There is only one person that Edie can trust. Fern had always been kind to her. Edie confides in Fern. She hopes that Fern will not think poorly of her.

“I don’t want to give my baby away, but if I have to I would like you to raise the baby.”

Fern was speechless. She had struggled with getting pregnant a second time and didn’t think that she would have any more babies.

“Yes, we will raise and love your baby just as we do our other two. We love you, Edie.”

“You are always welcome here.” Fern gives Edie a hug before she returns home.

Edie is sent away the next day. She writes Fern a few short letters and Fern sent letters of support.

When the baby was born, Fern and Jack were contacted and went to pick her up. They were thrilled to see the tiny, perfect infant, but sad for Edie. They asked to see her and were told that she had left. They did not know where she was.

They named the baby Grace.

Jack adores his new baby sister. “Ssh, it’s alright. Don’t cry,” he comforts her.

Charlie hears the news that Edie has run away. He is 18 now. His home is chaotic and there is little money. His mom nags him to look for work and is always worrying and telling him to be home at a decent hour. He was an adult now. Time to look after himself. Grandma Edith had died and who knew where Edie was. Why should Nia get to live in his grandparent’s house?

He packed his things and knocked on the door. A surprised Nia looked at the suitcases and wondered what this was all about.

“This is my grandparent’s home. You have no rights to live here. It belongs to my family and as the oldest male, it belongs to me,”Charlie tells her.

Nia is not happy. She finally had her freedom and could live as she wished and now this. Someone else telling her how she had to live her life. She had no rights and had no choice, but to let him in.

Charlie took the opportunity to get to know the ladies…

Some were quite friendly.

Naturally, Nia and Lillie were not happy about the arrangement. They had to sneak around in their own home and have separate bedrooms again. Although, Charlie was pretty oblivious beyond his own needs. He would say he was looking for work, but he never actually found any. He expected Nia and Lillie to cook and clean up after him. They had little choice. They did not want to lose their home.

Joseph had done well during prohibition. Now that bootlegging was no longer needed, he focused on other things, such as, gambling, fraud, and running a nightclub. He forced Judas into the business. He would have preferred to kick him out, but Savanna insisted he stay.

Judas liked being a big brother. He doted on little Joe and Josephina. He would tell Joe rambling tales and tuck him into bed.

Time passed quickly and Grace was soon a toddler. The family adored her. She had Edie’s red hair and sweet temperament.

Jack became a teenager. He did well in school and was a straight A student. He had many friends, but his best friend was still Rose. Rose was a polite girl who came over often and would help out around the house and with the the girls.

Rose and Ruby are twins. Rose often talks about Jack and his family.

“I met someone,” says Ruby. “He’s a little different, but he’s a good guy.”

“Who?” asks Rose excitedly.

“His name is Judas.”