“You can still pursue that plan. You have a house and a car and enough money to live on and go to nursing school. Dream big, Audrey.”
The boys came running back before she could reply. “What’s wrong, Mummy?” Bobby asked when he saw Audrey’s tears.
She pulled him close, holding him tightly for a moment. “Remember the picture of your father that I showed you? This is where he’s buried. I’m crying because I miss him. But only his body is here. Your father is in heaven with the Savior he loved.”
“Is he an angel?”
“No, but he’s with the angels.” She handed him a strawberry. “Here. These are the best medicine for tears.”
Robbie took one, too. “There’s a statue of a soldier over there,” he told Bobby. “Wanna see it?” Bobby nodded and they took off running again.
“You must come here a lot,” Audrey said.
“With Robert’s mother, yes.” They were silent for a moment as the peace of the quiet cemetery stole over them. “Audrey? Will you please forgive me for stealing your identity?”
Audrey nodded as she took Eve’s hand. “The greater sin was mine. You’re here because of my mistakes. Forgive me for letting you walk away. For judging you harshly because of Louis and Harry. I was cold and critical—like my mother. I had Wellingford Hall but you had nothing. Forgive me for not offering to stick together until we both figured out what came next.”
“Oh, Audrey . . .” They held each other for a long moment. Then they each smiled and ate another strawberry.
The boys came hurtling back, panting as they flopped onto the grass. Audrey brushed her son’s sweaty hair from his forehead. “When they were babies, I remember wishing they could grow up to be friends. Like we were . . . like their fathers were.”
“Maybe they can,” Eve murmured. She passed the strawberries to their sons. “Here, let’s finish these.”
The car was sweltering when they climbed back inside. Everyone rolled down their windows. “How is your courage holding out?” Eve asked.
“Pretty well. It’s funny, but changing that tire this morning gave me strength I’d forgotten I had.”
“Good. Because our next stop is going to be difficult for both of us.”
“Where are we going?”
“To see Mrs. Barrett. I need to confess what I’ve done and ask her to forgive me. Then I’ll introduce her to her real daughter-in-law and grandson.”
“Oh, Eve . . . I—I don’t know . . .”
“She’s a wonderful woman, Audrey. She raised Robert to be the man he became, didn’t she? I’ve often thought she’s the mother you deserved to have.”
“But look what I’m wearing! I’m a mess—”
“Audrey, stop. She won’t judge you. She’ll love you because her son loved you.”
Audrey couldn’t imagine it would be that way. Fear of facing the Barretts, fear that they blamed her for Robert’s death had kept her from coming to America four years ago.
Robbie bolted through the door and straight into Mrs. Barrett’s arms when they arrived. “Nana! I missed you!” Mrs. Barrett knelt to hug him tightly, and Audrey saw the warm, loving mother she’d yearned for all her life.
“Sorry to arrive without any warning,” Eve said. “Do you have time to talk? I want you to meet my friend.”
“Yes, of course, dear. Come in.” Mrs. Barrett led them into the living room and invited them to sit. It was a cold, uncomfortable place, an imitation of a grand manor house like Wellingford Hall with three separate seating areas in the vast room. It didn’t seem to fit the warm, smiling woman who’d greeted them. Audrey couldn’t take her gaze off Robert’s mother. Her thick, wavy hair resembled his, but with gray threads woven through it. She had Robert’s dark eyes, his gentle smile. “Would you like something cold to drink?” she asked.
“No, please don’t fuss,” Eve said. “I just need to say what I’ve come to tell you.” She drew a deep breath and let it out in a rush.
This must be so difficult for her, Audrey thought.
“I’ve come to beg you to forgive me, Mom. I’ve done a terrible, unforgivable thing. . . . I’m not really Robert’s wife, Audrey. She is.”
Mrs. Barrett stared at Audrey, stunned. She suddenly looked older than she had a moment ago. Audrey’s pulse sped up, afraid for Eve.
“And Robbie isn’t Robert’s son. He is.” Eve gestured to Bobby.
“I—I don’t understand . . .” Mrs. Barrett had been standing, but she sank down on the edge of the nearest chair as if her legs wouldn’t hold her.
“I know what I did was horrible,” Eve said, “and that I don’t deserve your forgiveness, and I’m so very, very sorry!”
“But . . . but why would you do such a thing?”
“I was desperate. I had no home, no family, no way to support myself and my son. I know that doesn’t excuse all my lies, but at the time, I didn’t know what else to do.”
Mrs. Barrett turned to Audrey. “And you agreed to this?” she asked.
“No!” Eve said before she could reply. “Audrey had no idea what I’d done. We were best friends during the war, and when she decided not to come to America after Robert died, I stole her immigration papers and came in her place. It was a terrible, terrible thing to do, and I’m so sorry for deceiving you. But please don’t blame Audrey. She didn’t know anything about it until she arrived in America a few days ago.”
Audrey saw the pain and hurt in Mrs. Barrett’s expression and feared her reaction would be unkind. She and Eve both seemed shattered. “I’m at fault, too, Mrs. Barrett,” Audrey quickly said. “Eve was my best friend and I should have helped her. I shouldn’t have left her with no other choice.”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say . . .”
“You’ve been so good to Robbie and me,” Eve said. “And I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. I never intended to hurt you or take advantage of your kindness and generosity. I just . . . I just wanted a home.”
The children were watching the drama and didn’t seem to understand what was happening. Eve’s son moved to nestle close to Mrs. Barrett and took her hand. “Don’t be sad, Nana. Are you sad?”
She bent to kiss the top of his red head. “I’m not sad, darling. Just . . . surprised.” She pulled Robbie close for a hug, then faced Bobby, who stood a few feet away near Audrey’s chair. Tears filled Mrs. Barrett’s eyes. “He looks just like Robert did at this age. May I give you a hug, too, darling?” He hesitated for a long moment, and Mrs. Barrett smiled. “Robert was the same way. He always needed to think things through before he tried anything new.”
Audrey’s tears flowed when her son finally moved toward his grandmother and allowed her to hold him and kiss his forehead. Family. They would be part of a loving family, something Audrey had wished for all her life. She remembered the frigid scene at her uncle’s house and knew she had made the right decision.
“Are you going to be his nana, too?” Robbie asked Mrs. Barrett.