A few minutes later, she reappeared on the stairs with Jonathan, who had also changed into traveling clothes.
“Everybody, come into the entrance hall,” Peggy Drake summoned. “The bride and groom are ready to depart.”
The crowd gathered at the base of the stairs, waiting for Ginna to toss her bridal bouquet. With a proud Jonathan at her side, Ginna searched the crowd for Martha and then let go of the bouquet. It almost landed at Allison’s feet. But she stepped back in time for Martha to reach out and secure one of the satin streamers.
Through a shower of flower petals, the young couple ran. They paused for a moment on the front portico, waved good-bye, and then dashed down the steps to the waiting carriage.
“I love you, Mrs. Meadors,” Jonathan whispered, as the carriage disappeared down the driveway.
“And I love you, Mr. Meadors,” Ginna replied.
A few minutes later, the guests began to leave. Peggy and Tripp Drake stood by the door as each couple passed by.
“It was so wonderful of you, Peggy,” Allison finally said. “Thank you.”
“It was the least I could do,” she replied. “After all, I did bring them together.”
“I think we should ask the Forsytes to stay for supper with us,” Tripp said. “Have you mentioned it to them?”
“The Quails declined,” Peggy said. “I understand she’s in the family way again.”
“What about Ginna’s father and her little brother?”
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to them. I’m not sure where they are at the moment.”
“Dr. Forsyte went to look for Nathan,” Morrow said. “I think he’s in the conservatory. If you’d like, Peggy, I’ll go find them and issue the invitation.”
“That’s lovely, Morrow. The rest of you, come on into the family parlor. And Lila, I can hardly wait to hear all about your trip to the exposition.”
In the conservatory, Charles stood and quietly observed his son. With his cake crumbs, he had already lured a dove from the tree. There was a special quality about the child, with his love of animals and all other living creatures. Oblivious to being watched, Nathan continued his cooing sounds, intermingled with the doves’ responses.
“My son David looks like Nathan,” Morrow said, coming up quietly to stand by Charles.
“And you look exactly like your mother.”
“But she always told me that I had your smile.”
A surprised Charles forgot Nathan. “You know?”
“Yes.”
“Who told you?”
“Jonathan brought a letter from Mother. And then he and I talked.”
“I never intentionally abandoned you and your mother, Morrow. After the war, I looked everywhere for you.”
“I had a feeling that you might have done so.”
“And even though I married someone else, I never forgot you both.”
“That reminds me. I almost forgot the reason I came to find you. The Drakes want you and Nathan to stay for supper, if you can.”
The emotional crisis was averted by Morrow’s words. Charles regained his distant mien. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m taking Nathan back to Braxton School on the eight o’clock train tonight.”
“Then I’ll give Peggy your regrets.”
“Nathan,” Charles called out. “We have to go now.”
There was a flutter of wings as the doves sought safety once again in the trees.
“I don’t know how Peggy is going to round up all these birds,” Morrow said. “I suppose she hadn’t thought that far.”
“She could open up the doors,” Nathan said, joining them. “Then they’d fly out.”
“Which is exactly what we’re going to have to do, son. It’s past time to go.”
“Good-bye, Nathan,” Morrow said. “I hope to see you again soon.”
“I’m going to visit Ginna and Jonathan next summer,” he told her. “Maybe we’ll be there at the same time.”
“Perhaps.”
The three walked through to the front hall, where Tripp was still doing his duty as host. And standing with him was Rad.
“Sorry you won’t be able to stay, Dr. Forsyte,” Tripp said, “but I understand.”
“Thank you.”
“Good-bye, Charles,” Rad said, relieved that Charles was going.
“I like your lily pond, Senator Drake,” Nathan offered, as he also shook hands with one man and then the other.
Father and son walked down the steps, where the smaller phaeton was waiting. Charles had long ago sent Barge and Clara home in the wedding coach. Now, within an hour or so, he and Nathan would be on their way to Braxton.
After that, Charles would be entirely alone. But today was not the day to think of that.
CHAPTER
35
In most lives, the passage of time has a way of bringing relief from past sorrows and hope for the future. That was true for the Forsytes and Meadorses after the wedding that united Ginna and Jonathan. During that winter, Charles immersed himself in his work; Rad was involved in the Senate’s business. Life once again fell into a familiar, steady pattern.
Only Allison was restless.
When she should have been happy, she was experiencing a poverty of the soul, a feeling that had nothing to do with her own physical wants or needs. Her children were happy in their lives. Jonathan and Andrew had formed a new enterprise; Ginna and Morrow were well settled into married life, with their own independent projects that were so necessary for women of spirit. Why, then, could she not feel perfect peace? She had so much to be thankful for.
One wintry afternoon, when the last vestiges of snow had disappeared under the life-giving sun and the yellow crocuses announced that spring was on its way, Allison sat in her Washington parlor and poured tea for Peggy and Lila.
“I still don’t understand why Morrow wants to adopt a little Italian immigrant,” Peggy said. “It isn’t as if she can’t have children of her own.”
Allison stopped pouring. She held the porcelain teapot in midair and said, “If you’ve ever been homeless, Peggy, then you have empathy for other homeless people, especially children.”
“But the war was so long ago,” Lila said. “Surely Morrow was too
