SARAH
While David is visiting Beauchamp, and Sam’s in his room, Sarah takes out her special writing paper she keeps in a wooden box, a dried rose lying on the thick parchment. This will be the most important letter she will ever write. Carefully she fills her fountain pen with ink, thinking about David, knowing it will be impossible for him to accept her decision. But he won’t be able to stop her, not now that she’s told him about her promise to God. David’s faith is like a rock, unmovable, and he wouldn’t want Sarah to compromise hers by breaking a promise like that.
Dear Mrs. Beauchamp,
It is with a broken heart that I write this letter. Samuel isn’t happy here. We are at a loss. His distress at being uprooted is too much for us to bear. I am appealing to you in desperation. He needs you. Can you come?
Sarah Laffitte
The front door clicks open. Sarah looks up from her letter. David stands there, his shoulders slumped, his face gray. Rubbing his eyes, he stares at her.
She doesn’t move from her chair, but gazes at him, thinking how exhausted and weary he looks. She doesn’t even want to ask him how the meeting with Beauchamp went, imagining it could only have been painful.
A silent tear slides down his cheek, followed by another. Still she doesn’t move. How can she comfort him? She has nothing to offer him now, only her surrender. He wanted her to be tenacious, to hold on to their son with all her might, whatever the cost. But she loves Sam too much for that.
She doesn’t notice the tears sliding down her own cheeks until they land on the letter, blurring the ink. As she looks down at the blue splotches, she feels David come and crouch down beside her, his wet cheek leaning into hers. She knows he’s reading the letter. Holding her breath, she waits for his hurt, his anger to come flying out.
“Sarah,” he murmurs. “Sarah.” Then his arms are around her, pulling her into him.
She slips effortlessly into his embrace.
“Sarah, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”
“But you’re crying.”
Holding her face in his hands, he kisses her tears away. “Our son is alive. It is enough for me. It is enough, Sarah.”