The shuffling sound on the other side of the door drew Allie’s attention back there and suggested the lady had arrived at last. A rattling sound and then the click of a lock preceded the opening of the door. Allie drew in a deep breath and braced for whatever she might learn next.
Luellyn Talbert was not tall like her daughter, though part of the reason might be age. Her hair was white and woven into a loose bun. But it was her vibrant green eyes that reminded Allie of Jane Talbert Madison. Their eyes were exactly the same.
“Mrs. Talbert,” Steve said with a charming smile, “it’s very nice to meet you.” He offered his hand. “I’m Steve Durham, and this is my friend, Allie Foster.”
He’d changed his opening to something less official this time. Good strategy.
Luellyn placed her thin hand in his and gave it a shake. “Nice to meet you as well.” She looked to Allie. Her gaze narrowed. “You look so familiar. Do I know you, dear?”
Hope budded in Allie’s chest. “I believe you knew my mother, Alice Foster.”
Mrs. Talbert’s mouth opened in surprise. “Why, yes. Alice was Jane’s friend. You look exactly like her.”
“Thank you.” She liked when people told her this.
“May we come in and visit with you?” Steve asked.
“I don’t see why not.” She turned and shuffled deeper into her room. “Come along and find a seat.”
Steve waited for Allie to go first. The room was far more like the main living area of a small apartment. There was a tiny kitchen and dining nook as well as a generously sized living space. A small hall to the far left led to additional doors, likely the more private spaces, while the window-filled wall directly across the main living space looked out over the large well-appointed courtyard that separated the various resident wings. Allie doubted that all the little apartments had such a view. French doors provided access to that area.
Luellyn settled into what was obviously her preferred chair. Allie chose the twin chair. The two were separated by a table. Steve made himself comfortable on the sofa.
“If you’ve come to ask me about Thomas,” the elderly woman said, “you’ve come to the wrong place. Thomas and I didn’t get along. He didn’t like me, and the feeling was mutual.” She lifted one frail shoulder in a shrug. “Perhaps in the beginning we were fine. It’s just hard to remember any good times since they were so very long ago.”
“Actually—” Allie reached into her purse “—I was hoping you could tell me who these people are.” She first passed along the photo of all three couples. “My parents and the Madisons I recognize, of course. It’s the other couple I don’t know.”
Luellyn took her eyeglasses from the table next to her and propped them into place. After a time, she nodded, her attention fixed on the photograph. “This was taken at the house my husband gave Jane as a wedding present.” She looked to Allie. “Jane held the most wonderful social gatherings there—the home was certainly well suited for such things. The floor plan was perfect for having a big family too. We all fell in love with the possibilities it offered. But they didn’t live there very long. Not after what happened.”
Allie and Steve exchanged a look.
“Would you share with us what happened?” Steve asked.
Mrs. Talbert blinked. She looked to Allie as if she had asked the question or maybe because she felt more comfortable addressing her since her mother had been Jane’s friend. “Little Tommy died there.”
“Tommy?” Allie held her breath. She’d found no mention of a Tommy in any of her research. Since Steve hadn’t mentioned anyone by that name, he likely hadn’t either.
“My grandson. Jane’s only child.” Mrs. Talbert smiled sadly. “He was only three years old. Such a precious, sweet little child. He was the spitting image of his father, other than his eyes. He had my daughter’s vibrant green eyes. Jane and Thomas were so proud of him. In those days, Thomas would have died happy for no other reason than the blessing of that child.” She looked away a moment. “But he didn’t die. Our sweet Tommy did.”
Suddenly the numerous framed photos around the room of a little boy came into vivid focus. Photos Allie had skimmed minutes ago without really registering. The child had big green eyes like his mother and thick black hair like his father. Now, Allie also noticed a young Jane and Thomas in one of the photos. Allie had been so focused on the woman, Luellyn, she’d paid scarcely any attention to the rest.
Allie waited for Mrs. Talbert to go on, while part of her already regretted having asked the question.
“It was the swimming pool. He sneaked out. Made his way to the pool…fell in and…” She exhaled a weary breath. “Jane tried to save him, but it was too late. As if that misery was not enough to bear, she had just found out she was pregnant with their second child, but the trauma caused a miscarriage. Jane was never the same afterward. Nothing I could do. God knows I tried. Nothing her father or Thomas could do. A few months later, Thomas moved them to a different home and then everything changed. He became secretive. Jane said he was rarely home. Always at work. Her father and I had to have anappointment to see Jane. Thomas didn’t want us just showing up. It was very strange.”
“What a terrible time that must have been,” Allie said, though the wordterribledidn’t even begin to describe how devastating it must have been.
Mrs. Talbert nodded, the move barely visible. “When I refused to go along with his rules, Thomas cast me out. Said I could no longer see Jane, and when I refused to obey his edict, he took out a restraining order. Claimed all sorts of lies about my behavior. It was a nightmare.”
Allie couldn’t even imagine.
“What about your husband?” Steve asked. “Did he receive the same treatment?”
“He did and…” She inhaled a deep breath as if to fortify herself. “…that was the end of us. He blamed me for the loss of our daughter, and maybe he was right.”
Allie would never understand that sort of behavior toward a good parent, and what this woman was describing was a caring mother desperate to help her daughter. Allie would give most anything to have had her parents growing up, which raised another question. “Why didn’t Jane stop him?”
The flash of hurt in the older woman’s eyes shamed Allie. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
