“There’s no need for that.” The firm voice rang out from the doorway.
Olivia swiveled to see Ruth staring at them, her eyes brighter than her blue cardigan. “Why would you need to rent a property when we have the perfect location right here?”
Olivia gaped at her. “Ruth, I never meant to imply . . .” Surely she wasn’t offering her own home for such a purpose.
Ruth came in and perched on the arm of the sofa. “I used to think about turning this place into a boardinghouse or a small inn, but I do believe a maternity home would be the perfect idea.” She trilled out a delighted laugh. “What do you say, Olivia? Do you think we could be partners in this endeavor?”
Olivia’s mind spun with too many thoughts at once. “This is all very sudden. I only came up with the idea this afternoon. Are you sure, Ruth?”
“Olivia makes a valid point.” Dr. Henshaw rose, a frown creasing his brow. “I think you should take more time to consider the ramifications before you make any big decisions.”
Ruth only laughed again and waved a hand. “At my age, time is a luxury I can ill afford. And for the first time in years, I’d have a purpose again. No, I don’t need another minute to think about it. But I would appreciate you looking into the legalities for us, Doctor.”
He blinked, looking as bemused as Olivia felt. “Very well, as long as you promise not to rush into anything before you hear from me.”
“Certainly, though it couldn’t hurt to talk to my architect about some possible renovations.”
Olivia could scarcely believe that Ruth would offer her home for a project of this magnitude. Yet what better property could she find on her own?
And who better to have on board? A woman who had experienced the shame of an unexpected pregnancy but who now held a place of prestige and respect in society. Her connections could turn out to be most advantageous in getting this project off the ground. It must be a sign that this was God’s intention all along.
Ruth turned to Olivia. “I think we’ll make an excellent team, my dear. Don’t you?”
Olivia smiled as a tiny bud of hope unfurled within her. “I do believe we just might.”
6
Two months later
Seated in the dining room one week after the successful opening of Bennington Place Maternity Home, Olivia sipped her coffee and took a moment to reflect on the whirlwind mixture of highs and lows that had taken place over the past two months.
One of the highs, of course, was the realization of her dream, the opening of the maternity home. It had been a day to remember, with a fancy ribbon-cutting ceremony and refreshments for the select group of invitees who had attended.
Not long afterward, however, Olivia had experienced one of her worst lows on the occasion of Matteo’s first birthday. She spent most of the day crying, reliving every moment of the precious time with her newborn son, and the heartbreak of having to relinquish him to the Children’s Aid worker. She couldn’t help but wonder where he was now. Had his new family thrown him a party? Bought him presents?
In the midst of Olivia’s melancholy, Ruth had been wonderful. She had instructed their cook to bake a small cake in the boy’s honor, and after dinner that night, Ruth had placed a candle on top of the cake, and the two had celebrated Matteo’s special day. Remembering her son that way had helped Olivia feel closer to him and eased the raw ache in her heart just a little.
With a sigh, Olivia shook off the sad memories and looked across the table at Ruth. Gratitude filled her heart. Gratitude and . . . affection for the woman who had accepted a stranger into her home without judgment or condemnation.
Olivia might not have wanted to be Ruth’s salvation, but Ruth had definitely turned out to be hers. She’d saved Olivia from the ashes of destruction and breathed new life into her soul, giving her the opportunity to turn her hardships into something that could benefit others.
“I still can’t believe Bennington Place has become a reality,” Olivia said. “And that we already have two residents.”
Since their official opening one week ago, two women had found their way to them: Margaret, a young girl of eighteen, and Patricia, a woman in her mid-twenties.
“I know. And it’s only the beginning.” Ruth reached over to squeeze Olivia’s hand. “I’ve been rattling around this old house by myself for years now. Despite several offers to buy the property, I just couldn’t let it go.” She smiled, her gaze scanning the dining room’s velvet wallpaper. “Perhaps I was meant to put the house to good use and allow its loving walls to shelter those in need.” She pressed her lips together. “I think Henry would have agreed that Bennington Place is a fine idea.”
“I’m sure he would.”
Over the past weeks, Olivia had discovered that Ruth Bennington was a force to be reckoned with once she put her mind to something. She’d jumped right into making renovations to the house, hiring a contractor to add a new bathroom and reconfigure the layout of the bedrooms to make more room for potential residents. They now had six guest quarters with two beds each to start, plus a nice suite for Olivia. Still, it had involved a large outlay of money—one she hoped Ruth wouldn’t regret should the venture not go as planned. But the dear lady had assured her it was a risk she was willing to take.
“By the way, I’ve heard back from Dr. Henshaw,” Ruth said, stirring sugar into her coffee. “He’s agreed to be our doctor on call and is willing to offer his services for a small fee.”
“That’s wonderful. I know he’ll treat the women with kindness.”
