A baby boy, born of a sixteen-year old, is given up to adoption. (A secret kept by the teenager until many years later.) Jon, the adopted baby (documents are sealed) grows up in the loving and safe environment of John and Emily Strutter. Heredity evidences in Jon's physical traits - blue eyes, writing left handed, and a cowlick at his hairline, but environment molds his character - thoughtful, responsible, and dependable. Jon is attracted not only to girls but boys as well and is puzzled why. (A question shared only with a male friend.) Jon seeks to find answers by wanting to know his birth parents but is met with strong resistance from his over-protective mother ("those files are closed forever"). Jon's father reveals information he has kept private for twenty-one years, and Jon's sets a plan to see at least one of his birth parents. Jon takes a summer job two states away, in Nora's city. He gets to know Nora by visiting her frame shop, and Jon believes his true identity remains a secret. As Jon drives home to family and school in Minnesota, he must decide how to live his life. With who and where? His choices lead to more secrets.
Convenient Secrets
A NovelBy Ann WadeTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2009 Gertrude Wade
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4269-0068-6Chapter One
Good News Day
1
EMILY GRABBED A kitchen towel, rubbed her hands dry, and rushed to the ringing telephone. The handset was at her ear before the fourth ring. "Hello," she said in a breathless tone.
"Mrs. Strutter? Sally Mason, Catholic Services."
"Yes, Sally. Good to hear your voice." Emily mentally pictured the dcor of Mrs. Mason's office from previous Minneapolis visits. An un-cluttered table-top desk neat and organized. Pictures of the Minneapolis Basilica and the cathedral in St. Paul hung on an ivory colored wall and, by her window, a large photograph from an early St. Paul's Winter Carnival of an ice palace bathed in colored lights. Being true to the Minnesotan way in starting a conversation, Emily asked about the weather. "How deep is the snow in Minneapolis? We've got about five inches on the ground."
"Quite a bit more here, we felt the brunt of the storm last week. The sun shines brightly today however and that makes for bitter cold you know."
"Same here. Guess that's our Minnesota winter fare. Are you calling with news?"
"Yes, I am. We have a pregnancy in its fifth month, due in the spring. I wanted to ..." Mrs. Mason didn't get to finish.
"Oh, how wonderful. Glorious is the word. It's like a Christmas gift ... the babe arriving." Emily's emotions flowed into tears and muffled breathing. Her left hand pressed on her forehead, and she turned quickly as if to twirl and then caught the telephone as it slid to the edge of the stand. "Oh, we've waited soooo, so long."
"I know this is an exciting moment, but remember this is just a possibility. All we know right now is that the mother has chosen for adoption ... but still has the option to keep her child. That final decision waits until after she's held the newborn."
"Yes, I remember ... you've stressed that many times. But ... but I want to think of this as good news."
"Well, let's keep in mind that whatever the decision is, it is good news."
"Can we be at the hospital?" Emily interjected.
"Possibly, but not usually on the birth day, Mrs. Strutter. We'll work that out and more in the coming months. Meanwhile, you should be prepared for a change of mind. While it doesn't happen often, we do insist that the birth parents see and hold the baby the first twenty-four hours."
Emily spoke quickly, "I know, you're saying it's always chancy, but if she goes for adoption, I could hold my baby the day it is born."
"Or very soon, thereafter," Mrs. Mason assured her.
"Oh, how wonderful! A child in our home. We shall be a complete family." Her voice was like a singing bell.
"Please, Mrs. Strutter, keep in mind there are four months to birth, which in itself is quite a momentous time for the young parents. We should all want the best outcome for the child."
"I know, I know. You do help us keep that in mind. But, we've waited so long ... had our own disappointments." Emily voice turned into a more sober tone. "What is the probability she'll change her mind?"
"That's hard to really say. Birth is an emotional, life-changing experience, and young mothers are often in a quandary."
"I think I can imagine that. But, what's been your experience? Fifty-fifty? Seventy-thirty?"
"It's a low percentage overall. Though I've seen it happen and sometimes in cases which surprised me. While this young woman I am working with now is quite adamant about adoption, there's always the other possibility. I'm not sure if the young man can persuade her to change her mind."
Emily did not press Mrs. Mason any further. "Well, I'm going to pray the right decision is made. In the end, as you say, it must be what's best for the baby."
"Excellent thoughts to carry with us," Mrs. Mason concurred. "I'm putting a number of things in the mail today. Please read them carefully - both you and Mr. Strutter - and we'll be talking again soon."
"Will we be coming to Minneapolis?"
"Yes, once for sure and maybe again later if necessary."
"Oh, I do feel confident and blessed ... after so many mishaps." Suddenly, Emily's voice turned up, "What a blessing if it were twins."
"Well, that would be a first for me," Sally chuckled and paused before saying, "Please call me after you've read the packet or if you want to discuss anything."
"Thank you, Sally ... we'll be in touch. I told John this morning that I felt this was going to be a special day. Can't wait to tell him. Thank you again. What a Christmas present."
Emily danced down the hallway to the kitchen and smiled as she thought back over the breakfast conversation with her husband. She had told John, "Something good is coming our way today."
John lowered his head and looked at Emily over his glasses. "Have you been planning something?"
"No, John, I've not been dreaming up surprises. My intuition tells me this is a special day for us. It's ... well ... I just feel it."
"Now, are you sure that it isn't just wishful thinking? You might be full of fancy because Christmas is so near." John spoke in an affectionate tone.
"Oh John, you are such a skeptic." She busied herself filling their coffee cups.
"Emily, what have you been weaving ... some scheme for the holidays? I notice that you've been a bit more of a sparkle lately, which often means you have a surprise coming our way."
"John, you make me sound like a sorceress."
"Let's say we've seen you make magical things happen before," John smiled lovingly at his wife, "and then pretend it was just a random, wondrous happening."
"John ... John." Emily scrunched her face into a `here we go again' look.
"Emily, Emily." John mimicked. "Think we all love your magical side, and I'll look forward to hearing about `the something good' tonight." He laid his napkin next to his plate, now empty of scrambled eggs and toast. "Must be off."
"Don't forget to tell Dad we expect him for dinner Sunday, and we'll all go to the Christmas concert from here."
Emily walked John to the front door and held his winter scarf while he pushed his arms through the sleeves of a black tailored overcoat. She tucked the scarf around his neck and under his coat collar, and then lifted her face for a good-bye kiss. They never started their day or ended their evening without expressions of love. Mr. and Mrs. John Strutter were spoken of as the model married folks in Witherston, Minnesota.
2
John Strutter first saw Emily Knowland at Jefferson Junior College, where they both were preparing for a medical professional, she as a nurse, he to be a pharmacist. Professor Jorgensen had just begun his lecture on Anatomy, when a female with a trim body took the empty seat next to John. He nodded with a smile, and she returned the smile with a whispered "Hi." John had noticed this pretty face; once at the doorway entrance at Crawley Hall, several times in this class, and just yesterday in the Malt Shop at the student union. Her deep brown eyes had caught his attention, and he noticed that her lips gave shape to a perpetual smile. Her long-legged figure attracted him. Comparing her height to his six foot-two frame, he gauged her to be five feet six, at least.
The professor began his lecture on the body's circulatory system, including diagrams of the network of vessels that carry blood to and from the...
