“No!” Eve said before she could reply. “Audrey had no idea what I’d done. We were best friends during the war, and when she decided not to come to America after Robert died, I stole her immigration papers and came in her place. It was a terrible, terrible thing to do, and I’m so sorry for deceiving you. But please don’t blame Audrey. She didn’t know anything about it until she arrived in America a few days ago.”
Audrey saw the pain and hurt in Mrs. Barrett’s expression and feared her reaction would be unkind. She and Eve both seemed shattered. “I’m at fault, too, Mrs. Barrett,” Audrey quickly said. “Eve was my best friend and I should have helped her. I shouldn’t have left her with no other choice.”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say . . .”
“You’ve been so good to Robbie and me,” Eve said. “And I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. I never intended to hurt you or take advantage of your kindness and generosity. I just . . . I just wanted a home.”
The children were watching the drama and didn’t seem to understand what was happening. Eve’s son moved to nestle close to Mrs. Barrett and took her hand. “Don’t be sad, Nana. Are you sad?”
She bent to kiss the top of his red head. “I’m not sad, darling. Just . . . surprised.” She pulled Robbie close for a hug, then faced Bobby, who stood a few feet away near Audrey’s chair. Tears filled Mrs. Barrett’s eyes. “He looks just like Robert did at this age. May I give you a hug, too, darling?” He hesitated for a long moment, and Mrs. Barrett smiled. “Robert was the same way. He always needed to think things through before he tried anything new.”
Audrey’s tears flowed when her son finally moved toward his grandmother and allowed her to hold him and kiss his forehead. Family. They would be part of a loving family, something Audrey had wished for all her life. She remembered the frigid scene at her uncle’s house and knew she had made the right decision.
“Are you going to be his nana, too?” Robbie asked Mrs. Barrett.
“Yes, sweet boy. I’m both of your nanas.” She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her eyes.
Eve knelt beside her. “Can you ever forgive me for lying to you?” she asked.
Mrs. Barrett stroked Robbie’s head. “This has come as quite a shock, of course. But in a way . . . You know, I suspected you weren’t Audrey the first time I saw you and this redheaded boy of yours. You didn’t resemble the photograph of Audrey that Robert had shown us. But then I took Robbie into my arms, and from that moment, I didn’t care who you were. My husband and I were grieving, and you brought new life into our home. And hope. You and Robbie filled the hole in my heart and helped me heal.” She kissed Robbie’s hair again. “I’m . . . I’m shocked and . . . and disappointed in you. And I feel like such a fool for allowing myself to be deceived.”
“I’m so sorry,” Eve murmured.
“I’m . . . I’m going to need some time . . .” She wiped her eyes again. “And yet, when all is said and done, you and Robbie are part of my life now, whether you’re my real daughter-in-law or not.”
Eve closed her eyes, and Audrey saw her relief. Then she opened them again. “What about Dad—Mr. Barrett? Will he—？”
“He’ll be shocked, of course. I don’t know how he’ll react. But deep down, he loves you, too, dear. And Robbie is the best thing that ever happened to him.”
Eve went into Mrs. Barrett’s arms, murmuring, “Thank you . . . thank you.”
When they’d parted again, Audrey knew what she needed to do. “Mrs. Barrett, I need to ask you to forgive me, too. It was selfish of me not to come four years ago. You’d lost your only child, and Bobby and I were all you had. But I—I was afraid you would blame me for his death. If he had married Linda instead of me . . .”
“I never felt that way. Every mother wants her child to be happy, and I could tell from the way Robert talked about you that he loved you very much. His relationship with Linda had always been tumultuous. I didn’t want Robert to go with her that night. I—I wish . . .” She couldn’t finish.
“I know why he went with her, Mrs. Barrett. Before he left London, Robert told me he needed to see Linda face-to-face and apologize for hurting her. He wanted to ask her to forgive him.”
“That sounds like Robert,” she replied.
“Yes. We can be very proud of him. He taught me not to question God’s ways. But to trust Him.”