Faith hugged him close. “Thank you for loving me. I love you so dearly, and if you didn’t return that love ... I think I would die.”
He held her tight. “Then you should live forever, because I will never stop loving you.”
John Alexander Carpenter was born at dawn the next morning. He was blessed, as Grace declared, with a headful of auburn hair and beautiful blue-green eyes.
“I’m pleased you named him after your fathers, but what will you call him? That’s much too formal a name for such a little peanut,” Grace said, holding her grandson close.
“I think you should call him Jack,” Faith suggested. “A lot of men named John go by that nickname.”
Grace held the baby up for Nancy and Seth to see. “What do you think? Jack?”
“I think it’s a perfect name,” Nancy said, then yawned.
“All right, you’ve both been up all night, and it’s time for you to get some sleep.” Faith pulled the quilt up over the sheet that covered Nancy. “Your mother needs some sleep as well.”
“It’s hard to even think about such things with this little guy finally here,” Nancy said, glowing with happiness.
“Yes, but he needs to sleep as well.” Faith took the baby from Grace. “I promise that if he needs anything I can’t provide, I will put out a call for help. For now, and speaking as the only person who had several consecutive hours of sleep last night, I’m in charge, and you are ordered to rest.”
She swept from the room with little Jack, looking forward to spending time with him, and dreaming of holding her own child one day. For so long she’d buried those dreams, but now there was nothing to stop them from coming true.
CHAPTER25
The little blue booklet read,Fifteenth AnnualCommencement ofthe MedicalDepartment ofWillamette University. Faith bolstered her heart to take courage. This was a happy evening for her friends, and she wanted very much to honor them. She’d even worn the dress her mother had made when they’d thought Faith would also graduate.
“You came,” Malcolm declared, pushing through the crowded foyer of the First Methodist Church of Portland. “You look beautiful. I saved you seats with my family.”
Faith smiled and looked to her father and Andrew. “Is that all right with the two of you?”
“Sounds perfect,” her father replied.
“Good.” Malcolm seemed pleased. “I’m hoping we’ll be able to get together afterward. There’s so much to talk about. I’m sure you’ve heard what happened with Mr. Lakewood and Mr. Berkshire.”
“Yes, we know all about it,” Faith admitted.
Malcolm nodded, seeming already to be thinking of something else. “I’ll show you where my parents are seated.”
Faith followed him, knowing her father and Andrew wouldn’t allow her far from their sight. There were still so many unansweredquestions, and instead of feeling safer, Faith now felt even more in danger. Someone had murdered Samuel Lakewood and Gerome Berkshire. And it was very possible that the threats made by Mr. Lakewood toward her and her family actually came from his superior—perhaps the very man who had ended his life.
“Mother, Father, I want to introduce my dear friend Faith Kenner.”
Faith smiled at the couple. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Digby. Let me in turn introduce my father, Lance Kenner, and my fiancé, Captain Andrew Gratton.”
Malcolm’s expression momentarily flashed with pain. “You’re engaged?”
“Just. We can talk about it later.” Faith laid a gentle hand on his arm. “Is Violet here?”
“Yes. She’s already seated down front. I wish you were graduating with us. It’s not fair that you were expelled.”
“No, it’s not,” a voice said behind Faith. She turned to find the college’s president, Josiah Parrish. He smiled. “That’s why we’re allowing you to graduate with your class.”
Faith thought her heart might have stopped beating. For a moment it seemed the entire room went silent. “What?”
“I had a meeting two hours ago with the Board of Trustees. I explained the situation, and we all agreed that as our top student, it was foolish to allow Lakewood to dictate your expulsion. You will, of course, have to submit your thesis and complete your final exams, but I’ve no doubt that you can accomplish those things with little difficulty. I apologize for putting you through this ordeal, and I hope you’ll still be willing to accept a certificate from our institution.”
“Mr. Parrish, I’m pleased to hear this,” Faith’s father said, extending his hand. “Thank you.”
“This is wonderful news. Wait until I tell Violet,” Malcolm declared before rushing off.
