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Leah nodded. “I appreciate your bringing it to my attention.”

“Perhaps pray on the matter,” Mother encouraged, despite knowing that Leah figured prayer to be a moot point. “I believe it’s long past time you finished wrestling with God and moved beyond your disappointment in Him.”

“Grandmother said much the same.” Leah hadn’t really meant to bring it up, but there it was.

“You’re hurting no one but yourself. God already knew the choice you would make and how you would respond. Alienating Him because He didn’t do things as you wanted hasn’t served anyone, except perhaps Satan.”

“I’m trying to put it behind me,” Leah admitted. “I truly am. I haven’t forsaken God, not really. I just don’t understand why He’s allowed all that He has. It’s hard to trust Him after praying and praying for Susanna’s health and safety for nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing.” Mother’s tone left Leah no doubt that she wasn’t about to back down from this. She knew her mother was worried about her anger. “The Lord is good, Leah. Even when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should.”

“So it was good that Susanna’s parents abandoned her and moved away? That she died alone with no one at her side?”

“Sweetheart, I think you must try to look at this beyond your own pain. Susanna belonged to God. You told me so yourself. She accepted Jesus as her Savior,” Mother continued, pushing her dessert aside. “She entrusted her soul to God, and although she made mistakes, God loved her. That never stopped just because of her circumstances.

“We have no idea what her situation was when her parents sent her away, but she wasn’t alone. She knew you still loved her as well. I’m sure of that. None of us know why she and the baby had to die. But you must allow that God knew best for her. Better than you, or even her parents.”

“I suppose I do.” Leah had admitted that truth to herself but found it unacceptable at the same time. She missed Susanna so much, and the pain just seemed to go on and on. It was her fervent hope that in helping others, she might be able to let go of her sorrow.

Why, then, did it have to be so hard?

“The Turners have invited us to join them for Thanksgiving dinner. Mrs. Turner said there would be a large number of their family, as well as friends. She hoped we would join in the celebration.”

“How marvelous. It’s been some time since we’ve attended a gathering like that. Please tell them we’ll be there.”

“I will.” Erik sampled the stew their cook had made that evening. It was as delicious as usual, and the fresh bread was better than anything they could have purchased at the bakery. Mrs. Evans had been with them since they came to Minneapolis a year ago, and though she only prepared their evening meals and the entrees were simplistic, she was well worth the money.

“We’ve had a letter from Ellie.” Dad produced it from his pocket. “You can read it for yourself, but she sounds quite happy. She said Aunt Agatha is quite loving toward her. You know my aunt never had children of her own but wanted very much to do so. It was such a pity she was barren. She would have come to care for you and Ellie when your mother . . .” His words trailed off, then he cleared his throat. “Well, you might remember the Englishman she married was in the army and was called to serve in India. By the time he died and she moved back to Michigan, you two no longer needed constant care. Anyway, Ellie said she feels no condemnation and much love. As her parent, I am more grateful than I have words to express.”

“And how goes it with plans for the adoption?”

“Everything seems to be moving along well. The couple Agatha has in mind has met with Ellie’s approval.”

“I pray it all goes well.” He thought of Leah Garrison’s friend who died. Childbirth was such a dangerous time for women. He’d lost patients from the ordeal and knew there was a limit to what could be accomplished to save mother and child in difficult situations.

“I’m glad she’s content.” Dad passed the bread plate to Erik.

“I am too. I miss her company and look forward to her coming home. Although, I know she’ll be much changed.”

It saddened him to think of the toll this entire last year had taken on his sister. She’d had a whirlwind romance, been used and abandoned, and now was separated from those who loved her most.

“The private detective we hired has been unable to find Mr. Sorenson,” Erik said. “After giving up his apartment, the detective believes he caught a train and left the area altogether. I’ve considered hiring someone else.”

“To what point, son? Let’s say you track down the man and find him. Then what? Confront him about impregnating your sister and abandoning her? The man already knows what he’s done and doesn’t care.”

“But he should.”

“There’s a lot of things people should care about. And while I wouldn’t mind putting a fist in his face, I’m too old to jump into a physical fight.”

“I’m not.”

“And what would that resolve? Your sister would still be with child, still be unmarried, and still have suffered from his cruel rejection. But you might be put in jail for threatening the man’s life.”

“He should have to pay in some way for what he did.”

“Son, you can’t dwell on the negative. It’s just as I said when your mother left us—there are things that are out of our control, but we must trust that God has a plan even in bad times. You don’t want Sorenson as a brother-in-law any more than I want to call him son. And Ellie is certainly past wanting him for a husband.”

“We failed to keep Ellie safe.”