Keeping Faith by Cindy Bradford (serial 17)
Chapter 6
Cindy Bradford
As Alice was leaving to help Sue with the baby, she looked at her watch. At 8:15 she knew she was running late, but she stopped to answer the ringing phone. Her mother-in-law was just calling to say hello and invite her to lunch on Thursday, something she had continued to do even when Dwayne had moved out. Often her mother-in-law had shared her feelings about the young couple’s relationship and always she reminded Alice that she loved her like a daughter.
“I was just getting ready to walk out the door. I’m on my way to hold my new niece again. I’m so excited. She is beautiful. She looks a lot like Sue I think; only she has his eyes.”
“He did have beautiful eyes, but it would probably be easier for Sue if the baby didn’t look anything like the father,” Alice’s mother-in-law added. “What did she name her?”
“Faith.”
“Faith what?”
“You mean a middle name?”
“Yes, I’m guessing Ann.”
“No, just Faith, nothing else. It almost seems symbolic, like the baby represents that link to him. But, I think that any hope for his returning is futile. I haven’t asked her anything though. I know what you’re thinking, seems weird in East Texas not to give a child a middle name, doesn’t it?”
“Well yes, everybody here has two names whether they use them or not,” her mother-in-law answered.
“Like Sue Ann and Mary Alice,” she said with a laugh. “It’s just customary, but I don’t think Sue thinks this whole deal is very traditional or customary. She’s been really down lately.”
“But strong, don’t you think?”
“Yes, she did put his name on the birth certificate. She said she wants the baby to have his last name; even though he’s gone, he was a part of Faith, whether he wanted to be or not,” Alice added.
“I know it’s not been easy in a town like this with so many hypocrites looking down their noses. Did she ever let him know she was pregnant?”
“Nope, she said she didn’t want him to come back just because he felt guilty. He would always resent her for messing up his plans. That wouldn’t be any better life for her or Faith and certainly not for him. But she said she doubted that it would really make any difference. That’s what he had said.”
“I’m happy that she has this baby. It’s about time something good has come into both your lives. I can’t wait to see little Faith. I’m sending the cutest yellow ceramic bootie filled with fresh flowers over later this morning.”
Alice said quickly, “If you can, just bring them. We will be there all day. I’m stopping by Daylight Donuts for donut holes and pigs-in-the-blanket for our mid-morning coffee. Come join us. I know Sue would love that.”
“I’ll try; I’ll just have to see how busy I am. I have the shop by myself today, but if it’s slow, I’ll put a sign up that I’ll return later.”
“Okay; thanks for calling and try to come.”
“If I don’t, give Sue my love and tell her I’ll see her and the baby soon. Bye now.”
Pulling up to the house where she had grown up, Alice was overcome with emotion. Her parents had put so much into this place, adding the little sunroom in back. The roses were still pretty, even if showing a little neglect. Her dad had nurtured the tiny pines he planted when they first moved in, and now they were taller than the second story. Sweet gum balls and pine cones sprinkled the lawn as squirrels scampered to find a stray acorn from the neighbors’ yard. It had been years since the girls had stuck toothpicks in the sweet gum balls from the big tree in the front yard and sprayed them gold and silver for Christmas decorations. Now only the remnants of a life built together were left. The last few years were sad ones for this house, but there had been many happy times here. Today would be especially wonderful because there was new life. Alice jumped out of the car and ran into the house shouting: “Sue, where are you and my sweet bundle of Faith?”
Finding Faith lying in her cradle crying and wet, Alice began running room to room and then into the backyard, yelling and looking for Sue. Hurriedly she went to the neighbors and each time a front door opened Alice screamed “Have you seen Sue? Have you seen Sue?” but Sue was nowhere to be found.
Nothing indicated a forced entry, not that anyone in town locked their doors. Nothing seemed awry. Sue’s clothes were still in her closet. Faith’s morning bottle was empty in the sink.
When Alice reached to pick up Faith, a tiny gold ring that she remembered Patrick had given Sue last fall fell to the floor. Almost in hysterics, holding Faith, Alice called the police and waited.
≈≈≈
Alice refused to leave the house for a week, thinking any minute Sue would either come walking through the front door, or the police investigation would yield a clue. Meanwhile, she fed, bathed, changed and burped the baby girl, tending to her every need. Alice’s face was the first thing the baby saw every time she opened her eyes and the last thing when she closed them. It was her touch, smell and voice that filled Faith’s world, and finally, just eleven days after she was born, Alice took the child with all her belongings and moved her to Alice’s home, the only home the child would ever know.
From the first hour they were settled in, friends began to stop by with cards, well-wishes, gifts, food and advice.
Alice counted seventeen sleepers, six dresses, three blankets, a crocheted afghan, two bassinette sized quilts, socks, booties, diapers, countless toys, stuffed animals and miscellaneous bottles, bibs and rattles Neighbors brought casseroles, homemade bread and all manner of desserts: two blackberry cobblers, a banana pudding, oatmeal cookies, an Angel food cake and one of Grammy B’s coconut cream pies.
“What am I going to do with all of this?” a bewildered Alice asked her mother-in-law.
“As soon as everybody leaves, we’ll deliver it to the nursing home,” she whispered, “except we’re keeping that pie!”
“Have you ever seen so many cute baby things?”
“Everyone has been so thoughtful. Did you know the bank started a college fund for the baby?”
“That’s unbelievable, but what’s more unbelievable is that Sue’s gone and we may never know what happened. How could anybody do harm to someone like her? It’s just unfathomable.”
“I know, honey.” She hugged Alice and drew her close. “I’ll help you put all these things in the spare bedroom if you like.”
“That would be great. Would you read the cards off each gift so I can make a list? I want to send thank-you notes.”
“You bet.” She walked over to the kitchen cabinet for a pen and tablet. “This could take a while,” she said, smiling.
Two hours and two pots of coffee later, the women had finished the list and were arranging the closet of clothes according to sizes.
“I’m going to need to find a place for some of this. Did you ever decide who sent the silver spoon?”
“No. There wasn’t a card inside.”
“I feel bad not thanking someone. They’ll think I’m rude.”
“Maybe they wanted to be anonymous.”
“You think? That doesn’t sound like people around her,” Alice said, laughing. “It’s a puzzle, but I don’t have time to worry about a little ole spoon. It appears I have a girl to raise!”