Kate nodded her head and smiled, genuinely happy for baby news but really just grateful for the change of subject.
“You okay?” Andrew asked softly enough for only Kate to hear. She looked at him and shook her head.
“It’s about what I expected, but it still hurts,” she said.
“It will get easier as they get used to the idea,” Andrew encouraged. “It may take them a long time to understand, but it will be all right in the end.”
The rest of dinner progressed with little excitement, everyone making a concerted effort to keep the conversation on safe and neutral subjects. While Linny and Leslie worked to clear off the table and start on the dishes, Kate slipped into the living room to look for Susanna. She found her standing at the fireplace, looking at the scores of family photos lining the mantel.
“That’s Bryan right there,” Kate said, pointing to a little boy in dusty overalls. “He was probably nine or ten there.”
“He was cute,” Susanna said.
“Susanna,” Kate began, “I just wanted to thank you for what you said at dinner. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Susanna said. “I should have said something sooner. I was really surprised they all ganged up on you like that.”
Kate sighed. “I think they mean well. They just . . . I don’t know. This is a big change for me. I think they’ll understand with time. You said you had a friend who was Mormon?”
Susanna nodded. “We haven’t been in touch with each other for a number of years, but she was my best friend all through school. She had a great family and was such a nice person. We talked about her religion a lot. I’m really happy for you. I think it’s wonderful you’ve decided to be baptized.”
Kate smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad you came here today. You’re going to be a great addition to the family.”
Kate looked for Andrew and found him on the front porch, leaning against the railing across from Sam. She stood back for a moment, listening as the men conversed. Andrew was a likeable guy, and Kate felt certain her family would all approve of him once they got to know him—if, that is, they could look beyond religion. She decided to join them, sliding her arm around Andrew’s waist as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Dinner was wonderful,” Andrew said.
Sam nodded in agreement. “I didn’t know you could cook like that, Kate.” He smiled. “I nearly believed Mom herself was the one cooking in the kitchen. The pot roast was just like hers.”
The family spent the next few hours looking through the many boxes and things Kate had pulled down from the attic and upstairs closets in the previous weeks. They forgot any prior contention as they reminisced, laughing and even crying a time or two as they remembered Mary and Grey and the many happy moments of their childhood. At one point, Kate found herself sitting on the floor across from Leslie, a box of old handkerchiefs and scarves in between them.
“So you already quit your job, then? You really are here for good?” Leslie asked.
Kate shook her head. “I didn’t have to quit. Mr. Blanton has created a new position for me so I can work remotely. I’ll still have to drive back to the city once or twice a month, but I’m determined not to do it more frequently than that. Leslie, I’m really sure about this. I don’t expect things to be easy for you right now, but I know I’m doing the right thing. I’ll be here. Whenever you need me, whenever you need to talk, I’m not going anywhere. Not ever again.”
“So this whole Mormon thing,” Leslie said. “You’re sure about that too?”
“Yes, I am. I promise I know what I’m doing. I’ve thought a lot about this. I was thinking, maybe if you come, you’ll realize it isn’t really that strange after all.”
“What? Come to church with you?” Leslie asked.
“At least come to the baptism. I’d really love for you to be there.”
Leslie pulled a pale blue scarf out of the box and slid it through her hands. She took a deep breath and looked up at Kate. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said.
Annabelle Markham arrived at the house around 7:00 p.m. After meeting everyone, she settled on the couch next to Kate and handed her a worn leather-bound notebook. Kate opened it up, turning through the first few pages. Each page contained several entries—names and dates and a short description of the circumstances that brought people to Isaac Wylie’s door. Kate looked at each entry—men, women, entire families who lived and worked on her great-grandfather’s farm.
“It’s so wonderful what he did,” she commented, “how he helped so many.”
“My grandmother always said there was never a nicer man,” Annabelle said. “I want you to have this, Kate. Donate it to the museum with that journal of yours. I also spoke with a friend of mine today. I hope you don’t mind. She works for the Harrison County Press and would like to write a human interest story about the farmhouse, mention Isaac Wylie and what he did, and then talk about all of this history you discovered in your efforts to turn the house into a landmark.”
Kate smiled. “I think that sounds wonderful,” she said. “I just had a conversation yesterday morning with the head of the preservation committee here in Harrison County. They are excited to include the house as part of their driving tour and even asked if I would host their quarterly meeting in September, a grand-opening sort of deal for the house. Perhaps the running of the story could coincide with that.”
“That’s a great idea,” Annabelle agreed. “The thing is, Kate, I bet there are people all over this community who could look through this old book and find their ancestors’ names—grandparents, great-grandparents—it could be such a wonderful resource for people, a window into history that they may not ever see otherwise.”
Kate paused and thought about her own glimpse through the window of her family’s history. Her heart had been touched and her life changed because of words written two hundred years before. There was value in reaching out and reaching back, remembering those who lived before.
“Thank you so much, Annabelle. Tell your friend I would love to meet her. I’ll help any way I can with her story.”
Chapter 36
By the following Sunday, Kate had endured several more conversations with her family regarding her decision to be baptized. Susanna had a remarkable influence on Bryan, and while he didn’t plan on driving up to be there, he had at least offered Kate his wishes of happiness and a promise to not judge her or Andrew harshly. Sam and Teresa had accepted her decision as well. Sam told her the last time they spoke that he thought Kate seemed like a different person and that it must serve her well to be so committed to something. If it was changing her for the better, he could hardly voice any opposition. Kate suspected that perhaps her cousins would have reacted differently from the start had Leslie and Linny not worked so hard to get them fired up against her. The women were obviously the ones struggling the most with her decision.
Just hours before the baptism, Kate was still unsure if any of her own family members would be there. She was hopeful but tried not to be overly concerned. Even without them there, she knew she would have plenty of support. The branch members in Rose Creek had warmly received and welcomed Kate. Dan and Caroline Spencer would be there, as well as the missionaries. Much to Kate’s surprise, Andrew’s family was making a special trip all the way from Charlotte to be there for the baptism as well. She’d spoken on the phone with Lindsay Porterfield, Andrew’s mother, and was excited to meet her.
Kate stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, studying her reflection. She did look different. An inner peace seemed to radiate from within—a light in her eyes that pushed any murkiness or confusion aside. The word that came to mind was clarity. She took a final deep breath and went downstairs, where Andrew was waiting for her.
“You look radiant.” He smiled. “Are you ready to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Kate smiled back.
* * *
“Katherine Isabelle Sinclair, h
aving been commissioned of Jesus Christ . . .” Kate would never forget those words—the simple prayer Andrew uttered before lowering her into the waters of baptism. Andrew later told her when he lifted her out of the water, she’d never looked quite so lovely. But what she would remember was how she felt—clean and pure and fully sanctified.
After Kate dressed and returned to the chapel, she looked around the crowded room, searching the faces of those in attendance. There, in the back row, sitting alone, she saw Leslie. She smiled at her, touched and grateful that she had been there. It was more than she could have hoped for. Leslie smiled back, lifting her shoulders in a little half shrug of acceptance.
Caroline Spencer gave the final talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost, something Kate would receive when she was confirmed a member of the Church the following Sunday, then Dan Spencer closed the meeting.
Kate quickly pulled away from those gathering around to hug and congratulate her and ran after her cousin. “Leslie,” she called, finally reaching her in the parking lot. Leslie stopped and watched as Kate approached her, pausing to catch her breath before speaking again. “Thank you for being here.”
“It was nice, I guess,” Leslie said. “Everyone seemed really nice.”
“They are really nice. Do you want to stay? I think there’s food.”
“No. I left the kids with Linny. She wanted to come, but I couldn’t get Beatrice to stay with the kids, so Linny came at the last minute.”
“It means a lot that either of you cared to come.”
Leslie sighed and looked deeply into her cousin’s eyes. “I’m sorry about what I said that night, Kate. I wasn’t giving you enough credit. I’m sorry, and I’m glad you’re home now.”
Later that afternoon, after dinner with the Spencers and the Porterfields, Andrew brought Kate his cell phone. “It’s my sister,” he said excitedly. “You’re not going to believe what she has to tell you.”
“Hello, Valerie,” Kate said warmly into the phone.
“Kate, I’ve got the most exciting news!” Valerie said. “I did some research about Ian, and the Wylie family in general. I have this associate who was doing some field work in Scotland who agreed to look into a few things over there. He just called me back this afternoon. As it turns out, Ian’s father, James Wylie, was married to Elizabeth Cochrane. Now, James wasn’t really a person of importance as far as his station in life. He was the son of a merchant, middle class, respectable but certainly not nobility of any sort. But Elizabeth was noteworthy—daughter of an earl, the Earl of Dundonald, though little is written about her once she married James Wylie. I would imagine there was quite a frenzy of disapproval over their union, considering their different stations in life. At any rate, she wasn’t completely forgotten, and apparently, some years after James’s death, she was reconciled to her own parents. That’s probably why she stayed in Scotland—life would have been much better for her once she was living under the care of the earl, now willing to accept her with her husband dead.”
It made Kate sad to think that Ian’s mother had never met her grandchildren or seen her son as a grown man—a man Kate was certain she would have been proud of.
“Here’s the best part,” Valerie continued. “There is a collection of letters in a Scottish history museum in Edinburgh—letters saved Elizabeth Cochrane, then donated by her granddaughter. There are letters in the collection from Ian that he sent to his mother. She saved them and probably cherished them for years.”
“I have to read them, Valerie. I can’t believe you found so much,” Kate said.
“Would you believe I’m not finished yet? Listen to this. Ian was the first male descendant in the Cochrane line. By all intents and purposes, he had claim to the title of earl. The title went to another son, a cousin of Ian’s, as Ian, the son of a merchantman and now living in America, was conveniently overlooked. But history didn’t overlook the relationship he had with his mother. The letters were an indication of the love she had for her first husband and for her son. Everyone loves a good love story, you know? Marrying for love wasn’t so common back then.”
“What an amazing woman she must have been,” Kate said.
“Well, and James too, to have wooed and wed the daughter of an earl without his own claim to title or fortune. I’ve ordered photocopies of the letters. As soon as I get them, I’ll send them to you. But you should go see the letters. Tell Andrew you want to go to Scotland on your honeymoon,” Valerie said enthusiastically.
Kate flushed with embarrassment at the implication of Valerie’s comment and was suddenly grateful not everyone was listening to their conversation. They talked for a few more minutes, Valerie answering Kate’s questions as best she could, before Kate hung up the phone and returned it to Andrew.
It was remarkable how compelling Kate found her family’s history. It hadn’t always been her best subject, but she felt keenly aware of the family ties that extended from her ancestors directly into her own blood. She felt the pull and wanted to make sure she didn’t forget the obligation she had to take the names of her ancestors to the temple to do for them what they were unable to do for themselves when they lived on the earth.
She and Andrew had already talked about going to the temple to perform baptisms for her ancestors and had already started the process of compiling names and gathering the required information. It was an important step, but Kate most looked forward to participating in the ordinance that would seal Ian and his beloved wife, Jennie, together forever. She thought often of Ian and how long he’d been waiting for her to find him—to find the truth.
Kate imagined that if Ian had the opportunity to do so, he would thank her for accepting the gospel and for making his eternal progress possible by completing the necessary ordinances in the temple. Just the same, Kate was overwhelmed with gratitude for Ian and the spiritual leanings and intuition he had felt that compelled him to write the very words that had changed Kate’s life forever. We needed each other, didn’t we, Ian?
She felt it so clearly that she wondered if she hadn’t heard a voice of confirmation. She knew in her heart that it was true and that somewhere, Ian was smiling upon her. She smiled in return, warmed from the inside. I’ll get you there, Ian. I promise.
Chapter 37
It had been three months since Kate had secured the safety of the house. And she had been busy. Though she hated to be away from the farmhouse, she’d spent quite a bit of time settling her affairs in Atlanta. Fortunately, her condo sold with little trouble, and Andrew had helped her move all of her belongings from her condo into the farmhouse, a task that had created a lengthy new to-do list as she moved out some of the old furnishings to make room for her own. It was difficult to make changes at first. But Kate knew Mary and Grey would want her to make the farmhouse feel like hers.
A soft summer breeze blew through the yard and gardens, lessening the burdensome heat and humidity of the early-September afternoon. Friends and members of the community were gathered together for the quarterly meeting of the Historical Preservation Society. It was less of a meeting though and much more of a celebration. Kate looked around her home, happy to see so many gathered together in honor of her ancestors and the old house she’d managed to save. The Harrison County Press had written a wonderful story about Isaac Wylie, highlighting the many efforts he’d made to strengthen the community and help those around him. Everyone in town had been invited to visit the museum, look through old Ike Wylie’s book, and see if any of their own ancestors were listed within. Many had found record of parents or grandparents, even great-grandparents, and were there at the garden party paying their respects and celebrating Kate’s success in preserving the home. All of her family was there as well: Leslie and her children, Bryan and Susanna, Sam, Kenzie, and Teresa, now blossoming with late pregnancy. Kate smiled as she thought of Linny’s intuitive prediction made months before. She’d known Teresa was expecting again, had called it, known it, and hadn’t been shy in letting everyone know she’d guessed beforeha
nd.
Kate wondered if Linny had a feeling one way or the other about Andrew. Could she read their relationship like she had Teresa? One thing was certain, Linny loved Andrew. Though Linny maintained her opposition to all things Church-related, Kate and Andrew had both made an effort to reach out to her to bridge the divide Kate’s baptism had created. Slowly but surely it was working. Linny was there that afternoon as well, standing under the large oak tree in the front yard, engaged in conversation with Mr. Brumfield from down the street.
“Ms. Sinclair, if you don’t mind me saying so, this might be the loveliest quarterly meeting our preservation society has ever seen.” Mr. McFinley approached her on the porch and took her hands in his.
“You’re sweet to say so, Mr. McFinley. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. In my heart of hearts, I always honored the Wylie name, but it’s nice to have a place on the map that does so as well.”
“Well, I certainly couldn’t have done it without your efforts. I hope you’ll still come visit once this is all over. You know you’re always welcome,” Kate said.
“Oh, that would be lovely. I think perhaps we may just be friends for life.” Mr. McFinley squeezed her hand once more then shuffled off to get some lemonade.
Kate watched as he sat down next to Linny and pulled Leslie’s youngest, little Tommy, onto his lap. It was a good day.
That evening when the party was over and guests were gone, Kate picked up the stray plates and cups that littered the porch. The sun, finally relenting, dipped low behind the summer-green mountains, leaving the yard in peaceful shadow.
“Aunt Katie,” Emily called as she skipped toward Kate. Her cheeks were pink from exertion, her pigtails swinging behind her. She nearly collided into Kate as she stopped in front of her.
“What is it, child?” Kate asked, bending down in front of her niece.
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