Back at Willow Cottage, Concordia had her own packing to finish. She planned to stay with Sophia at the settlement house during the rest of the summer recess.
There was a knock at her door, and Ruby poked her head in. “A visitor, miss.”
Puzzled, Concordia went to the parlor.
“Mother?”
Mrs. Wells was perched tentatively on the settee. She had changed out of her customary mourning clothes, and wore a plain white shirtwaist and simple skirt of dove gray.
To her surprise, her mother came eagerly forward, clasped Concordia by the arm—Mother’s hands were surprisingly strong, for all of their delicacy—and drew her over to the settee.
“Nathaniel gave me your letter. Your news was such a shock, it took me a while to accept what really happened.” Struggling to maintain her composure, she
