Returning to Australia had always been a dream of Beckie's father since he moved his family when Beckie was only eight. Patrick Donovan had thought there were more opportunities in the American state of California. In the Sacramento valley Patrick thrived in his business, but no one expected what would happen. Coming home from the bank the family owned, Patrick complained of a pain in his left arm, he was also breathing heavier than normal. He went to bed that evening after supper and never woke up. The train coming to a stop in Patterson's Ridge jolted Beckie into consciousness. This home coming was bittersweet. She was no longer the little girl who had left crying because she would miss her friends. Beckie, now in her mid twenties, did not even have her father to comfort her anymore. Emotions swelling high, Beckie stepped off the train. Somehow coming back here, where she had spent such a happy childhood brought her father closer to her. Hot tears streamed down her face, but Beckie walked on to a childhood promise made long ago. She had promised that if she ever came back she would go directly there. As she neared the church, which still looked the same as when she was a child, as the rest of the town did, she stumbled upon a small pile of rocks behind a large tree. If the rocks were still here, then surely the objects of the forgotten promise must still be there. Beckie knelt down and removed the rock covering. Digging down into the earth she revealed a small wooden box. Running her fingers over the smooth wood of the box released sweet memories of the day they had planted it. That day, Beckie had heard about her family moving to America. She had told her friends and they had promised on these tokens, one for each of them, that they would remain friends forever. Her thumbs pushed the lid back to reveal the boxes small contents. Fresh tears flowed freely as she picked up the three tupence.
"Can I help you? You seem lost." The voice jarred Beckie back into the present. She turned around to face the man standing behind her.
"No I'm fine." She wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to leave.
Feeling compassion for this unknown woman who was obviously distressed,"Well let me introduce myself; I'm Colin McGregor, the Reverend of the town. Come in and worship with us on Sunday if you are still in here. We welcome everyone." At his name a playful spark came into Beckie's eyes. He did not recognize her, she hadn't either until he said his name.
"I thank you Reverend McGregor; however, I am not new nor am I lost." Beckie once again turned to leave.
Colin had noticed the light that suddenly sparked into her eyes and spread through her face. He knew she would be alright.
"Can I at least ask you your name? I like to know who I'm talking to." Colin asked.
Beckie turned back around. "My name is Rebecca Donovan, Beckie for short, and if you still can't figure me out then I'm surely a shadow from the past. Here is something for you to remember." With that she gave him the tupence and headed back into town. Colin watched her go, bewildered by not only the gift but the woman who had given it to him. He walked back toward the church meeting his wife in the doorway.
"Who was she?" Emily asked noticing the puzzled expression on Colin's face.
"She said her name was Rebecca Donovan and gave me a tupance. She said something about the past as well. What could it all mean? It was the strangest thing. When I came up she was in tears, as soon as I introduced myself her face seemed to brighten
up."
"Well I don't know what to tell you. All I will ask is why was she in the trees?"
"She had definitely dug something up, wait a second. She dug the tupance up."
"What?" Emily asked more confused then ever.
Colin was not; as if it were yesterday the pictures of the past flooded his mind.
"When I was little, my parents were best friends with another couple. The other couple had children, one of which was the same age as Rob. The three of us became best friends, inseparable; you could always see us running around somewhere. One day my parent's friends decided that they would be better off in America. The day we found out the three of us decided to promise to be friends forever and as a sign of that promise we buried three tupance in a small wooden box. That friend was Beckie Donovan. I can't believe I didn't remember. She was always a mischievous little girl, got in trouble right along with us; she thought she would have some fun and not tell me who she was. I'm gonna go find her and invite her to dinner with all of us. I'll see you later."

With that he kissed his wife and walked out of the church. Emily went back to what she had be doing excited to soon meet a part of Colin's past. Colin walked over to the hotel hopping that Beckie would be there. He walked into the lobby, seeing Beckie at the desk. He walked up behind her.
"Can you please have someone bring my luggage from the train station to my room, thank you?" He overheard her say.

Beckie turned around, but this time was not startled by Colin.
"So I wondered how long it would take you to remember who I was. Obviously it didn't take that long." Beckie gave him a smile.
"Well actually I don't think it would have taken me as fast as it did if I hadn't had my wife to talk to."
"So you are married now, I half expected that would be so, well I would love to meet this woman who has tamed your wild heart." Here Beckie laughed something that she had not done since her father's death.
"Well I just came to invite you to dinner with us at Langara where we can remember old times."
"That would be lovely, you sure your dad won't mind."
"I know he wouldn't and you can see and meet everyone else. Emily and I will pick you up after we get done at the church, ok?"
"Sounds great, I'll look forward to it."
"See you in a little bit." Colin walked back to the church with a big smile on his face.