Two-Part Invention

Crosswicks: Foundation of Love

Crosswicks, the old New England farmhouse, stands as the central metaphor for Madeleine L'Engle's marriage to Hugh Franklin. Its rambling, imperfect structure mirrors the unpredictable, weathered, and enduring nature of their union. Madeleine, a city child, finds in Crosswicks her first true home, a place that roots her in the physical world and in the rituals of family. The house, battered by storms and time, becomes a living testament to the resilience required in marriage—weathering joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. It is here that Madeleine and Hugh build their life together, learning that love is not about perfection but about persistence, adaptation, and shared meaning. Crosswicks is not just a setting, but a character in their story, embodying the spirit of their partnership.

Divergent Childhoods, Shared Longing

Madeleine's solitary, artistic Manhattan childhood contrasts sharply with Hugh's conventional, church-centered upbringing in Tulsa. She grows up surrounded by artists, music, and books, yet isolated by her father's illness and her parents' established routines. Hugh's family, struck by the Depression, values integrity and community, but views the arts with suspicion. Despite their differences, both experience loss, longing, and the ache of not quite fitting in. Their early lives shape their expectations of love and home, instilling in each a hunger for connection and belonging. These divergent backgrounds, rather than dividing them, become the soil in which their eventual love will take root, teaching them empathy and the necessity of compromise.

Becoming Artists, Becoming Selves

Both Madeleine and Hugh find solace and identity in the arts—she in writing and music, he in acting. Madeleine's early years are marked by creative solitude, her imagination a shield against loneliness. Hugh, discovering theatre after a transformative encounter with Cyrano de Bergerac, pursues acting with passion, overcoming financial hardship and social expectations. Their artistic callings are not mere hobbies but essential to their sense of self. The pursuit of art becomes a crucible for growth, resilience, and self-discovery, preparing them for the challenges of love and partnership. Through art, they learn discipline, vulnerability, and the courage to risk failure—qualities that will serve them in marriage.

New York Dreams and Theatrical Beginnings

After college, Madeleine returns to New York, drawn by its promise of artistic fulfillment. She navigates communal living, auditions, and the precarious world of theatre, learning the realities behind the glamour. Her work as an understudy and her friendships with theatrical legends like Eva Le Gallienne and Joseph Schildkraut teach her humility and the unpredictability of creative life. Madeleine's journey is marked by small triumphs and frequent setbacks, but also by the forging of deep friendships and the gradual emergence of her voice as a writer. The city becomes both a proving ground and a place of self-invention, setting the stage for her eventual meeting with Hugh.

Loneliness, Learning, and Touché

Madeleine's early years in New York are marked by loneliness and the search for meaning. She learns the practicalities of adult life—housekeeping, cooking, managing independence—while wrestling with the ache of isolation. Her beloved dog, Touché, becomes a source of comfort and connection, a symbol of loyalty and unconditional love. Through friendships, artistic pursuits, and the challenges of daily living, Madeleine matures, discovering the importance of community and the necessity of self-reliance. Her experiences of loss, rejection, and fleeting romance deepen her understanding of herself and her longing for true partnership.

Encounters, Losses, and First Loves

Madeleine's encounters with various suitors—some earnest, some inappropriate—teach her about the difference between infatuation and real love. She faces heartbreak, awkward proposals, and the pain of unrequited affection, all while navigating the complexities of postwar New York. The deaths of friends and the specter of war remind her of life's fragility. Through these experiences, Madeleine learns to distinguish between fantasy and reality, between the longing for romance and the deeper need for companionship and understanding. Each disappointment brings her closer to recognizing what she truly seeks in love.

Meeting Hugh: The Spark Ignites

The pivotal moment arrives when Madeleine, cast as an understudy in The Cherry Orchard, meets Hugh Franklin, the new leading man. Their first conversation stretches for ten hours, an effortless communion of minds and hearts. Despite Madeleine's lingering insecurities and Hugh's cautious reserve, a profound connection is forged. Their courtship unfolds against the backdrop of the touring company, filled with camaraderie, artistic growth, and the thrill of new love. Yet, uncertainty and external pressures threaten their budding relationship, testing their resolve and deepening their bond.

Courtship, Touring, and Uncertainty

As the Cherry Orchard tour winds through cities and seasons, Madeleine and Hugh's relationship is buffeted by misunderstandings, jealousy, and the scrutiny of their theatrical peers. A painful separation ensues, leaving Madeleine heartbroken but determined not to chase after Hugh. The death of President Roosevelt provides an unexpected catalyst for reconnection, leading to renewed intimacy and vulnerability. Their love, no longer the stuff of fantasy, becomes grounded in honesty, mutual respect, and the willingness to risk pain for the sake of genuine connection.

Marriage Vows and New Beginnings

Madeleine and Hugh marry in a simple ceremony, pledging to love and cherish each other through all of life's vicissitudes. Their union is marked by joy, hope, and the daunting task of building a shared life from disparate pasts. They honeymoon in the midst of theatrical obligations, learning to balance personal dreams with professional demands. The purchase of Crosswicks marks the beginning of their adventure as homeowners, partners, and soon, parents. Their marriage is not an escape from struggle but a commitment to face it together, fortified by love and shared purpose.

Building a Life at Crosswicks

The early years at Crosswicks are a blend of exhilaration and exhaustion. Madeleine and Hugh confront the realities of homeownership—endless repairs, financial strain, and the demands of rural life. Parenthood brings both joy and vulnerability, as Madeleine endures difficult pregnancies and the challenges of caring for infants. The couple's artistic ambitions are tested by the necessities of survival, yet their love deepens through shared adversity. Crosswicks becomes a crucible for their marriage, a place where dreams are both realized and recalibrated, and where the rhythms of family life take root.

Parenting, Writing, and Struggle

As their family grows, Madeleine and Hugh grapple with the competing demands of parenting, creative work, and financial insecurity. Madeleine's writing career is marked by rejection and self-doubt, while Hugh's acting opportunities are sporadic. The isolation of rural life intensifies Madeleine's longing for intellectual and artistic community. Yet, through perseverance, mutual support, and the small triumphs of daily life, they find meaning and satisfaction. Their children become both a source of delight and a mirror for their own hopes and fears. The struggle to create—art, home, family—becomes the defining challenge of their marriage.

The Store Years: Isolation and Growth

The decision to run the Crosswicks general store plunges the family into a decade of hard work, exhaustion, and social isolation. Madeleine feels alienated from her neighbors, misunderstood as a writer, and starved for adult conversation. Hugh, though successful in business, is often too tired to be present emotionally. The deaths of close friends and the adoption of a third child, Maria, add layers of grief and complexity. Yet, these years also foster resilience, humility, and a deeper appreciation for the ordinary. The store becomes both a burden and a teacher, shaping the family's character and preparing them for future transitions.

Return to the City, Return to Art

The decision to sell the store and return to New York marks a turning point. Hugh resumes his acting career, and Madeleine rededicates herself to writing, despite continued rejection. The family navigates the challenges of urban life, adolescence, and the shifting tides of the 1960s. Success arrives unexpectedly with the publication of A Wrinkle in Time, validating years of perseverance. The couple's partnership is renewed as they support each other's ambitions, rediscovering the joy of shared purpose and creative fulfillment. Their marriage, tested by hardship, emerges stronger and more vibrant.

Enduring Love, Enduring Loss

As the years pass, Madeleine and Hugh confront the realities of aging, the departure of their children, and the onset of illness. Hugh's cancer diagnosis plunges them into a season of fear, hope, and relentless medical intervention. Madeleine's faith is tested as she grapples with the limits of prayer, the randomness of suffering, and the meaning of love in the face of mortality. Their marriage, forged in the fires of adversity, becomes a sanctuary of tenderness, humor, and mutual care. The final summer is marked by small joys, deep sorrow, and the unwavering presence of family and friends.

Illness, Faith, and the Fire

Hugh's illness exposes the limits of human control and the mysteries of faith. Madeleine wrestles with anger, helplessness, and the temptation to despair, yet finds solace in community, ritual, and the small beauties of daily life. The couple's love is expressed in acts of care, touch, and presence, even as words become inadequate. The experience of suffering becomes, paradoxically, a crucible for grace—a place where love is refined, faith is deepened, and the boundaries between life and death, self and other, are blurred. The fire of illness burns away illusion, leaving only what is essential.

The Final Summer: Holding On

As Hugh's condition deteriorates, Madeleine faces the agonizing task of balancing hope and acceptance. Surrounded by family, friends, and the prayers of many, she learns to live in the present, cherishing each moment of connection. The decision to forgo heroic medical measures honors the promises made in love, allowing Hugh to die with dignity and peace. The final days are marked by touch, memory, and the silent language of long companionship. Death, when it comes, is both an amputation and a release—a passage into mystery, witnessed and sanctified by those who remain.

Death, Grief, and Continuance

In the aftermath of Hugh's death, Madeleine is engulfed by grief—a clean, necessary sorrow that must be traversed, not avoided. The rituals of mourning, the support of community, and the presence of her children and grandchildren provide solace and structure. Madeleine reflects on the meaning of love, the persistence of memory, and the ways in which marriage endures beyond death. The work of grief is slow and uneven, but it is also an affirmation of the life and love that preceded it. Through tears, laughter, and remembrance, Madeleine begins to find her way forward.

Love's Legacy: Beyond Parting

The story concludes with an affirmation of love's enduring power. Madeleine recognizes that her marriage to Hugh, though ended by death, continues to shape her identity, her relationships, and her understanding of the world. The legacy of their love is evident in the lives of their children, the rhythms of Crosswicks, and the ongoing work of art and faith. Vulnerability, risk, and loss are inseparable from the gift of love. In the end, Madeleine embraces the mystery of existence, trusting that love, once given, is never wasted, and that the music heard and bread broken together are more than the sum of their parts.