SPRINGTIME PROMISES *complete*

CHAPTER 31: HIDDEN IDENTITIES

Ulrick's invitation had been unexpected but welcome. As Lanecea poured tea for their guests, Ulrick turned the conversation gently, steering it toward their pasts, their families, and their shared struggles. It was a subtle, careful move, but when Ulrick spoke in a soft, familiar cadence, his German accent slipped through.

Oscar froze for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the pastor. Ulrick met his gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. He didn't need to say much—Oscar knew. Ulrick wasn't just a pastor. He was also German.

The secret had been laid bare. Oscar felt a strange mix of relief and fear wash over him. He had lived in Kingston for years, hidden behind his "Dutch" identity, terrified of what the truth might bring, and now, here was someone who shared his burden - someone who might understand.

"You're...you're German," Oscar whispered, careful not to let his voice carry through the open window.

Ulrick nodded, his expression compassionate but firm. "I am, and I know you are too, Oscar. You've kept it hidden well, but you don't have to carry this alone."

Minnie, sitting beside Oscar, tightened her grip on his hand. She had always known her husband's fear - his reluctance to reveal his true heritage since rumors of war had begun to circulate just a few years before, but now, seeing Ulrick's calm acceptance, she too began to feel the weight lift. The pastor wasn't there to expose them. He was there to help.

As the evening went on, Ulrick shared his mission. He wasn't just in Kingston to preach; he was here to help Lanecea in ways that most people would never know. 

"We're reuniting families," he explained. "And I believe you both can help us—discreetly, of course."

Oscar and Minnie listened intently as Ulrick spoke about the forgotten babies Lanecea had been caring for. The stories of loss and hope tugged at their hearts, especially Minnie's. As a mother who had lost two sons, her maternal instincts flared at the thought of these abandoned children. She had longed for something to heal the ache of her own losses, and now she realized, perhaps this was it.

"You can count on us," Minnie said softly, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "We'll help in any way we can."

****

It wasn't long before their visits to Lanecea's home became more frequent. At first, they came quietly, slipping in and out, ensuring no one would suspect anything, but soon, they began to bring their grandchildren along, knowing how much joy the babies brought to their family. Mollie, especially, took a particular interest in Lanecea's work. The woman had always been practical, with a keen sense of how to help others, and she quickly found herself at ease with the nannies, Allace and Lillie - women she knew from church - and the babies.

Mollie's practical nature led her to propose an idea. "The women at church," she suggested one afternoon as she sat with Lanecea in the nursery, "they'd be more than willing to help. We could ask for donations—clothes, blankets, supplies. I know that they'd love to contribute."

Lanecea considered Minnie's suggestion but frowned, almost giving away her own secret at that moment. 

"We have to be careful," she reminded Mollie. "We can't draw too much attention to the babies -  not yet."

Mollie nodded. "Of course, but we can do it quietly. People will want to help even without knowing all the details. They don't need to know everything to care."

Before long, the plan was set into motion. The churchwomen organized sewing bees, creating clothes and blankets for the babies - the number of babies growing as others caught sight of Lanecea's vision, freeing her up to focus on hunting down and rescuing those who had been abandoned. Minnie, Harry's mother, and even Edith, Eva's older sister, Harry's sister, eager to contribute.

The secret began to spread in the best possible way. Lanecea's "forgotten babies" became the first of many, just as she had always envisioned, and through it all, Oscar and Minnie played a crucial role, helping Lanecea gather the information she needed to reunite the families. Oscar, with his sharp intellect and discreet manner, provided the necessary records, allowing Lanecea to track down distant relatives and bring them back together.

Every small act of kindness, every piece of information shared, every donation made, was a step toward healing—not just for the babies, but for the families involved. Lanecea, ever the visionary, watched as her dream slowly unfolded, knowing that this was just the beginning.

For the first time since the war, Oscar wasn't burdened by his secret but empowered by it. Ulrick and Lanecea had seen past the tax collector and the German hiding his heritage - his identity - and saw what others overlooked. In doing so, Oscar had become a key to unlocking a future where families could be reunited, where lost children could be found, and where hope could flourish.

Ulrick smiled as he watched from the sidelines. He knew that Lanecea had been right all along. Oscar was the key to their success, and together, they would change everything.

****

Oscar sat in silence, a mix of nostalgia and confusion swirling in his mind. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the window as he reflected on that fateful year in 1901 when everything changed for him. It was the year his father disappeared without a trace leaving behind a void that had never been filled. The mystery of his father's vanishing haunted him, but it was another memory that lingered, equally vivid yet more tantalizing: the day he first met Lanecea.

She had walked into his life like a breath of fresh air, her presence magnetic. He could still recall the way she moved, graceful and confident, with hair that glinted like spilled ink in the the sun and eyes that seemed to hold untold secrets. It was impossible to forget the tall, muscular man by her side whose striking green eyes had captivated Oscar's attention - a gaze that seemed to pierce right through him. There was an intensity in that man, an energy that suggested he would go to any lengths to protect her.

Lanecea had been enchanting, a woman who exuded life and mystery. He remembered the way she engaged with the townsfolk, her laughter ringing like music as she captivated everyone around her. Even now, there was something timeless about her, something that made it seem as though she hadn't aged a day since that first meeting.

As Oscar continued to think back, he realized how peculiar it was that she had returned to Kingston in 1911, just ten years ago. He and Minnie had been living with his mother at that time, and Lanecea had quickly formed a close bond with both his wife and his mother, Dellia. Since that spring, Lanecea's laughter was often heard throughout the house, bringing a smile to his lips after a long day collecting taxes. Lanecea had looked at him with understanding and he had begun to find himself confiding her - telling her things he couldn't share with another single soul. She understood him like none other, but now, with Ulrick as the new face in town - Ulrick whom Pastor Lemon had simply introduced as "Rev. Ulrick Himmler who was visiting his congregation for a short while. It wasn't uncommon to have visiting pastors but something about Ulrick had been different, but perhaps Oscar was surprised to see him at Lanecea's side, the woman he had grown to love cradling two babies of her own.

Oscar felt a twinge of unease. Lanecea's reappearance stirred something deep within him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't the only one who remembered her; whispers of her name seemed to linger in the air, and the townsfolk's eyes occasionally darted toward her with a mix of recognition and curiosity.

Minnie had caught Oscar's gaze lingering on Lanecea more than once but had only smiled. The women had always been close - as thick as thieves, one might say. There was a familiarity that couldn't be denied - a bond that seemed to connect Lanecea to this town and its people.

As he sat in the dim light, watching the shadows play across the walls, Oscar couldn't help but feel that Lanecea was more than just a captivating woman who had returned to Kingston. She was a link to something greater, a bridge between his past and present, and perhaps even a key to unlocking the secrets that had been buried for far too long.

His thoughts swirled like autumn leaves caught in the wind, a mixture of desire, curiosity, and an unshakeable feeling that this was only the beginning of a much larger story. Whatever he discovered, Oscar knew that he would stand by Lanecea's side. After all, she was one of the few who had stood by his.