Angel leaned her head back, and their gazes locked. “I’m ready to run if you are.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. Her smell, touch, and warmth filled him with desire. Not for lovemaking, but for the peace and contentment she showered on those she loved.
How cold my life was before my Angel.
As the buggy entered the main street of town, Angel wondered if maybe they shouldn’t all make a run for it. Then she dismissed the idea. A life on the run with the size of this family would be almost impossible. She still had faith in the justice system, no matter how flawed it sometimes seemed to be.
Nate took her hand, squeezing it lightly. She bent and planted a kiss on Julia-Rose’s head and squeezed back. She murmured a silent prayer, begging the Lord to guide the judge into a decision that would allow them to keep the children.
Briefly, she touched her belly where her secret sat snug and safe. A small smile flitted across her face, as she prayed Nate’s reaction to her announcement would be welcoming.
The buggy came to a halt, and the four boys jumped out, surprisingly quiet for them. Nate had explained the meaning of the hearing, with both he and Angel assuring them the judge would rule in their favor. By the looks on their faces, it didn’t seem they had much confidence in this hearing, either.
Much to Angel’s surprise, the Belfords did not make an appearance at their house to see the children while they were waiting for the hearing to continue.
Damian’s instructions were also a surprise. He wanted the children with them. When Nate questioned the wisdom of that decision, he merely responded based on what the Hales had told him, the children themselves might be their best defense. He’d refused to elaborate, so they followed his instructions, and now they all walked toward the courthouse.
The boys looked splendid in their clean, pressed clothes, and Julia-Rose wore a frilly pink dress with a matching bonnet.
Damian waited for them, and smiled brightly as he looked the children over. He gave Julia-Rose a little pinch on her cheek, and smiled at Angel and Nate.
“You all look fine. Wipe those scared expressions off your faces.” He chuckled as he led them all into the courthouse, where the clerk ushered them inside. The Belfords and their attorney were already seated.
Nate nodded briefly to the Belfords, and joined Angel and Damian at the head table. The boys, with Matt holding Julia-Rose, sat on the bench directly behind him.
Almost immediately, the door opened and the judge entered. As soon as Julia-Rose saw the solemn looking man, she reached out. “Mama, up.”
Angel took her from Matt as the judge smiled in her direction.
“Your Honor,” Damian began once the judge sat and adjusted his spectacles, “the petitioners have maintained charges against my clients that I would like to address at this time.”
“You may proceed.” The judge nodded.
“I have here in my hand a signed and sworn-to testimony from Mr. Davis Templeton and Mrs. Emmaline Templeton, who maintains the so-called kidnapping by Mr. Nathan Hale ten years ago, was no more than a misunderstanding. They never pressed charges, and indeed never even reported it to the sheriff at the time.”
“Your Honor, I would like to see that, please.” The Belford’s attorney rose and took the paper from Damian’s hand. He skimmed the document, and handed it to the Belfords. They frowned while reading, but made no comment. After perusing the information, he returned it to the judge and sat down.
“May I continue?” Damian asked.
“Yes, go on.” The judge set the paper aside.
“I also have a Western Union from a Miss Hortense Pennington, the Headmistress of Miss Pennington’s Finishing School for Young Ladies of New York City. She states even though Mrs. Hale had been discharged from the school due to a valuable necklace being found in her room, no charges were brought against her. Additionally, no evidence of Mrs. Hale’s involvement in the episode ever existed. In fact, Miss Pennington indicates she’d always felt the missing necklace had been placed there by another student who later received an expulsion from the school.”
He passed that document to the other attorney, who went through the same procedure and then handed it to the judge.
“Your Honor,” Damian began, “you see before you a happy and healthy family. Mr. Nathan Hale provides adequately for his family by virtue of ownership of a busy gunsmith shop. Mrs. Hale is home all day with her children, and even earns extra money for the family by tutoring. They are upstanding members of the community, attend church regularly, and the boys are doing well in school.”
“Do you have anything to add to this hearing, Mr. Strickland?” The judge addressed his question to the other attorney.
“Yes, I do.” Straightening his tie, and clearing his throat, he stood. “Amy Belford Hale, the children’s natural mother, was a devout Catholic. When she and Mr. Hale married, he agreed to raise any children in the Catholic faith. Mr. and Mrs. Belford have reason to believe he is not living up to the agreement. They love their daughter’s children and feel under their loving guidance the children will be raised the way their mother would have wanted.”
“Mr. Strickland,” the judge frowned, “this court is not prepared to rule on the best religion to raise children in.”
“No, Your Honor,” he continued quickly, “it’s simply a matter of Nathan Hale and the Belfords effecting an agreement not being honored.”
“Your Honor.” Damian stood and addressed the judge.
“Yes, Mr. Lawton.”
“I would like to conduct a little experiment for the court.”
“An experiment? This is a Court of Law, sir.”
“Yes, I know, but please bear with me.”
“Go ahead. If I feel you’re wasting my time, you’ll hear about it.”
“Thank you.” Damian walked to where the Hale children sat.
“Mrs. Belford,” he turned to her, “I would like you to come here, and take Luke Hale by the hand.”
“Your Honor.” Strickland rose from his seat. ”This is nonsense, and a waste of the court’s time.”
“I’ve already said I will decide what wastes the court’s time. And so far, I see no reason to stop this.” He nodded in Damian’s direction. “Proceed, Mr. Lawton.”
Mrs. Belford rose, and slowly walked across the room. She studied the four boys for a few minutes and then hesitantly took Mark by the hand.
“Your Honor,” Damian said with a slight grin, “this devoted grandmother just took the hand of Mark Hale. She doesn’t even know her own grandchildren!”
“I was confused.” Emily Belford blushed furiously. “They’re so close in age, it’s hard to tell.”
Damian turned to the judge. “Yes, Your Honor. Except Luke Hale is an identical twin, and should be easily recognized, as one of two boys who look exactly alike. Had she picked his twin, it would have been acceptable, but she picked the wrong child completely.”
The judge tilted his head slightly as he studied the Belfords. He returned his gaze to the four boys, smiled, and winked. He pushed his spectacles to his forehead. “This court rules against the petitioners. I see no reason why this family should be torn apart. However,” the judge looked at Nate and Angel, “it’s important for children to know all their family. I find it a sad thing this grandmother doesn’t know her own grandchildren. I don’t know who is at fault here, but I suggest the two families work out an arrangement that allows these children to know their deceased mother’s parents.”
He banged his gravel once. “Case dismissed.”
Angel took a deep breath for the first time since the hearing began. She hugged the boys, tears standing in her eyes. Nate pulled them all close, until John shouted, “I’m being squished!”
Nate
walked over to Damian, and held out his hand. “Thanks so much, Damian. I can’t tell you how relieved Angel and I are.”
“They never really had a chance. I can’t imagine why they even went through this.”
“I think they were motivated more by dislike for me than anything else.”
The Belfords approached Damian, Nate and Angel.
“I know who’s at fault here.” Mr. Belford twisted his hat in his hands, his face red. “My wife and I have been stubborn in our refusal to see the children. We felt Amy would come around and apologize to us, and then after she died we were too heartbroken at losing our last child to close the riff. If you and your wife will allow it, Nate, we’d like to see the children from time to time. They’re our only link to Amy.”
Nate held out his hand. “Louis, I apologize also. When I told you years ago to leave after your disagreement with Amy, I never meant for it to be permanent. I guess there’s wrongdoing on both sides. Angel and I would be more than happy to have you and Emily visit. Children can never have too many people to love.”
Louis Belford blew out a deep breath, and shook Nate’s hand. Nodding in Angel’s direction, he escorted his wife out the door.
Damian watched the older couple leave the courtroom and turned to Nate. “I wonder if they conjured up this whole thing as a way to breach the gap.”
Nate shrugged. “Who knows? I’ll stop by your office tomorrow to settle our bill.”
“No. All done.” Taking in Nate’s surprised expression, he laughed. “Eli already paid your bill. He said he didn’t want to see his fiancée upset over your problems.”
“Well, I’ll have to thank him. But thanks again to you.”
As they turned to leave, the lawyer called them back. “I wonder if you could pass along information to Mrs. Hardwick?”
“Be more than happy to,” Nate said.
“Even though Eli preferred to dismiss the matter with your stepmother, ma’am,” he nodded in Angel’s direction, “I took it upon myself to follow up with the New York City Police Department.
“It seems when the attorney for your late father’s estate did the computations, he miscalculated and overlooked one of the depositors. When the police questioned him after the depositor contacted them, he said the matter had been closed, and all the remaining funds had been released to Mrs. Hardwick. Of course, he failed to mention to the police Mrs. Hardwick did not receive anywhere near the amount of money the depositor claimed. When they found she’d left the state, they issued the warrant for her arrest. All this nonsense could have been cleared up with proper communication. Tell Mrs. Hardwick the attorney offered his apologies for the trouble he caused.”
Angel blew out a deep breath. “I knew Sylvia didn’t know anything about missing money. I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear this. Thanks again, Damian.”
They shook hands once more, and gathering up his papers, Damian left the court. Nate and Angel led the children out of the courtroom.
“I think this calls for a celebration,” Nate said.
Beaming brightly, Angel agreed. “How about peppermint sticks from the mercantile?”
Their gazes met over the heads of their children, and smiled at the chorus of excited cheers.
Eli, Sylvia, and Lucy sat at the long dining room table. A crisp white tablecloth graced the length of the cherry wood table set with china, crystal and silver, glowing in the light of the candelabra on the table and the fireplace against the wall. The family chose from platters of ham, codfish, and several vegetables. Sylvia passed a silver basket of hot rolls, covered in a white linen napkin. Each of them had a goblet of water, and a smaller one of wine.
Lucy drained her glass of wine, and reached for the decanter.
“Lucy, it would be better if you ate your dinner, and drank less of the wine.” Eli frowned as he removed the decanter from her reach.
“I’m not particularly hungry, Papa.” The girl slurred her words as she reached again for the decanter.
Eli shook his head and continued to eat. Sylvia watched the play between father and daughter with dismay. Eli purposely avoided a confrontation with the girl, and she feared it wouldn’t end well. She glanced at Lucy to see her glaring hatefully in her direction.
“When are you and her,”—Lucy nodded in Sylvia’s direction—“getting hitched?”
“Our wedding is in two weeks.” Eli glowed. “Pastor Dunn will perform the ceremony, and I’ve arranged for a small reception to follow at the hotel.”
Sipping her wine, Lucy smirked at her father. “I’ll check my social calendar.”
Eli smiled brightly, obviously missing the sarcasm. “Yes, we want to make sure you’re there. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“Lucy,” Sylvia said, “can you give me a list of friends you may want to invite?”
“No thanks, Mrs. Hardwick, I don’t have any friends.”
“That’s not true.” Eli laid his fork down and addressed her. “You have plenty of friends. There were dozens at your party. I haven’t seen any of them around lately. You’re spending too much time by yourself for a young beautiful girl.”
“I’ve told you, everyone is so boring. And the people who came to my party would not be interested in your wedding.”
“What about some of the young men? You used to have so many of them underfoot.” Eli tried again.
“They’re too young. Much too immature.” She looked at Sylvia over her wine glass and smiled. “I prefer an older man.”
Chapter 21
Angel hurried Sylvia into the church. Even though her wedding day had dawned rainy and chilly, Sylvia looked beautiful as only she could. Angel fussed with her stepmother’s outfit, adjusting, and smoothing where necessary. “You look wonderful.” She bent and kissed Sylvia on the cheek.
Her beige silk and lace gown with matching hat, and a small bouquet of white roses made for a simple but elegant bride’s outfit. As she followed Angel down the aisle of the church on Nate’s arm, the bride looked serene and happy.
Eli stood at the front of the church, beaming. The pride and love, so evident on his face, brought tears to Angel’s eyes. She joined Sylvia, Nate and Eli in the Sanctuary as the pastor began the service. Throughout the service, Julia-Rose, settled in Mrs. Darby’s lap in the second pew, shouted over and over, “Mama, up please.” Nate and Angel grinned at each other.
Angel thought back to her wedding in this very church, performed by Pastor Dunn. Little did that scared, tired, and sick young woman realize she was about to begin the greatest adventure of her life. She glanced at Nate who studied her as if knowing her very thoughts. He winked, and gave her that heart-thumping smile. Perhaps he did know her thoughts. He certainly knew her heart.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom led the gathering to the wedding breakfast. The newly redecorated hotel looked as bright and fresh as the bride. The deep red carpet complemented the gold and red wallpaper shipped from San Francisco only a few weeks before the wedding.
Angel settled the boys at a table with a few other children. Tables set for the fifty-odd guests were adorned with gold tablecloths, white china plates with a gold rim, and more white roses. Crystal water and wine glasses, and heavy silver dining utensils completed the arrangements.
Angel smoothed Matt’s hair back from his forehead, and met the gaze of each boy. “Now you mind your manners, gentlemen. Remember what I told you.”
“All right, Mama. You told us about a hundred times.” Mark groused.
Angel’s heart leapt, and tears flooded her eyes. My goodness, I’m a watering pot these days. She still hadn’t gotten used to the boys calling her ‘Mama.’ She touched her stomach, wondering how they’d take the news of another baby in the house.
Lucy sat in sulky silence throughout the wedding ceremony and the breakfast. Angel gl
anced in her direction several times to see her glaring back with hate in her eyes. The young woman downed glass after glass of champagne, until it became obvious she was getting very drunk.
Afraid of Lucy causing Eli embarrassment, Angel nudged Nate and whispered in his ear. “I think you should try to take Lucy home. It looks like it may become awkward for Eli and Sylvia. I would hate to see their day ruined.”
“Oh, honey, no.” Nate groaned. “The last thing I want to do is be alone with Lucy.”
“Take Matt with you.” Angel nodded in the direction of the children’s table. “If she makes a scene, it will embarrass and upset Eli. He doesn’t deserve that.”
Nate stretched his neck muscles. “You’re right. I’ll try.”
He pushed his chair back and headed to the table where the children sat. He bent and whispered to Matt, who stood and left the room. Then he walked over to Lucy, and sat alongside her. She immediately beamed at him, and grabbed onto his arm. They talked for a few minutes, and then they both rose to leave.
Angel carried Julia-Rose, who had fallen asleep in her lap, over to Sylvia.
“Nate’s taking Lucy home,” she said quietly, sitting alongside her.
Sylvia nodded. “Thanks. I worried about where that was headed.”
Angel shifted the baby from one arm to another. “Something has to be done about her.”
“I know. Once Eli and I return from our trip to San Francisco, we’re going to see about hiring a companion for Lucy. Eli spoke with Dr. Penrose a few days ago. He thought that might be for the best. With all of this,” she waved her hand around the room, “it got pushed aside.”
“Good luck with that.” Angel sighed.
Nate had his arm around Lucy, half carrying her. He hoped no one noticed her condition. A few heads turned their way when he helped her up. If someone didn’t rein her in soon, he could see disaster on the horizon.
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