Page 99 of The Missing Pages
Ada excused herself and returned to her desk at the back of the building. She sat down and placed her palms on her stomach, sensing the life growing inside her.
She closed her eyes and imagined the baby with Harry’s coloring. His dark hair and warm brown eyes.
She could not fathom giving this child up. She loved it already.
A strange calm came over her. Didn’t she owe it to Harry’s child to at least let its grandmother know it existed?
The rational part of Ada knew she could never raise the child on her own. She did not have nearly enough money to find a place that would rent to a single woman and her baby, even if Ada lied and claimed she was a widow. And Rosenbach would never employ her if he were to learn she was pregnant, as it would be too much of a blemish on his business. The lack of money, the social stigma, she knew would make it impossible for her to give this baby all that it deserved. But if Eleanor Widener were to embrace the situation, perhaps it would make motherhood viable for her.
She could not make an appointment. Mrs. Widener had already said she did not want to see Ada again. But she decided that she too could put her energy toward something important for her child. She owed it to herself and her unborn baby to at least try.
That evening Ada sat down and wrote a letter.
Dear Mrs. Widener,
Please forgive me for my forwardness in writing to you. I realize that you do not want to see or hear from me again after my last visit to Lynnewood Hall. Dr. Rosenbach informed me that my presence caused you considerable distress, and for that I apologize. That was never my intention.
I would have preferred to tell you all this in person, but as that is not possible, I am forcing myself tocommunicate to you something that I feel you have a right to know. Your son and I loved each other and discussed a future together. Harry meant to inform you of this whilst we were all together at sea, and hoped that you would come to accept our love despite my background.
Shortly after the sinking of theTitanic, I discovered that I am carrying Harry’s child. The world is very cruel and judgmental of women who fall into such a situation, but I look to you in the hope that you might show to his unborn baby the same courage you are directing toward the library you are building in his honor.
I do hope you will consider meeting me one more time, at least. Surely, there must be a way that we can ensure this baby grows up secure and knowing how much it is loved.
Respectfully yours,
Ada Lippoldt
She sealed the letter and wrote her return address, then affixed the stamp. When Ada posted it on her way to Rosenbach’s that morning, she prayed Mrs. Widener would not judge her too harshly. She hoped Eleanor would soften to the news Ada had reluctantly been forced to share.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
ACOOLSEPTEMBER BREEZE FLUTTERED OUTSIDE THEgrounds of Lynnewood Hall. Amalie brought in Eleanor’s afternoon mail on a small silver tray. Resting on top of the pile of letters sat Ada’s envelope.
“What’s this?” Eleanor asked as she held it toward the light and scrutinized the return address. “I expressly informed Dr. Rosenbach that I did not want to engage with Miss Lippoldt,” she said curtly, as she threw the unopened letter in the trash bin.
Eleanor shook her head and looked through her other letters, opening each one and glancing at their contents. Those that needed an immediate response she put in a pile to the left. The others that she didn’t need to answer she gave to Amalie to burn.
For the next hour, she diligently wrote back to the ones she had put to the side. She saved her last letter for Rosenbach.
Dear Dr. Rosenbach,
I know that I was quite clear when I wrote to you indicating that I wish to have no future contact with Miss Ada Lippoldt. This very afternoon, however, I received a letter from her. Please know that I find it completely unacceptable that someone under your employment would so shamefully disregard my request. While Idisposed of the letter without reading its contents, I did want to make sure you were aware that Miss Lippoldt appears to be sufficiently emboldened to disregard any instructions that I trust you conveyed to her.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Elkins Widener
When Ada was summoned the following afternoon into Rosenbach’s office, she didn’t need him to tell her what was in the letter that lay open on his desk. His face was scarlet. His round cheeks were filled with air.
“Howcouldyou ignore what I told you?” He slammed down his fist on his desk.
Ada stood in his office, unable to move. She waited for the next sentences to fly out of his mouth with equal fury. His disbelief that she’d written to Eleanor revealing that she was pregnant with Harry’s child.
She curled her fingers into little fists at her side, preparing for him to call her a torrent of names. But instead, Rosenbach only railed at her for jeopardizing his relationship with Eleanor Widener.
“You realize you have upset my biggest patron, don’t you? You must have considered this at least a tiny bit when you sat down and wrote to her.” He shook his head with disbelief.
“And what reason did you even have to correspond with her?” His eyes grew wide. “I myself can’t even think of any!”
