Rebecca was excited, but slightly nervous, as she dressed for dinner. Would Mr. McGregor remember her, would anyone remember her? She had grown up over the years, so had everyone else. Why hadn't she just met Collin's wife? It was weird to think of her best friend as a man, married and in charge of the whole church. She had grown
up apart, separated from them, no one would remember her.
"Ah! You've got to stop thinking like this", she said out loud, "nothing ever came of fretting. They will remember and they will like you." Somehow though this auditory pep talk did nothing to squelch the fear that the evening would go horribly. All too soon a porter came up and knocked on the door. Collin and Emily were waiting downstairs for her.

"Oh my goodness, this is it." Rebecca thought. With a quick smooth of her skirts and a deep breath she followed the porter down to the lobby.

"Rebecca, are you ready to go?" Collin asked with a smile.

With confidence that she did not feel Rebecca answered, "Of course, I can't wait."

It took awhile, but soon Emily and Rebecca were chatting like they had known each other all their lives. Collin seemed to enjoy listening to them, as he drove with a smile on his face. All too soon the trio reached Langara, and the sinking feeling returned once again to Rebecca's stomach. Collin got down first and helped his wife, then Rebecca down from the sulky. Rebecca laughed when she first heard the word; she was defiantly back in Australia. Things in America where so different. They entered the house, smells of food drifting in the air.

"Dad, hey Dad, we're here." Collin called out. Matt McGregor rounded the corner the next instant.

"Hey Collin, Emily. And who do we have hear?" Matt and Collin hugged.

"I forgot to tell you that I invited a guest over as well. I knew you wouldn't mind."

"Rebecca, Rebecca Donovan, is that you? I can't believe it. It's been a long time. Come here." Matt held open his arms. "It's so good to see you after all these years."

Rebecca stepped back after the hug. "To be honest, I didn't think that you would remember me, I mean, I've changed an awful lot since I was 8."

"You look so much like your father. Plus your Mother wrote to me and told me you were coming. However, I didn't expect you to show up at my doorstep. Your mother had mistaken information; she thought you wouldn't be here for another week or two."

"What? I'm so confused."

"Let's move into the sitting room and I will clear it up for you."

When they were sitting down, Matt explained that Rebecca's parents had kept in touch all the years they were away. "You are welcome here anytime."

"Dad, I'm back." A young girl entered, she couldn't have been any older than 14. "Rob told me to tell you that..." the sentence was left to trail in dead air. Danni stood staring at the stranger sitting in her living room.

"Danni, this is Rebecca Donovan, Rebecca, Danni." Rebecca rose and shook hands. She knew by the girl's talk that she was Mr. McGregor's daughter, but she couldn't have been born until after Rebecca moved away. "Rebecca is the daughter of an old friend of
mine, Mr. Donovan. You've heard me talk about him before."

"It's nice to meet you Miss. Donovan." Danni seemed unafraid of strangers.

"Thank you, but please call me Beckie."

"As long as you call me Danni."

"It's nice to meet you Danni."

Dinner was soon ready and everyone sat down to eat. Beckie, feeling already like she was one of the family.
"Danni," Matt asked, "You were saying something about Rob earlier and never finished, where is he?"

Beckie's ears perked up at Rob's name, it would be interesting to say the least to meet up with the third of their old friendship.

"Oh yes that's right. He said to tell you that he would not be here for dinner, because he went with Victoria."

Beckie's heart sank; she would not see Rob after all, maybe another day. But he couldn't be courting Victoria. Beckie remember her as the prissy little snob, who liked to be referred to as Princess Victoria, and didn't want to roughhouse. She also used to tease Beckie mercilessly for wanting to play with and do things that the boys liked to do. Maybe I'm being a little harsh; after all we have all grown up now. Somehow I don't think Victoria has changed all that much. Beckie thought to herself.

The evening went faster than expected. Soon it was time to leave. Beckie regretted having to go back into town. She had always felt this way, sad when the party was over. She could remember her first dance, and not wanting to leave because she had so much fun. As they headed for the door, Matt broke into her thoughts.

"Beckie, if you ever need a place to stay, just let me know. I already told you that you are always welcome here. Just remember, I think of you like one of my own kids."

"Thank you Matt." He had asked earlier that she call him Matt.

They all said their goodbyes, as Collin opened the door to leave, who should be standing there but Rob. Beckie knew him right away, who else would come to the McGregor house this late in the evening.

"Hello everyone."Rob said. Suddenly Rob's eyes might with the woman's standing next to Emily.

"Hello," he said to her.

Beckie moved to the doorway, "Hello Rob." With that she pressed one of the last tupance into his hand and walk out the door without another word.