1953

Constance loved being a mother. She was sad that her marriage did not work out and missed her childhood home, but she was meant to be a mother. Still, it was not always easy.

Holly was a big help. She looked after the twins while Constance prepared meals or cleaned. She helped cook and clean. She stayed nearby Constance and spent little time with friends or outside of the house besides going to school.

Harvey and Harley were a delight. They were a delight. Being so young, they soon stopped crying for their mother and looked to Constance to meet their needs.

Henry was another story. He was angry. He couldn’t understand why his mom left, not that Constance could either. He refused to do his homework, take a bath, set the table, or do anything that Constance tried to get him to do. Notes were sent home from school. Henry was late even though he left the same time as Holly. Homework was not turned in or was poorly done when it was. He talked back to teachers and didn’t pay attention to lessons.

Constance was patient with him. She understood he missed his mom. She tried to talk to him, but he would walk away or yell that she was not his mother.

After she put the children to bed, Constance would write children’s books. They did not make much money and she struggled to make ends meet.

Ruby talks to Margaret about Kurt’s accident. She tells her that it will be a long recovery. They must be quiet and let him rest. Help him when he needs it. Bring him his meals or drinks.

After a stay in the hospital, Kurt is allowed to go home. He does not remember the accident. He is in a lot of pain and mostly sleeps. He only speaks when he has to and becomes more withdrawn than he was before.

Eleanor comes to visit, but Kurt refuses to see her.

“I don’t want her to see me like this. I don’t want to see anyone,” he tells Ruby.

Ruby sighs and sends her away.

Ruby is full of worries. Will her son be okay? How can she help him? How will she pay the high medical bills? How can she keep her kids safe?

She is reluctant to call Savanna and inform her of the accident. She wants to protect Kurt and is not convinced that Savanna’s family did not have something to do with the accident.

Savanna has only had sporadic contact with Kurt. Not because she doesn’t want to see him, she would love to, but because Ruby does not encourage it and makes excuses why she can’t see him. Ruby has lied to all, but Rose is the only one to know that Judas is Margaret’s father also. She would rather have her reputation at stake than to risk harm to her daughter. Let them talk, she thinks.

However, she cannot pay the bills and Kurt needs all the love and support that he can get. She eventually decides to call Savanna, who comes over right away. She offers to take care of all medical expenses.

Joe Jr. returns home from the war. He does not return home alone. He brings back a woman, barely more than a girl. He had forged wedding papers to allow her to go home with him.

Her name was Sun Young. She was a quiet, nervous girl. She hoped for a better life, a way out of the poverty that she was living in. Her mother encouraged her to go with the “nice” man, that she would have opportunities that she did not have in their small village.

The family is surprised. Joe Jr. had never mentioned Sun, not that he had written in the time that he was gone.

Savanna tries to make Sun comfortable. She gives her cooking tips, tells her stories about Joe as a boy, and asks about her life back home.

Despite bringing her back, Joe pays little attention to Sun, except to order her around.