“Yes, I know,” Father said. “I hope we can talk about you visiting Minneapolis in the near future.”
“I would like that.”
Father’s face beamed. “I am hoping to hold a tent revival and would like for you to speak—”
“I am focusing on promoting aviation,” Lindbergh said with a quick nod. “Nothing more. Thank you.” He moved on, dismissing Father as he continued to shake hands.
I could see the surprise in Father’s face. He was the one who usually dismissed people.
As we all took our seats and the ceremony to award Lindbergh the first ever Distinguished Flying Cross medal began, Father sat silently between Mother and me—his chin lowered in both disappointment and contemplation.
An hour later, we were on our way back to our hotel.
Father was quiet as he stared out the cab window.
Mother and I shared a glance, and Mother finally said, “Things will work out, Daniel. I don’t know what you were hoping for when you spoke to Lindbergh, but God has a way of surprising us if it’s His will. His plans are better than ours.”
Father pulled his gaze back into the car and smiled at Mother. He reached out to her and, in a rare show of affection, patted her hand. “You’re right, Marian. I won’t lose sight of God’s sovereignty. I never do.”
His ability to control his emotions, yet keep his dogged determination, amazed me. How could he be so disciplined? So ... perfect? Day after day, I saw his unwillingness to waver in his calling. It was inspiring—and intimidating. He wholeheartedly believed that every Christian should pursue their calling with the same intensity, and he pushed those around him to be as passionate as him.
Yet, I had no desire to follow in his footsteps. At least, not on such a large scale. Every time he pushed me to do more, be louder, fight harder, all I saw were my inadequacies. I feared I was a disappointment to him and to God. But I tried anyway, and would keep trying, even though the pressure intensified as his international audience grew.
“Lindbergh’s wholesome appeal has captured the attention of the world,” Father said. “If he were willing to come to Minneapolis and speak at one of my tent revivals, I believe we wouldsee one of the greatest awakenings in our country’s history, while strengthening our stance on the benefits of Prohibition. But how to get him to come?” He looked out the window again, and I knew that whatever obstacles stood in his way would not be there for long. Somehow, my father would find a way, and Mother and I would be beside him.
We arrived at the Willard Hotel and went to our separate rooms. Irene had decided to nap, but I couldn’t sleep after all the excitement and had pulled a book out of my purse. It was my favorite story,Gulliver’s Travels, one I’d read countless times and never tired of.
A few minutes after I settled into my book, a knock at our door startled me. When I opened it, I found a bellboy standing in the hallway with a silver tray. Atop it was an envelope.
“A letter for you, Miss Baldwin.”
“Thank you.” I accepted the letter and gave him a coin for his trouble, then closed the door and took a seat near the window for better light.
The envelope was addressed to me, but there was no return address. The only person who knew I would be in Washington, DC, was my sister-in-law, Ruth.
My heart started to pound hard as I slipped my finger under the envelope flap. Ruth lived in Minneapolis with my oldest brother, Andrew, and their three small children. What was so urgent that she couldn’t wait to tell me until I returned home?
I pulled the single paper out of the envelope and scanned the contents, dread filling my chest.
My dearest Caroline,
I’m desperate and do not know where else to turn. You are aware of some of Andrew’s choices since his return from the war, but you do not know them all. I have wanted to spare you from the worst of it, but I fear this will not keep. A woman by the name of Alice Pierce has contacted me, claiming she is carrying Andrew’s illegitimate child. She isbut one of many indiscretions Andrew has had over the course of our marriage, though many of them have been paid to disappear. You may wonder why I stay with Andrew, but I think you know the answer. A divorce would scandalize your father’s name, and I love your parents too much to let that happen. This is my burden to bear, and I have taken up the call, though I do falter from time to time.
I don’t know if Alice is truly pregnant, or if she is trying to blackmail us. Andrew says she means nothing to him. A dancer at a nightclub from Saint Paul. He is attempting to ignore the situation, but I fear that if we continue to disregard it, she will approach your parents.
I’m imploring you to keep your eye out for Alice, and if you see her, please deflect her. I will continue to work on Andrew to deal with this situation, but you know how stubborn he can be.
Please pray for Andrew. He is not the man I married, nor has our life been what I thought it would be. I naively believed Reverend Baldwin’s son would be as God-fearing and honorable as his father. Perhaps he was at one time, but the war changed him. It changed us all.
I long to see you again, dear Caroline. Please know I only share this with you to ask for your help, not your pity.
Love,
Ruth
I crumpled the letter and lowered my head, lifting my feeble prayers to a God I hoped would listen.
Father’s calling had not only impacted my life, but it had overflowed into my brothers’ lives, as well, though it seemed only Ruth was suffering. She couldn’t divorce Andrew for fear of a scandal, so she stayed and put up with the pain.
