made no mention of the old mason jar she had described to Lily: a transparent display of those cursed dollar bills. Each one surely a reminder of a mother’s shame, no matter the reasoning behind her choice.
Instead, she kept her composure and proceeded with intent. “Now, Mr. Reed,” she said, “when Miss Palmer called, she told Doc Summers you were hunting down what happened to me and my children. Finding out about their new parents and such.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Well, when you do, when you know more, I want you to tell me. And don’t you worry, I’m not looking to steal ’em back. They’re to stay right where they are, and they’re not to hear about any of this. I just need to know firsthand that they’re safe.”
Ellis proffered a heavy smile. “I understand.”
Lily was dumbfounded. She had been certain that the point of Geraldine’s visit was to acquire Ellis’s help, to combine forces to reunite her family.
Then Ellis added gently, “And I can tell you already, Mrs. Dillard. From everything I’ve seen, they’re being well cared for, just like you hoped.”
Lily scrambled to absorb his words, his claim that sounded literal. “You actually saw them.”
Why would he withhold such important news? Was there something he wasn’t saying?
“It just happened today,” he said quickly, as if sensing her worry. “I tracked them down over in New Jersey.”
Geraldine looked almost panicked. “They were going to California. Where it’d be sunny and warm. That’s what the man said.”
Ellis raised a hand to calm her. “It was the truth. He and his wife were living in Long Beach, or thereabouts. Then he got a job at another bank—a big promotion in Jersey—and they moved into a real nice house there.”
The sudden relief sweeping over Geraldine was palpable. An internal dam, clearly bound by every fiber of her strength, had splintered, sending a rush of tears to her eyes. “So, the kids…they’re doing all right?”
“I wasn’t able to talk to them,” Ellis said, “but from a distance, Ruby looked happy enough and healthy.”
“And Cal? He was there with her?”
“He was. He was even laughing. At some radio program…a western, I think.”
Geraldine brightened, her son’s giggles clearly echoing in her ear. Though not a minute later, that glow faded. It had to be bittersweet, the knowledge that someone else could so easily bring her son joy. That such a sound would become a mere memory for Geraldine.
Which was why Lily couldn’t let that happen.
“Mrs. Dillard, it’s not too late. We can fix this together, I’m sure we can.”
Geraldine swiped at her eyes and straightened in her chair. Fervently, she shook her head. “There’s nothing that needs fixin’. Life is just how it should be.”
“But…if you do want them back—”
“Knowing they’re happy and healthy is all I need.”
“Well, yes, I understand that. But—”
“I’ve said my piece.”
Lily wanted to protest further but refrained. It was painfully clear there was no swaying Geraldine.
At least, not tonight.
• • •
They walked to his car in silence, Lily and Ellis together. Streetlamps and the white glow of a three-quarter moon threw shadows over the pavement. She could have said goodbye from the boardinghouse, sent him off at the front door, but there was more she needed to tell him.
As though he expected as much, he waited beside his car door with hat held low.
“Those children should be with their mother. Now that she’s well again, it’s unfair to keep them apart. You must know in your heart she doesn’t actually want to live without them.”
“Lily, listen…” While spoken softly, there was dissension in his words.
“Yes, I know. The Millstones have prominence and a fancy home and in all likelihood mean well. Still, you heard Geraldine. She’s working as a caregiver now. She’d find a way to manage.”
“I’m sure she would.” His agreement sounded genuine. “Unfortunately…it’s just not that simple.”
“She’s their mother. It is that simple. What could possibly be more important?”
He released a sigh, as if dreading to voice the answer. “I feel for them, Lily. Trust me, I do. But even if Geraldine demanded them back, I can’t imagine the Millstones handing them over without a fight. They’d have almost everything on their side, including a top-notch lawyer. I’m familiar with enough cases to know that no reasonable judge is going to return the kids to a poor widow.” He added with reluctance, “Especially one who sold them.”
“They weren’t really for sale, though. You know that.”
He went quiet, and she worried she had seemed accusatory. That wasn’t her intention. She