The Christmas Secret (8 page)

“Raymond had been courting Cassandra, and just when I thought Charles might ask to court me, he turned to her instead.”

“So you wrote that Cassandra was pregnant with my father’s child, hoping Charles would read it and refuse to marry her?”

“I didn’t think anyone would read my journal. I only put my frustrated thoughts on paper in an effort to alleviate my pain. By pretending in my mind that Cassandra only married Charles because she was desperate and needed a husband, I was able to deal with the disappointment I felt because he didn’t choose me.” Lovina shook her head slowly, as more tears fell. “I—I truly never intended to hurt anyone.”

David stood several seconds, staring down at the pathetic, ailing woman. She’d had her heart broken once, and he didn’t think he should break it again by telling her what horrible pain the lie in her journal had caused. If he could find out where Elizabeth had gone and tell her the truth about the journal, he was sure she would agree to marry him, and everything would be all right. When he returned to Allentown, his first stop would be to see Helen. Maybe by now she would have heard from Elizabeth. If so he hoped to persuade her to tell him where Elizabeth had gone.

Elizabeth sat at the table in Grandma’s kitchen with a cup of tea and the letter she’d just received from Helen.

Tears pricked the back of Elizabeth’s eyes, and her hands shook as she quickly jammed the letter into her skirt pocket. She couldn’t believe Helen had betrayed her confidence and told David about Aunt Lovina’s journal. It was just a matter of time before Helen would tell David where she was, and then he would come here. She couldn’t face him—couldn’t discuss the horrible truth about who her real father was.

She pushed back her chair and hurried into the parlor, where Grandma and Grandpa sat on the sofa, reading.

“I appreciate you putting me up these last few weeks, but I can’t stay here any longer,” she said.

Grandma looked up. “Are you going home for Christmas?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I need to go someplace where I can be alone. I need time to think and work things through.”

“Have we been too intrusive?” Grandma questioned, her dark eyes full of obvious concern. “Because if we have, we can certainly keep quiet about things.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “It’s not that. I just need to be by myself for a while.”

“Where will you go?” Grandma asked.

“I—I don’t know. Maybe I can stay in one of the boarding homes here in Coopersburg.”

“But that would cost money,” Grandma said, “and why pay for a room when you can stay right here?”

“Say, I have an idea,” Grandpa spoke up. “Why don’t you stay in your cousin Marvin’s cabin? He and his wife, Isabelle, are in New Jersey right now, visiting her parents. They won’t be back until Christmas, so you’d have two weeks to be alone. Then your grandma and I will join the three of you at the cabin for Christmas dinner.”

Elizabeth thought about Grandpa’s suggestion and finally nodded. “There’s just one thing,” she said. “I need you both to promise that you won’t tell anyone where I’ve gone.”

Grandma’s eyebrows lifted. “Not even your father?”

Elizabeth shook her head.

“I’m sure he and Abigail will want to spend Christmas with you. Do you think it’s right not to tell them where you are?” Grandpa asked.

“I wrote them a letter saying I would be spending Christmas with you. Please promise that if David comes here looking for me, you won’t tell him where I’ve gone.”

Grandpa looked at Grandma, and when she nodded, he looked at Elizabeth and said, “We won’t say a word.”

“Thank you.” Elizabeth turned toward the stairs. “I’d better go upstairs and pack. I need to leave for the cabin right away.”

A
s David approached the Warners’ house, he quickened his steps. He could hardly wait to tell Helen about his visit with Lovina.

As he stepped onto the porch, the door flew open, and a very surprised-looking Helen stepped out, holding a large red bow and several sprigs of holly. “Oh, you scared me, David! I didn’t know anyone was on the porch.”

“I just got here.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I was about to put these decorations on the railing, and then I have some more decorating to do inside.” She brushed past him and started down the stairs.

“I need to speak with you,” he said, matching her stride.

“I—I really don’t have time to talk right now.”

“It won’t take long, and it’s very important.”

She halted and turned to face him, lifting her chin a notch. “If this is about Elizabeth, I’ve already told you more than I should have, and I won’t tell you anything else.”

“It is about Elizabeth, but I think you need to hear what I have to say.” He motioned to the house. “Can we go inside where it’s warmer so I can tell you my good news?”

“What’s that?”

“I discovered that Elizabeth’s aunt Lovina lives in Philadelphia, and I went to see her.”

Helen’s face blanched. “You went there to ask about the journal, didn’t you?”

He nodded. “Can we go inside so I can tell you what she said?”

“Oh, all right.” Helen turned, and David followed her up the stairs and into the house, where he was greeted by the pleasant aroma of freshly baked apple pies.

“Let’s go in there.” Helen motioned to the kitchen. “Mother’s in the parlor, visiting with some of her friends from church, and I don’t want to disturb them.”

David entered the kitchen behind Helen, and after she’d placed her holiday decorations on the counter, they both took seats at the table.

“Tell me what Lovina had to say about the journal,” Helen said, slipping her woolen shawl off her shoulders and placing it in her lap.

“She said that what she’d written about my father being Elizabeth’s father was a lie,” David said. Then he went on to explain the rest of what Lovina had told him.

“Oh my!” Helen drew in a sharp breath and covered her mouth with the palm of her hand. “Elizabeth needs to know about this.”

“Yes, she certainly does. She also needs to see the note Lovina signed, admitting she’d lied, and assuring Elizabeth that Charles Canning is indeed her real father.”

Helen’s face broke into a wide smile. “That’s wonderful, David! Elizabeth will be so relieved to hear this news. I should write to her immediately.”

“So you know where she is?” he asked.

Helen’s cheeks turned pink as she gave a slow nod. “I got a letter from her a while back.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” David’s voice was edged with the irritation he felt.

“Elizabeth asked me not to tell anyone, and since I’d already broken my promise and told you about the journal, I felt I had to respect her wishes and not tell you where she’s been staying.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Things are different now that we know the truth. I feel it’s important that I be the one to tell Elizabeth what her aunt had to say.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Helen said with a nod. “She’s been staying at her grandparents’ house in Coopersburg.”

David snapped his fingers. “Of course! Don’t know why I didn’t think to look for her there.”

“Do you have the address?” Helen asked.

“Yes. I went there with Elizabeth several months ago to tell her grandparents that we were engaged.”

“When will you leave?”

“As soon as I can secure a train ticket and line out some jobs for Gus to do while I’m gone.” David pushed back his chair and stood. “I’m headed over to the shop right now.”

Helen smiled. “May God be with you and grant you a safe trip.”

Elizabeth had been staying in her cousin’s cabin for two days, and despite her desire to be alone, she was lonely and more depressed than ever. Besides missing the sights and sounds of Christmas, being in her cousin’s cabin made her think about David and the little cabin they would have shared if they’d been able to get married. Maybe she’d made a mistake leaving Grandpa and Grandma’s. She missed Grandpa’s cheerful smile and Grandma’s tasty cooking. She missed the times she’d spent with them around the fire each evening. At least in her grandparents’ house she’d been surrounded by their happiness, making the days a bit more pleasant.

As hard as Elizabeth tried to fight it, the loneliness became heavier, surrounding her like a burdensome piece of clothing. She shivered and tossed another log onto the fire.
If Grandpa were here, he’d be tending the fire, and Grandma would probably be baking.

With a sigh she took a seat in the rocking chair and pulled a lightweight quilt across her lap. It was cold outside. She could hear the wind whipping through the trees.

Snow could be coming soon,
Elizabeth thought.
I wonder if I should go outside and bring in a few more logs for the fire.
Looking up, she noticed a ladybug creeping along the wall as though desperately searching for a warm gap to crawl into until spring. She remembered reading that in some countries they believed a ladybug was a sign of good luck, and although she didn’t believe in folklore, this one time she wished it were true.

As she stared into the fire, she thought about Aunt Lovina’s journal and how on the day her grandparents had gone Christmas shopping she’d tossed it into the fire. As she’d watched the flames consume the journal, it had done nothing to alleviate her pain.

Elizabeth leaned her head back and closed her eyes, feeling drowsy from the heat of the fire.
I’ll just sit here and rest awhile before I go out for more logs.

Sometime later, Elizabeth was roused from her sleep by the whinny of a horse. She leaped to her feet and raced to the window, surprised to see her cousin, Marvin, helping his wife, Isabelle, down from their carriage. As they walked toward the cabin, Elizabeth opened the door.

“Elizabeth, what are you doing here?” Marvin said, a quizzical expression on his face.

Elizabeth quickly explained, adding that their grandparents had said she would be alone until Marvin and Isabelle returned for Christmas.

“My mother is doing better, and so we decided to come back earlier than planned,” Isabelle explained. She smiled up at her handsome, dark-haired husband. “We’re looking forward to spending our first Christmas together in this cozy little cabin.”