Free To Love and Honor by Irene Brand Page A

missed.” He seemed a bit disappointed that she hadn’t said she had missed him, too, but in truth, Violet was happy that he hadn’t been in Maitland during the trying week she had just finished.
    He drew her to the couch behind his desk and continued to hold her hand. “Now, what’s your problem?” he said with a smile.
    Violet had spent hours on the way home from Kansas debating how she could tell Larry about her mother, and she had finally decided that there was no easy way to lead up to it.
    â€œMy mother, who is serving a life sentence in a prison in Kansas, is dying with cancer. The authorities are paroling her into my care for the few months shehas left. She will be brought to my home on Wednesday.”
    A look of shock and abhorrence swiftly spread across Larry’s face, and she wished she had been more diplomatic in her revelation.
    â€œYou told me your mother was dead!”
    â€œNo, I didn’t. When you asked about my parents, I chose my words very carefully, and I said, ‘My father died when I was two years old, and my mother is gone, too.’”
    â€œYou certainly gave the impression that she was dead.”
    â€œIt wasn’t a lie—she has been gone for over twenty years. I never saw her while I growing up. Perhaps I should have told you the full story, but it’s not pleasant to admit that your mother is in prison for murdering your father. Besides, I needed a job, and I didn’t think anyone would hire me if they knew about my family background.”
    The distress on Larry’s face deepened, but Violet ignored it and continued, “Until Thursday, I don’t remember ever seeing my mother but one time.” Briefly, Violet told him of her mother’s conviction, her refusal to have any contact with her family, their move to Minnesota, the telephone message that Roger had received, and how, at first, she had been opposed to taking her mother.
    â€œYou’ve been disturbed that I’ve been seeing Roger so much lately…that’s the reason. He’s been helping me make decisions about how to handle this. In fact, he went with me to Topeka this week. It was helpful to have someone who had some firsthand knowledge about prisons.”
    She saw Larry move away from her physically andfelt him move away from her emotionally. “I wish you had talked with me before you made your plans, Violet. I know you can’t help what your mother did, but to have her here will cause problems in the school, as well as the town. No one will like having a murderess living in Maitland.”
    Violet shuddered when he said the word, murderess.
    â€œOnce they see her, it will be obvious that she isn’t a threat to anyone. She’s so weak she can’t even walk without assistance. I doubt she will live two months.”
    â€œThen she should have remained in prison and not disrupted your life. How will this affect your teaching?”
    â€œAunt Ruth is coming to stay with me, so that I can continue my work. We’ll manage.” Violet stood up. “I’ll leave you to your work now,” she said, motioning to the large stack of papers on his desk. “I wanted you to know this before anyone else, for I intend to have Pastor Tom mention my mother’s arrival from the pulpit in the morning. The news will spread quickly then.”
    â€œI don’t see why you have to be so open with your private affairs. If you didn’t say anything publicly, no one need know that she has been in prison.”
    â€œI’ll admit that I contemplated that option, but I doubt that we could have kept it secret. Her health records will be forwarded from the prison to the local hospital. The news media will probably have a heyday with the parole of a prisoner sentenced for life, without mercy. After I discussed it with Roger and Pastor Tom, we decided that the truth was the best path to follow.”
    â€œA principle you might