So, Aimee had a sister all that time, too! Do you have suspicions of who the father was? Mary Martha goes to Europe and leaves a daughter behind there, then two years later, another in Canada? Wouldn't you love to compare some DNA tests here?
Absolutely! I spoke with several genetic DNA experts about how such a search might be conducted and what it could potentially reveal, but it was a dead end.
In terms of the first daughter, Martha Sylvester, my gut tells me the relationship that led to her birth was significant for Mary Martha. Giving the child a family name seems to indicate she might have planned on coming back for her at some time, maybe even making her “legitimate” but something happened.
So, what happened? Well, for one, Aimee’s cousin, Allen Rice, died. Amelia somehow believed he was Aimee’s father, despite him being dead well before her birth. But - and it’s a big but - he died just two months BEFORE Martha was born.
Maybe there was a plan, promise or hope that Allen would make Martha an “honest woman” and the three of them would be a family. But then he died, and, heartbroken, Mary Martha left their child in Prague. Maybe?
When I decided to share this story, I committed to the truth, or as much as I could find. But, man, there were times when I really, really thought I’d made a mistake in choosing HNF lol. The whole storyline of Allen Rice was definitely one of those times 😉
Besides the fact that Mary Martha had 2 baby girls out of wedlock, I am surprised she kept tabs on them for all those years but refused to acknowledge them during her lifetime.
Questions: how long did it take to piece your story? What was the most challenging part of writing it? Did you find yourself inserting personal bias and if so, how did you overcome? Do you work with a copy editor? Did you leverage AI for any of your efforts and if so, in what ways? Are you satisfied with the end result (I sure hope so!)? What advice do you have for other writers to aspire to longer form pieces and even serialization? What’s next for you?
Oh, and the most obvious, what exactly is your process? Do you use Post-it Notes to plot it out? How much time per day did you spend? Did you write it all at once and then break it up?
Is this the end? It can’t be? I was hoping for answers to all of the questions, who Aimee’s father was, is it possible Mary Martha was raped/molested by a family member or family friend?
Sorry, I’m just wanting more to the story so there’s a satisfying end. I’m still as a disbelief as to this whole story, so much worse than all soap operas put together.
Also I am so glad you’ve enjoyed it! Tell your friends, share it far and wide haha. And I’d love you to read some of the other, shorter lost & found stories, too!
I can’t seem to put down my phone. This thoroughly held my attention. It has to be really a really good, not even good but a great story for me to keep reading and not want to stop. I couldn’t wait for the nurse to set up my infusion this morning so that I could continue with reading, but was then upset it was over so fast because I had to stop again and wait until I drive home and finished what had to be done around the house.
So, Aimee had a sister all that time, too! Do you have suspicions of who the father was? Mary Martha goes to Europe and leaves a daughter behind there, then two years later, another in Canada? Wouldn't you love to compare some DNA tests here?
Absolutely! I spoke with several genetic DNA experts about how such a search might be conducted and what it could potentially reveal, but it was a dead end.
In terms of the first daughter, Martha Sylvester, my gut tells me the relationship that led to her birth was significant for Mary Martha. Giving the child a family name seems to indicate she might have planned on coming back for her at some time, maybe even making her “legitimate” but something happened.
So, what happened? Well, for one, Aimee’s cousin, Allen Rice, died. Amelia somehow believed he was Aimee’s father, despite him being dead well before her birth. But - and it’s a big but - he died just two months BEFORE Martha was born.
Maybe there was a plan, promise or hope that Allen would make Martha an “honest woman” and the three of them would be a family. But then he died, and, heartbroken, Mary Martha left their child in Prague. Maybe?
When I decided to share this story, I committed to the truth, or as much as I could find. But, man, there were times when I really, really thought I’d made a mistake in choosing HNF lol. The whole storyline of Allen Rice was definitely one of those times 😉
Thoroughly captivated by the episodic storytelling! Didn't want it to end as it has been a pleasure to read.
Thanks so much, Jill! That means a lot from such a wonderful writer like you!
Besides the fact that Mary Martha had 2 baby girls out of wedlock, I am surprised she kept tabs on them for all those years but refused to acknowledge them during her lifetime.
Amazing story and story-telling. I can’t wait to hear about the process that went into piecing this one together!
If you have any questions, I’d love to answer them - just send them over!
Questions: how long did it take to piece your story? What was the most challenging part of writing it? Did you find yourself inserting personal bias and if so, how did you overcome? Do you work with a copy editor? Did you leverage AI for any of your efforts and if so, in what ways? Are you satisfied with the end result (I sure hope so!)? What advice do you have for other writers to aspire to longer form pieces and even serialization? What’s next for you?
Great questions! I’ll add them to the list!
Oh, and the most obvious, what exactly is your process? Do you use Post-it Notes to plot it out? How much time per day did you spend? Did you write it all at once and then break it up?
Is this the end? It can’t be? I was hoping for answers to all of the questions, who Aimee’s father was, is it possible Mary Martha was raped/molested by a family member or family friend?
Sorry, I’m just wanting more to the story so there’s a satisfying end. I’m still as a disbelief as to this whole story, so much worse than all soap operas put together.
Also I am so glad you’ve enjoyed it! Tell your friends, share it far and wide haha. And I’d love you to read some of the other, shorter lost & found stories, too!
Here’s another: https://loriolsonwhite.substack.com/publish/post/150463570?back=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished
There ARE still a lot of questions, and a lot of research that is ongoing!
https://loriolsonwhite.substack.com/p/revisiting-the-story-of-aimee-henry?r=10w950
I can’t seem to put down my phone. This thoroughly held my attention. It has to be really a really good, not even good but a great story for me to keep reading and not want to stop. I couldn’t wait for the nurse to set up my infusion this morning so that I could continue with reading, but was then upset it was over so fast because I had to stop again and wait until I drive home and finished what had to be done around the house.