Diane Lane writes book on child’s heartwarming journey

“The year was 1933 when a little girl from New York City came to Delaware as part of the Fresh Air Fund,” Diane Lane said of her mother’s best friend. “Little did she know that her life was about to change forever.”

Lane’s mother’s best friend, Eileen Wharton Spence, was 5 years old when she left her city life of poverty for the summer and spent her time at Slaughter Beach with her Delaware family, Bayard and Sarah Wharton. Knowing that she will soon return to her life of poverty, Eileen did not know that family ties were about to be created in the most unusual way. “We didn’t expect to fall in love with this girl,” Lane recalls Bayard saying. “We only intended to watch over her for a few weeks.”

Lane has taken this heartwarming story and made it into a book titled, “I Loved Her Enough.”

The book, which takes place during the Great Depression, covers an entire year of Eileen’s journey from poverty to a loving family. “It covers a year in the life of a little girl who has her life changed by the events that happen and the choices that are made,” Lane said. “You meet the adults who cared for her and the emotions that surfaced as surprising twists and turns are provided by love, luck and fate.”

Eileen’s mother died of tuberculosis and her father left, leaving the 5-year-old and her siblings alone. It was through the Fresh Air Fund that Eileen was able to be united with her new, loving family. “Bayard really took to her and felt that he needed to protect her,” Lane said.

Eileen then grew up in Milford and later married Doc (Bill) Spence. The two of them operated the Dover Animal Hospital and raised three children in Dover. Eileen passed away in 2001.

Lane was able to get the details from the story through an interview with Eileen in 1997. “She was hesitant at first,” Lane said. “She thought it was a tragic story but realized it was a shocking love story.” Lane also interviewed her best friend, Eileen’s daughter, Debbie Spence Crumer.

“It took me a year-and-a-half to finish the writing,” Lane said. “I had locals critique it and even joined the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild.”

The book was published in April and can be found on Amazon. The cover design and formatting were done by Crystal Heidle.