ABANDONED. Meaning of life story, redemption from long-ago sorrow. old-time story is a love story about an immigrant woman who works as a secretary for a man who owns some kind of business; Spoilers.

[Pam]

This was a three book series with two story lines. One in the early twentieth century and one "modern" when the book was written. I'd guess about 1960-1980. The old-time story is a love story about an immigrant woman who works as a secretary for a man who owns some kind of business. They fall in love and have a fairy-tale life with one adored child. The husband has a black friend and this is the source of all the conflict in the story due to bigotry in the town. SPOILER: The adored child ends up burning to death because the husband defends the black man. An angry mob buns the couple's house down. This destroys the couples marriage causing the immigrant woman/wife to live alone in the house for the rest of her life. Intertwined in the olden days story is the modern story of a couple with a daughter who apply to be caretakers of the immigrant woman/wife's house. They become close - even like family and slowly they learn of the fire and death of the immigrant woman/wife's daughter. I don't remember how the book ended but it was uplifting. Maybe the couple reunited after so many years? Or the immigrant woman/wife finally found peace? I can't remember. The immigrant woman goes to visit her child's grave frequently and without letting others know about it. Maybe someone from the past sees her. The black friend of theirs? The husband? I can't remember. I read this book series about five years ago at my mom's house. She gave it to me (I thought) and I donated the books when I moved. Recently, my mom has asked for the books back. HELP! I feel terrible for not saving the books and we can't remember author or title.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Pam, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Pam (OP) was last active on the site in November 2017.