Out at Walden’s Pond
the rest of the group was having a picnic lunch. After eating, Rob and Katie went off away from everybody to play
with Rob’s blocks. Kaytlin and Amanda
had had their fill of lunch and were fast asleep in their carriages. Everybody else was sitting in a circle
talking.
“So, Colleen, how are
you feeling?” Becky asked her.
“I feel great right
now. Just don’t ask me that question in
the morning.” Colleen replied back with a smile.
“I know what you
mean. Those first few months that I was
carrying Kaytlin weren’t my favorite months.”
“I’ll certainly look
forward to being able to actually eat breakfast again.”
“Then you get to look
forward to waddling like a duck,” Becky teased her.
“Sounds like fun,”
Nan said sarcastically and rolled her eyes.
“Just wait till it’s
you that’s having the baby, Nan.” Bess said.
“Me, I don’t think
so.”
“You’ll change your
mind someday, Nan.” Becky predicted.
She was the only one that noticed how Nan shyly looked over at Nat, and
how the both of them blushed.
“However, the best
part is the husband.” Becky decided to turn the subject away from Nan.
“What about him?”
Franz eyed his wife curiously.
“Sweetheart, do you
know how you were always fussing over everything I did, and I kept telling you
not to fuss, because I didn’t like it?”
“Yes.”
“I loved it.” Becky
admitted and then turned to Colleen. “The
best part is your husband fussing over you all the time.”
Colleen laughed and
looked up to her husband with teasing eyes. “I’m looking forward to that part,”
she smiled up at his.
“Oh? You think I’m
gonna fuss over you?”
“You better.” She
threatened. Everyone laughed.
“Uh, oh, Becky. Now look what you going to make Andrew have
to do.” Matthew said.
This bantering
continued on for the next few minutes. Then
things began to quiet down, and the topic turned serious.
Dan finally spoke up,
“So, how is Rebecca doing?” he looked up at Colleen and Andrew.
“Still no change the
last time we checked up on her, Dan.” Andrew told him.
“There’s nothing more
that we can do, except hope and pray.” Colleen told everyone sadly.
“Then that’s what we’re
going to have to do,” Nat replied.
Everyone began silently praying for Rebecca’s recovery.
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
After finishing up
her writing, Jo stepped outside to get some fresh air. She noticed Nick sitting on the newly fixed
fence. He looked as if he were thinking
about something. He was facing the
opposite direction, staring out into the woods. Jo slowly walked toward him.
Nick didn’t notice Jo
walk up behind him until she spoke. “What
are you thinking about, Nick?” she softly asked him.
Nick turned around to
look at her. He couldn’t help but
notice how beautiful she looked. The
way her eyes sparkled in the sunlight. “A lot of things, Jo,” he paused a
moment. “Jo, will you take a walk with
me?”
“Sure, Nick. I could use a walk anyway.” Nick got down off of the fence, took Jo’s
hand in his, and started walking.
Nowhere for certain. They just
walked.
After they had walked
far enough away from the house that they couldn’t see it, Jo asked, “So, what
were you thinking about back there? Do you want to talk about it?”
Nick stopped walking
and spotted a log nearby. He pulled Jo
over to it and sat down. “I was
thinking about us, Jo,” Nick looked into her eyes.
“Us?” Jo looked
surprised.
“Yes, Jo, I need you. I love you.”
“I love you too,
Nick.”
“Then marry me.” Jo
looked at him for a minute without saying a word. “Please, Jo, will you marry
me?” She thought about Fritz, but knew it was time to move on.
Jo finally spoke to
Nick, who was waiting patiently for an answer to his question. “Yes, yes,
Nick. I will marry you.”
Nick let out a loud
yelp, but they were far enough away from the house that nobody but Jo heard
him. Jo started laughing at the way
Nick responded to her answer.
Nick calmed down, “Oh,
sorry. Guess I got a little excited.”
“A little?” She questioned
with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Ok, a lot.”
“That’s better.” She
leaned over and kissed him.
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * *
Later that evening after
the younger children were put to bed, everyone gathered together in the
parlor. Everyone but William, that is,
who hadn’t left Rebecca’s side all day.
“Michaela, isn’t
there anything more you can do,” her mother pleaded with her.
“I’m afraid not. We’re doing everything we can do already.”
Sully took Michaela in his arms and gave her a comforting hug.
“Everything’s going
to be alright.” He said to her.
“I hope so, Sully,”
“Michaela, your
father would be proud of you, no matter what happens,” Elizabeth said. “You’re doing the best you can”
Just then William
showed up in the doorway.
Andrew saw him first.
“What is it, William?” he asked.
“She’s moving.” William
announced.
Michaela, Andrew,
Colleen, and Elizabeth followed him back into her room.
“Rebecca,” Michaela
leaned over her sister. Rebecca was
trying to wake up; she just couldn’t quite get her eyes open.
“Rebecca, it’s
Michaela. Wake up.” Her eyes slowly
fluttered open.
“Michaela,” Rebecca
weakly responded to her. “William. Where’s William?” she continued quietly.
“I’m right here, darling.”
William stood beside Michaela and took Rebecca’s hand.
“Mother? Is that you?”
“Yes, Rebecca, I’m
here.” Rebecca smiled and closed her eyes.
“Rebecca?” William
called out.
