Only Faith remained sober. Even Andrew was grinning from ear to ear. “But ...” She glanced around. There were so many people here, and she didn’t want to reveal the details of her ancestry to the entire world. “There was that one issue Mr. Lakewood brought up.” She prayed Parrish would understand what she was hinting at.
He nodded. “Lakewood told me it was a lie. He only said it to further discredit you in case your father wanted to sue the college.”
Faith looked at her father. Should she allow Parrish to believe it was a lie? That seemed even more a sin than neglecting to tell the truth in the first place. She couldn’t keep lying. Not in such an important situation. Her father gave her a reassuring smile.
Faith squared her shoulders. “Mr. Parrish, it wasn’t a lie. I’m not sure why Mr. Lakewood would tell you that, but what he said was true. I can’t accept your offer based on the restrictions of the college.”
Parrish looked at her for a moment. “You fulfilled all that was expected of you, and frankly, that is all I find necessary in order to give you your certificate.”
“But—”
Father put his hand on Faith’s shoulder. “You did the required work. If Mr. Parrish, as president of the medical college, is satisfied, then we should accept his offer.”
Faith began to tear up. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’d better take your seat. We’re about to begin the ceremony,” Mr. Parrish declared. “Oh, and I will see you first thing in my office tomorrow morning to schedule your exams.”
Andrew handed her a handkerchief, and she quickly dabbed her eyes. “I’ll be there, Mr. Parrish. Bright and early.”
Father kissed the top of her head. “I’m very proud of you. Now, go take your place with your friends. I will be here with Andrew to cheer you on.”
She hugged her father, then turned to Andrew to give back his handkerchief.
“Keep it for now,” he said. “I have a feeling there will be more tears.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I usually am, Dr. Kenner.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Soon to be Dr. Gratton.”
“Your father said the police asked you questions about Mr. Lakewood and Mr. Berkshire.” Faith sat alone with her mother.
“They did,” Faith agreed, “but I told them there wasn’t much to tell. They had heard about Lakewood getting me expelled and suggested I had a powerful reason to kill him.”
“Oh dear. What did you say?”
“I told them it was a powerful reason to kill him—if I were a vengeful person. But I told them that I was a child of God, and they asked what that had to do with anything.” Faith looked in the mirror to check the veil on her head. “This is crooked.”
Hope reached for a hairpin. “I’m sure I can fix it. So what did you tell them when they asked that?”
“I shared the plan of salvation. I told them how we were all sinners and that the penalty of sin is death. But that it isn’t a death one could deliver to another—it was eternal death that God alone would decide. I told them how Jesus knew that penalty and still came to earth to die in our place. I must have talked about that for fifteen or twenty minutes. I finally ended by saying that if God could forgive me and give me eternal life,I could forgive Samuel Lakewood and allow him his earthly life. Father just sat there with a smile on his face.”
Hope laughed and worked to straighten the veil. “I’ll bet he did.”
“Hopefully they’ll leave me alone now and look elsewhere. Father told them he could raise at least a dozen witnesses to prove I was not even in town when those men were killed, and I think that impressed them—especially since one of the witnesses was Major Wells.”
“There,” Hope declared, “you are the perfect bride.”
Since Clementine and Gabe were getting married on the thirtieth of May and family would be coming to Oregon City to join in the celebration, Clementine had suggested they share the day and have both weddings that morning. Gabe had heartily agreed.
Faith and Andrew figured they might as well have their wedding on the same day as her cousin. It had given them barely a month to plan it, but most of the work was already done, since Faith’s family in Oregon City had been working with Clementine’s family to arrange the event.
“If I am, then it’s thanks to you,” Faith said, taking another look in the mirror.
“I wish I could have been there to see you receive your certification.” Her mother’s words were barely a whisper.
“You were in spirit. I felt you there. When Mr. Parrish said he didn’t care about my Indian heritage, I felt as if you were standing beside me.” Faith turned and took her mother’s hand. “Thank you for taking me back after Eletta died—for raising me. I know it must have been hard at times, having me here as a constant reminder of what happened to you.”
