"What do you have to hide? I'm afraid to ask," noted Tristan, tears streaming down her face at this point.
"I am going to tell you this, and you are not to tell your brothers. The lie is much easier to swallow than what actually happened. You all were too young to hear what really happened. Do you think I want you all in therapy as children? Because I don't. It doesn't excuse it. I am going to allow you time to cool off. We will discuss the specifics, as a family, tomorrow night, after Gus and Grandma get back from Florida. In the mean time, can you not say anything to your brothers? Especially Adam?"
Tristan looked at her father with a suspicious look.
"Why Adam?"
"Just please do what I ask?"
"No, why Adam?"
Jack let out an exasperated sigh, "Adam is the only one of you who knows, and he's been quite cross with me for years for not telling you everything by now. Please. I don't want a war to erupt. We'll talk tomorrow night."
"Fine."
The coarse exchange would end the conversation between Jack and Tristan that night. Tristan climbed the stairs once again, with heavy shoulders and a pounding head. A look of determination and muted confusion on her face, Tristan had no intentions of going to sleep just yet. She took the stairs, two at a time, as she hurriedly tried to reach her bedroom. With a swift kick, the door to her tiny bedroom slammed open, and just as quickly, it clicked shut. Sitting on her alcove bed she began rummaging through her pockets looking for the news article regarding the bridge collapse. She unfolded it and smoothed it out on the bed so that she could read it properly, and without interruption or judgment.
On Thursday, December 24, 1981, around 8 P.M., the Elkhart covered bridge at Mountain Road collapsed when a horrific three-vehicle accident occurred. An ambulance and a tractor trailer collided with a stalled vehicle killing three. Maria Piedmonte of Elkhart, age 29, Lawrence Welkes, age 53 from San Antonio, Texas, and Cory Granger of Shepard's Grove, age 32, were all killed in the accident. Severe weather conditions combined with poor road traction and low visibility are believed to be the major factors of why this crash occurred. Eye witness Bridgette Morrow, of Fox Hollow, who is also a nurse at Grier Mountain Medical Center is quoted as saying, "Maria's (Piedmonte) car had stalled on the bridge, and the ambulance plowed through, instantly killing the paramedic (Cory Granger). However, it seems like the tractor trailer had gotten turned about on some black ice. They found Maria further up the road, so it seems like she tried to assist the driver of the tractor trailer (Lawrence Welkes) but sadly, was crushed when the vehicle began skidding downward towards the bridge.” By miracle the Piedmonte children survived the crash, and because paramedics couldn't get to them, Bridgette and Jack Morrow dug them out and took them to safety until their father could claim them the next day.
Maria Piedmonte, co-owner of Monte's cafe, was a wife and a mother of four children. Her funeral services are being arranged and are expected to be held on January 1, 1982 at St. Augustine's Church in Elkhart.
Cory Granger, ambulatory paramedic for Skole County, is the youngest son of Mayor Edward Granger, and services are expected to be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on January 2, 1982, in Gabbard's Bend.
Lawrence Welkes, driver for Haul America, a shipping company that transports domestic fruits and vegetables, and father of three, will have funeral services in his home town of San Antonio, TX.
As more details emerge, the Elkhart Bugle will be the first to bring it to you. Have a news tip for us? Call us at the News Hotline: 1-570-555-NEWS
Tristan read and re-read the article, astonished at what the article said. Cole was in that car, and Natalie too.
My father and aunt had rescued them from death when no one else could. Meanwhile, my mother was in labor somewhere… Where? I know I was born at the farm, at 4:22 A.M. on Christmas Day. If the accident occurred at 8:00 P.M. on Christmas Eve, I hadn’t been born yet, but I should have been well on my way.
Tristan flipped the paper over to read the content that concerned her greatest. The article that highlighted the death of her mother:
In the early morning hours of December 25, 1981, a deceased female body was found on the bank of Croft Lake in Fox Hollow, PA. The woman, identified as Catherine Westfeld-Morrow, is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, average build with black hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. The mother of five children had just given birth to a baby in the early morning hours of Christmas Day; therefore, foul play is suspected. Police have identified two potential suspects but are not releasing any names yet.
As more details emerge, the Elkhart Bugle will be the first to bring it to you. Have a news tip for us? Call us at the News Hotline: 1-570-555-NEWS.