A Hamilton Family Christmas - Donna Kauffman Page 0,70

stories, but…who knows. Maybe it was just a lost summer. I know her family, and probably Trudy herself would have most certainly been hoping it was.”

Sean looked confused. “Why?”

“She came here on a ‘vacation,’” Holly said, using air quotes. “The way young girls had to go away to visit relatives for a time often did. Back in those days, anyway.”

Sean took a moment, then the confusion cleared and his eyebrows rose. “She was pregnant?”

Holly nodded and lifted the volume. “This was her diary or journal, while she was staying here. Right in this room, I’m guessing. I think they sent her here because, at least according to this, Old Lady Haversham was more than a little eccentric. She was a bit loony, or at least her extended family certainly thought so. She was definitely on the outs with them, never talked to anyone, spent all her time holed up here in the bookshop. Anyway, back then, Willow Creek was even more of a small, rural town than it is now, and so the Havershams tucked Trudy away here to have her child, then she’d come back and no one would be the wiser.”

“Wow, but I didn’t think she had any children, ever.”

“Well, she didn’t. At least, not that anyone knew about. And, it gets more interesting. Your grandmother was the one who helped her get rid of the baby.”

Sean looked momentarily horrified. “Get rid of, you mean she—”

“No, no, I don’t mean before, I mean after the baby was born. Your family has been part of St. Francis’s congregation forever, right?”

“Right, so what are you saying?”

“According to Trudy, your grandmother was with her when she gave birth. It sounds like it might have been here in the house. Anyway, I’m not sure what the plan was after the baby was born. According to Trudy, her aunt wasn’t exactly on top of things.”

“Did she even know Trudy was pregnant?”

“Yes, but I don’t know that she really paid much attention to her. Trudy lived up here and didn’t even help in the shop much. That was why she was excited to go hang out with your grandmother when she would babysit. She’d sneak out in the evenings and go to whatever family your grandmother was sitting for, and hang out with her. One of those was my grandparents’ old house, sitting for my mother.”

“So, after the baby was born…?”

“Your grandmother took it to the church and left him with the nuns.”

“It was a boy?”

“Apparently. So, I’m guessing he was adopted, or put into foster care, or whatever the system was back then.”

Sean sat back. “So…Trudy Haversham, who went on to become Trudy Hamilton, had a child. An heir. Both to her fortune…and, I guess Lionel’s…. Her child, if he’s still alive, wouldn’t he be the direct heir? I mean, he’s older than Lionel’s great-nephew, and though not direct blood of Lionel’s, he would be direct in line for the Haversham fortune, right? And, if he’s passed, then I’d guess that his offspring, if he had any, would be next in line. Pretty big bombshell, when you think about it.”

Holly smiled briefly. “I know. Bombshell in a book. The question is, what do I do with it now?”

10

“All I know is that we don’t have to decide right this second. It’s been in there for decades, so another day or two won’t matter.” Sean took the book from her hands and carefully set it on top of the china cabinet. Then he took their empty dinner boxes and set them aside as well. Holly looked up at him questioningly when he put his hand out for her.

“Go for a ride with me?”

“What?”

He smiled. “A ride. I thought we might take a little drive, look at the Christmas lights.” He took her hand and pulled her up so her body came up flush against his. “Now, don’t rush to say no. I’m well aware of your feelings on the holiday, but lights are just lights. They’re pretty to look at and they don’t stare at you while you sleep.”

Her lips quirked. “I’m not that big a scrooge, you know. Actually, I kind of like the lights part of the holiday. It’s hard not to be cheery when you drive by a twinkling display.”

“Great.” She started to say something, but he dipped his head and caught her mouth in a slow, sweet kiss. “I know you have a million things to do, but you’ve been holed up in this place for days now. An hour