Hannah's Dream by A.L. Jambor, Lenore Butler

struggled to swim to shore.  Pierre reached for her hand.  He couldn't reach it, and she was being pulled further away from the shore.  He began to swim toward her, then he remembered what she told him and stopped.  She would never leave him alone now.  Margaret would find out about the baby and throw him out.  He would lose his job.
    He turned and began to swim back to shore.  He dragged himself out of the water and turned around.  Agnes was gone.
    He tried to gather his thoughts.  He looked around at the desolate beach.  He wondered if anyone had seen them.  He turned and walked to the road.  He didn't see a soul.
    He went back to his room.  His shoes and clothes were wet, but the desk clerk knew he was going to the beach.  If anyone noticed, he would say he was too close to the shore and a wave caught him by surprise.  He looked at his face in the mirror.  Agnes was dead.  She could have ruined his life.  She could have ruined his relationship with Margaret.  He hadn't wanted her dead.  He hadn't planned to kill her.  So, why did he feel so guilty?
    If he went to Mrs. Porter's and asked for Agnes, demanded to see her, would they suspect anything?  Or would it make a good alibi?  He took off his trousers and put on a dry pair.  He had brought one pair of shoes so he had to wear them.  If Mrs. Porter questioned him, he would say he had been to the beach.  But he was being stupid.  Why would she ask about his shoes?
    He waited until three before going to Mrs. Porters'  This is when he usually arrived.  Mrs. Porter greeted him.
    "I'd like to see Agnes," he said.  He did that well.  He didn't sound guilty at all.
    "She's still asleep," she said.  "I'll send the girl to fetch her."
    They didn't know she'd left the house that morning.
    The girl was dispatched to Agnes's room.  She appeared at the top of the stairs shaking her head.
    "She's not there, ma'am."
    "What?" Mrs. Porter said.
    "I told you to have her wait for me," he said.  He was proud.  He sounded properly indignant.
    "I haven't seen her today.  I can't imagine where she's off to."
    "Well find her!" he cried.
    "Why don't you come back later?" Mrs. Porter said.  "Maybe she's gone to church.  It's Christmas after all."
    "Yes, I'm sure she's gone to church," he said.  You're doing well, Jean-Pierre, he thought.  "You tell her when she comes back that if she does this to me again, I will choose another girl."
    He walked out and slammed the door.  He was breathing hard and stopped on the porch to catch his breath.  He walked back to the hotel and collected his things.  He tipped the livery boy who brought his horse to the hotel and quickly rode out of town.

Chapter 14
    Marian was at the breakfast table sipping her tea when a knock came at the door.
    "I'll answer it," Becky said as she rushed past Marian.
    A man in a black overcoat and bowler hat stood on the porch.  He took off his hat and smiled.
    "May I speak to Mrs. Dawes?" he said.
    "May I ask who's calling?" Becky said.
    "My name is Herbert Ross."
    "Come in," Becky said.  She took his hat and coat and left Mr. Ross in the foyer.
    "There's a man here to see you," Becky told Marian.
    "Who is he?"
    "Someone named Ross."
    "That's the lawyer from New York.  What on Earth is he doing here?"
    Marian rose from the table.
    "Bring some tea to the parlor," she said to Becky.
    She walked into the foyer and greeted Mr. Ross.
    "Please, come in," she said.
    They walked into the parlor and sat across from each other.  He looked very uncomfortable.
    "I received your letter and was planning to come to your office sometime next week," Marian said.  "I assume your visit has something to do with the letter."
    "Mrs. Dawes, I...I guess it's best to just tell you why I'm here.  I wanted to find a way to say this, but no matter how I tried, there just isn't any easy way to give you this news."
    "My goodness, Mr. Ross.  Is it as bad as all that?"
    "Yes, Mrs. Dawes, I'm afraid it is."
    He sat