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“My great-aunt Agatha has been hard at work on that. She has a distant relative in mind to adopt the baby, a couple who has been unable to have children. My sister has agreed it would be a good place for her child. If everyone continues with the arrangement, then my sister will most likely join us back here in Minneapolis after the baby is born.”

“It sounds like a satisfactory resolution. Mrs. Turner and I adopted several of our children. Some were from very bad situations.”

“I had no idea. I knew you had quite a few but didn’t realize some of them weren’t your own.”

“Oh, never say that. They were very much our own in every way that mattered. We had nothing but blessings from those adoptions.”

“I didn’t mean to say anything against it. It would seem I need to think before engaging my mouth.”

Dr. Turner laughed. “It’s a lesson for all of us. I will say this on my granddaughter’s behalf—she has a good head on her shoulders. She’s received a college education and is quite intelligent. She’ll figure all of this out, I assure you.”

“I had no idea she attended college. What did she study?”

“She had a general education with some emphasis on literature and art. She was never quite sure what interested her enough to focus her attention on, so her father encouraged her to just enjoy learning. That’s what she did. She’s been well brought up, and though her faith in God was very shaken when her friend died, she’s a godly young woman of deep resolve.”

“Resolve for what?” Erik hadn’t meant to ask this aloud.

“Resolve to do God’s work for the less fortunate.” Dr. Turner gave a slight shrug, not in the leastwise offended at Erik’s pursuit of the matter. “It seems to run in our lineage.”

“There are worse things for a family to be known for.”

“Of course, you’re right,” Dr. Turner said, smiling. “Ah, I hear Mrs. Turner in the hall. Let us go and see her to her meeting.”

Erik was glad he’d been able to explain himself to Dr. Turner. He’d never shared his sister’s secret with anyone in town before this. He was still nursing his anger toward the father of her child. Still wanted to challenge the man to a duel as they might have done in the days of old.

God stressed to him to forgive and press forward, forgetting that which was behind. But it wasn’t easy. His sister’s life would be forever changed and all because one man refused to stand by his actions and be honorable. Erik thought of Leah’s reaction toward such men and had to admit her anger matched his own.

“I’ll join my wife in the back seat,” Dr. Turner said, assisting his wife into the car.

Joining the driver in the front seat of Dr. Turner’s new Cadillac, they waited while the doctor and Mrs. Turner settled themselves in the back. The temperature seemed even colder than it had earlier, but at least the skies were bright and blue. Hopefully the snows would hold off for a time, since the streets were only fairly passable.

“Everyone ready?” the driver asked.

“We are quite snug,” Dr. Turner replied. “In fact, you can take the long way around to dropping Mrs. Turner off. I am quite content to snuggle up under this blanket and enjoy her warmth.”

“Oh goodness, Roman.” She laughed, and it warmed Erik’s heart. They were so good together. “I do love being close to you but wish they would come up with some sort of heater for these cars.”

“We have the best car made. Young Erik didn’t even have to get out in the weather to crank start it for the driver. You can’t have everything.” Dr. Turner laughed. “I shall have to be your heater.”

4

Leah waited anxiously for some response from her parents now that she’d finished explaining her plans, though she was still smarting from Dr. Sjolander’s criticism. How dare the man pass judgment on her? They’d only just met. He knew nothing about her.

She continued to eat her dinner as her anger mounted. Erik Sjolander might be handsome, but he was just plain rude. Drawing a deep breath, she held it a moment and forced her mind to clear. Letting the breath out slowly, she imagined Erik Sjolander fading away. She glanced at her parents and knew at once they were really considering all that she had proposed.

“I like the idea overall,” her father said at last. “I believe there is definitely a need.”

“As do I,” Mother agreed. “Still, it’s a great deal to take on.”

“That’s why I want to discuss all the details with you and Father and of course my grandparents. I spoke to them this morning.”

“And what did they have to say?” Mother asked.

Leah cut into the last bit of her roast beef. “They were very supportive. They even plan to set up a new charity for the house and services it will provide. They don’t want me to have to use all my inheritance.”

“I hardly think there’s risk of that,” Mother replied. “Of course we’ll help as well.”

Leah had hoped this would be their response. “I want to start looking for a place immediately. It should be something grand, a home like what these young women will have known.”