private detective to trace Susanna’s whereabouts, but it did no good.
The Andersons had hidden her away quite well.
There was no funeral at which to say good-bye.
No obituary in the paper to comment on the life of such a young woman, not even twenty, and her demise.
After Susanna’s disappearance, the Andersons moved to California, leaving no forwarding address.
Their exit from the city was quiet and quick, leaving tongues wagging for months about what had happened.
Meanwhile Terrance Deveraux was engaged to Martha Hamilton with a summer wedding planned as the social event of the year. The entire matter of Susanna and the baby had been quietly swept under the rug.
Leah seethed. She raged at God, having no idea who else to blame.
She vowed to never be victim to some romantic-notioned ninny.
She would never fall for words of love and romance.
Instead, she would put up a wall of defense around her heart.
She would trust no man who wasn’t a member of her own family.
She would never allow herself to be caught up in such foolishness. Never.