"Why do you think that is true?" Mrs. Stephens asked.
"I don't think she lives the way she wants to, because she never talks about her future."
"Only young women dream dreams. Perhaps Miss Hawthorn is doing what she needs to do."
"She should get married before it is too late."
"Perhaps she has all the life, she has ever desired."
"I don't believe that could be true."
"I though you wanted to know some information."
Anna chimed in.
Yes, of course, what can you tell me about Maddie?"
"I know that she came from Kingston to be your nanny. It's what happened before she came that bothers me."
"What was it?" Hayley moved to the edge of her seat.
"Well…Mrs. Sommers instructed me to watch over your mother during her delivery. It was very difficult."
She took a sip of tea. "It was after your mother passed on." She paused. "The doctor handed the baby to me."
"The baby was me, right?"
She shook her head. "It couldn't have been you."
Anna was afraid she was providing more information than Hayley could handle. "Are you sure you want to hear more?"
"Please go on."
"The baby that he handed me was deceased."
"How can that be?"
"I don't know, but you have to understand, I was there for the entire delivery, and I know Carolyn's baby died."
Hayley felt lightheaded. "It's impossible…my father wouldn't keep this kind of thing from me." Her head was spinning.
"I immediately told your father about the passing of the baby and your mother. He took the baby's body and said he would take care of it. We all thought he had a private burial for the child. A week later, he returned home with you and said you were not dead, but ill, and that he had taken you to a doctor in Kingston."
"Did you say anything to my father about what you thought?"
"No---I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"That he would say I was crazy and have Mrs.
Sommers commit me to an asylum."
"He wouldn't do something like that."
"If he's anything like the others I've worked for, I wouldn't want to take that chance." Anna sighed. "I have told you everything I know. Only your father can fill in the rest."