Legacy of Silence by Belva Plain

Author:Belva Plain [Plain, Belva]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9780307805393
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-08-23T14:00:00+00:00

IT was after midnight when Lore arrived home to find Joel and Caroline still awake downstairs.

“You look as if you’ve been struck by lightning,” she cried when she had heard the tale of events.

“We were struck,” Joel said. “I don’t think either of us could pick up a kitten right now.”

Caroline lay back on the sofa. From the open door to the dining room, she was seeing what was left of the day, the flowers and the cherished crystal still on the table, waiting to be replaced in the cupboard. A few hours ago the crystal, her first extravagance since they had been in this place, had been important to her. Foolish, foolish!

Now her child lay upstairs with God only knows what terrible lonely thoughts in her poor, frenzied little head. The steady progress of time and friendly habit, working and doing together with Joel, had built a strong affection; the past had almost faded; they never spoke of it; there was no need. Now here it was, alive and back again, sorrowful and ugly.

Lore observed, “Poor Annie never had any tact. Big heart, big mouth, and not too bright. Remember?”

“To tell the truth, I don’t,” Caroline replied, “but I’m not thinking very clearly.”

“No wonder they scurried away when they brought Eve back,” Joel said. “They didn’t even wait to see her in at the front door. They realized what they had done.”

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow,” Lore said. “I’m sure I can help some. She’s had a terrible shock, and it will take a lot of explaining, that’s all.”

Through the years, Lore had always been an encouragement to fortitude and optimism. When your spirits fell, it was Lore who lifted them. Had she not done so again and again for Mama all during those darkest hours before the war? But this was different.

Disconsolate, Joel stood at the window. People in trouble always seemed unconsciously to go to a window, as if a solution somehow lay out there in the world beyond. This window, though, being open, admitted only the aroma and the sibilant rustle of warm leafage. He stood unmoving, with his hands behind his back.

People are supposed to love each other when they get married.

Suddenly, he turned around. “I’m going to write and let those people know what they’ve done, what Annie did, with her meddling in other folks’ business. She’s not going to get away with a clear conscience. Dammit, she’s not.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” advised Lore. “You’ll upset yourself for nothing. She’ll probably answer that she assumed Eve knew. Best let it rest and take care of Eve.”

“Yes, Joel, she’s right. And you were right, too,” Caroline murmured. “We should have told Eve from the start. I can’t explain why we didn’t.”

“Certainly you can. You’ve forgotten the reason. You didn’t want the neighbors to know. We were ashamed.”

He had spoken the bitter truth. But it hadn’t been only on account of the neighbors. Why should a child be given an unnecessary burden? Life was hard enough without one.

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