Mark of a Lainley: The Story of Abigail Lainley

By Josephine Hawk

All children want to be loved. It was no different with Abigail. Deep inside, she knew there was a family out there, if not her own, searching just for her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781678042578

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Mark of a Lainley: The Story of Abigail Lainley

The Mark of a Lainley: The Story of Abigail Lainley

Copyright © 2019 by Lacey Wright

Cover design by Katie Beth Felton

Edited by Lindsey Mashon

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2019

ISBN 978-1-67804-257-8

Cloud Kingdom Publishing

21 Crosswinds Dr.

Cabot, AR 72118

Dedication

Thank you Lindsey & Lauren.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1   Abigail and the Joneses

Chapter 2   Laurel and Charlie

Chapter 3   A Census, A Race, and Cheese Omelets

Chapter 4   A Little Help

Chapter 5   Cookies and Lefties

Chapter 6   The Diary Key

Chapter 7   A Mother with a Purpose

Chapter 8   Brother Christian

Chapter 9   A Very Big S’p’ise

Chapter 10   Emerald Ring

Chapter 11   Impossible Dream

Chapter 12   A Wonderful Life

Epilogue

Prologue

It was late on this sultry, summer night. Only two people were out. A young woman walked down a small road, carrying a tightly wrapped bundle. She looked about, unsure of her way, and turned onto a wider street. The mysterious bundle moved, and she clutched it tighter. It’s alright, she whispered, I think we’re almost there.

A moment later, the woman walked up to a stone building. Carefully, in the dim light, she read the sign: Golden Street Home for Girls. This was the place. The young woman laid her bundle on the steps of the orphanage. Alright, my little angel, this is it. I love you so much. Don’t you ever forget that. The woman kissed the bundle, rapped on the orphanage door, and disappeared down the street.

The orphanage door opened, and an old lady appeared in the doorway. She lifted the bundle. Did someone leave you? Here, let’s get you inside. The door closed, as the old woman carried the child inside.

Safely hidden, the young woman was watching.

Chapter 1 

Abigail and the Joneses

Ten-year old Abigail Lainley sighed. She and three other girls were in their bedroom, sitting on the floor, waiting. Mrs. Young (more like Mrs. Old), the headmistress of the orphanage, was filling out a census record of the children. Abigail knew that when Mrs. Young came through that doorway, she was expected to stand up, give her name and date of birth, as well as the place of her birth. She twisted a curl of caramel hair around her finger. Abigail had no idea where she had been born. When she was three years of age, she had been left on the doorstep of widowed Mrs. Young, who took her in at once. Sadly, she had no memory of life before Mrs. Young’s place.

At that moment, Mrs. Young walked into the bedroom. Come here, Abbie, she called. Abigail despised the name ‘Abbie’. Your full name, please.

Abigail would never understand this question. Didn’t Mrs. Young know her name? Abigail March Lainley. It was a terrible name, in Abigail's opinion. Perhaps that was why she remembered it so well. March, for a middle name? And to top it all off, she’d gotten stuck with a last name like Lainley.

Mrs. Young continued. Date of birth.

March 2, 1920, she answered automatically. Abigail had most likely been given the name March because of this birthday. In her mind, it wasn’t a very good reason. It wasn’t her fault she’d had a March birthday! Abigail thought the middle name Jane would be much nicer. Or maybe Renae. Perhaps when she grew up, she would change it.

Place of birth, said Mrs. Young, but didn’t wait for Abigail’s response. She called on the next girl.

Abigail took a seat on her bed again. Place of birth? Unknown. That was what she felt like: unknown.

***

Abigail was not a disagreeable girl. But being left in the care of rude Mrs. Young didn’t improve or help her behavior. Also, she had no friends. Her only friend, Hally, had been adopted a few weeks earlier. Hally had lived in Mrs. Young’s house for several years, and Abigail missed her friendship and protection. Abigail’s name caused most of her troubles. Lainley was an unusual name, and the orphanage bullies were mean to her. Hally had paid the price of losing all her friends when she began to be kind to Abigail. As Abigail was looked down upon, it was easy for the bullies to see to it that poor Hally became an outcast. Twelve-year old Hally had protected Abigail from the bullies as much as she could, but now that she was gone, Abigail was an easy target.

At one time, Abigail had hoped to be