reeling from the nun’s comments, Violet couldn’t bring herself to argue. Truth be told, from the moment she knew Lily’s baby would be adopted out, she pictured the child being raised by a family similar to her own. Welsh. Protestant. Fair-skinned. The father, a hardworking miner, and the mother, a dark-haired beauty. They’d probably be poor like most, but no matter, as long as they raised the child to fear God.
“But enough of that.” Mother Mary Joseph closed her notebook and slipped it into her pocket. “The two of you must be exhausted from your trip.”
“Yes ma’am,” Lily answered when Violet remained silent.
“Muriel, will you show the girls to their beds after they finish their tea?” The nun turned and stared at the girl. “Since you’re still so close at hand.”
Muriel’s cheeks reddened again, as she lowered herself from the stool. “Gladly.”
“Get some rest now,” the Reverend Mother said as she rose from the table. “Six thirty comes early.”
“Pardon?” Lily’s head snapped up.
“Mass begins promptly at seven.” Before Lily had a chance to object, the nun added, “And attendance is required. Here at the Good Shepherd, we’re all God’s children.”
Chapter two
“IT AIN’T SO BAD HERE.” Muriel led the pair out of the kitchen into a long, mahogany-paneled hallway. At the opposite end, a hand-carved staircase wound its way to the upper floors. “Dull as ditch water, though.” She nodded toward an open door on their right. “Feed hall. Food’s lousy,” she shrugged, “but there’s plenty of it. Something to be said for that.”
Violet let go of the suitcases to poke her head inside but grabbed them again when a door across from them squeaked open.
An ancient woman, whose wiry white hair started halfway back on her head, raised a trembling finger to her sunken lips. “Shush. You’ll wake the babies.”
Muriel dropped her voice. “Sorry, Sadie. This here’s the new girl, Lily, and her sister Violet.” Violet nodded. “And this here’s Sadie Hope.”
“A pleasure,” Sadie whispered, stepping out, pulling the door shut behind her. “We just now got the babies to sleep.” She motioned the girls farther down the hall, past the dining room and into the parlor. “This is better,” she said, dropping onto a rose-colored couch that sagged a good deal in the middle. “Sit down, Lily.” She patted the cushion next to her. “Sit. Sit,” she said to the other two, waving a shaky hand toward twin tapestry-covered chairs directly across from her.
Violet let go of the suitcases and perched on the edge of the first seat. Muriel lowered herself into the chair beside her.
Sadie placed her quivering palms against Lily’s stomach, and Muriel piped up: “Six months along, so she says.”
“You’ll blossom soon enough.” Sadie smiled and her lips disappeared into the space where her teeth once resided. “Plenty of time before I see you.”
“Sadie delivers the babies around here.” Muriel rubbed her belly. “So what do you think? Carol Kochis says I’m having a girl, but I don’t believe her.”
Violet stared at Sadie’s hands, now folded in her lap and still. “You’re a midwife?”
Sadie eyed Muriel. “And just how would Carol Kochis know such a thing?”
“Says I’m carrying all around. Says that’s what happens when you’re having a girl. And she should know. Had herself two already.”
Violet tried again: “Does anyone help you?”
“Nothing but an old wives’ tale,” Sadie said. “Only the Almighty Himself knows for sure. And if you ask me, Carol Kochis has better things to do with her time than devil you about your baby.” She shook her head and mumbled, “Two girls already.”
“And a boy. Every last one of them farmed out,” Muriel explained to the Morgan sisters.
Sadie turned to Lily, leaned in, and pushed back her upper lip. “Teeth look good. How’re your bowels?”
Lily scooted up against the far end of the couch.
Sadie seemed not to notice. “Had the shakes all my life.” She stretched her hands straight out and looked at Violet. “Even as a child.” She tipped her trembling palms up and examined them. “Birthed hundreds of babies, though.” She paused as if in thought. “Maybe thousands. Funny thing is,” she picked up a tufted pillow and cradled it, turning her eyes back to Violet, “the shaking stops as soon as I take hold of something.” She smiled and her lips disappeared again.
The Reverend Mother knocked lightly on the doorframe. “The doctor’s asking for you, Sadie.” She continued down the hallway.
“It’s been a pleasure, ladies.” Sadie dropped the pillow, stood to leave, and the tremors started up again.
“So there is a doctor,” Violet said, once the three girls were alone in the parlor.
Muriel looked around, then leaned forward. “Only when there’s trouble.” She ran a finger across her stomach. “He knows how to cut them out.”
Lily shivered.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” Muriel said. “He has a purpose, is all. And besides, a healthy girl like you,” she waved her hand, “piece of cake.”
Lily teared up. “I want to go home.”
“Well, you can’t.” Violet took a breath and tried again: “They’ll take good care of you. I’ll see to that.”
“I still don’t like it here.”
“I wouldn’t complain too loud,” Muriel said, and pointed to the wall closest to the front of the building. “Mother Mary Joseph sleeps in there. Says it’s so she’s close to the babies, but she can’t fool me.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “The woman has elephant ears under that war bonnet. Hears everything.” She hooked her thumbs behind her ears and flapped her hands. Lily laughed. “Come on. I’ll show you.” Muriel smiled and stood up, then led the girls back into the hallway toward the staircase. “Watch.” She lifted her foot onto the first step, the boards groaning under her weight. The Reverend Mother’s door opened and closed so stealthily that had it not been for Muriel’s warning, the sisters would have missed the event entirely. “No need to put locks on the doors,” Muriel explained, cupping her ears again. “She’ll hear you if you try to give her the slip.”
Halfway up the steps, Muriel leaned over the banister and pointed down to a set of half-opened French doors at the front of the hallway. “Foyer’s through there. Foyer. Ain’t that a kick. Never heard of such a word, but that’s nuns for you.” She paused at the landing, caught her breath, and started up again. “We go through the foyer,” she laughed, “to get to the chapel on the left. Hospital’s to your right. Everything here’s connected. Never have to go out.”
“Fine
