Elizabeth braids her long, curly reddish brown hair as Nathan comes into their bedroom after putting Norah Rose to bed. The house is quiet after a long and eventful day as Nathan closes the door and brings his lips to his wife’s neck which earns him a playful swat on his arm and a soft laugh before Elizabeth brings her hand down to her husband’s lap and cups him. In the first guest room, Paul watches his wife of 35 years change out of her traveling clothes into a sheer blue nightgown as her hand goes instinctively to her growing belly where their child moves within her. A child that came as a surprise to both of them, but nonetheless welcome. In the second guest room, Sylvia watches Phillip read as she lays next to him with her head on his chest. Phillip brushes his free hand through his fiancée’s greying hair as he says “ my love, I think that we should tell Elizabeth. We can’t keep hiding it. I want to be able to be a father and a grandfather. Please, I’ve missed out on tw

Two weeks later on May 20th, 1940, it is the day that everyone is waiting for, the wedding. The women are at the newly built home in Colorado while the men head over the church to get ready. Patricia, Sylvia’s younger sister brings the freshly picked bouquet inside to put in water while Sadie tries to pin Norah Rose’s hair as the young girl wiggles in her seat. In Sylvia’s bedroom Elizabeth is helping her put the veil on as Sylvia brushes a strand of hair from her goddaughter’s eyes before the older woman says “Lizzie, dear I have to tell you something.”

A few minutes later, Sadie comes into the dressing room after Elizabeth takes Norah Rose outside to the waiting car. Sadie quietly closes the door as she sees Sylvia with her head on her vanity and silently sobs. Soon the elder woman grasps her best friend's shoulder before taking her free hand and gently forcing Sylvia to look at her as she asks " you told her, didn't you? " Sylvia tearfully nods as Sadie bends down next to her before saying " sweetheart, give her time. Our daughter will eventually understand and come around. Now come on, we have a wedding to get to."   

Phillip takes his new bride's hand as she says " Lizzie, honey I will answer the questions the next I know how. As you already know from our conversation earlier, I was an unmarried woman with an unplanned pregnancy which was deeply frowned upon on society back then. I had two marks against me; one was being an unmarried catholic and the other was that I was carrying a child that was half black. Once I found out, I left Colorado to go to Maine after writing to Sadie. If anyone found out about the pregnancy, your father's reputation would be tarnished and I would be out of a job. I couldn't have that not with a child on the way. I also couldn't stay in Colorado, not with Phillip choosing his career over me and I couldn't ask him to leave his parish behind, so I left. The pregnancy progressed smoothly and I soon got a job teaching for settlers. I knew shortly before you were born that I wanted Sadie and Paul to raise you. They had just lost a child and had

Six months later, Sylvia comes into the house after a long day in the classroom and goes to her bedroom before sitting at the desk to write. Soon, the house is filled with laughter as Norah Rose brings her kitten to over to her adoptive grandmother in the living room while her mother is upstairs after a hectic day. Meanwhile, Elizabeth sighs as she paces the floor before going to knock on Sylvia's door. The young woman waits for permission to enter before going to sit next to her birth mother at her desk. Sylvia smiles softly before her daughter asks "Ma, may I talk to you?" The older woman nods as she turns her attention to Elizabeth and puts her free hand over her daughter's.