Chapter Four

Departure

Mrs. Oleson did not bother Albert and Sylvia after that. If she saw them, or Laura or Caroline, in town, she made herself scarce. She left town entirely for the week surrounding the wedding – she said she had an issue to settle in Mankato. The last anyone saw of her until after the wedding was her riding away on the family's buckboard.

Of this, Albert and Sylvia were glad.

Three days before the wedding, Sylvia went to see Doctor Baker. She did not tell Albert where she was going.

"Doctor, when I lost the baby, Pa asked if I could still have children, and you said we'd see. What I came here to ask is if you can be sure about it. Is there a test you can run or anything?"

"I can do some examinations," Doctor Baker said. "I have to warn you, it's not likely that you will be able to have any more children,"

Sylvia looked down. "Oh," she whispered. "What happens then?"

"I don't rightly know. You could always consider adoption,"

"I suppose,"

"But nothing's certain yet; we'll have to do an examination of you,"

"How soon can you do that?"

"Today, if you want. I've nothing booked. Would you like anyone else to be there?"

"Albert," she said. "and my Pa,"

"That's probably possible,"

Sylvia thanked him and went to Albert's house.

"Albert," she called as she saw him in the yard.

"Sylvia!" he exclaimed, running over to hug her.

"Hey," she said. "Can you come with me to Doctor Baker's?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, he just wants to do a test to see if I can still have children,"

"Oh, all right," Albert smiled, and squeezed her hand. "Is your Pa coming?"

"I'm going to my house in a minute,"

"Hold on, I'll just tell Ma where I'm going," he kissed Sylvia's forehead, let go of her hand, and ran back inside. "And don't go anywhere!" he called.

Sylvia smiled at him. "I love you!"

Albert came out of the house a few minutes later, and ran to Sylvia again. "Hey, there,"

"What took you so long?" Sylvia asked. "I've been out here for hours!"

"What? I was only a few seconds!" Albert was puzzled.

"I was only joking!" Sylvia laughed.

"Oh!" and they walked to the Webb place, laughing, hand in hand.

Sylvia stepped out of the examination room and sat on Albert's lap.

"Doctor Baker?" she said.

"Through in a minute!" he called. He stepped through into the office.

"Hello, Albert, Hector, Charles,"

"Doctor Baker," Mr. Webb greeted him.

"So, what are the results?"

"It seems," he said slowly, "that you can still have children,"

Sylvia gasped, Albert smiled, and, if Mr. Webb hadn't already been sitting down, he would have fallen over.

"That's great!" Albert cried, hugging Sylvia. "Oh, that's just great!"

"Thanks, Doctor Baker!" Sylvia exclaimed.

Hector Webb smiled at his daughter. "I'm proud of you, Sylvie," he said. Albert thought he could see a small tear in the corner of Hector's eye.

Everyone was happy.

Later, Sylvia and Albert went to the mercantile, to find that Mrs. Oleson had left – they had not known it until that moment. The buckboard that they had ordered had arrived. It was parked in front of the store.

"Here it is," Mr. Oleson said proudly. "Brand new from Mankato yesterday. Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yes, it is!" Albert said, running his hand over the smart new paint.

The one-horse buckboard was painted a cheerful yellow with black trim on the wheels. The lacquer had a glossy finish except for the seat at the front, which was covered with black leather.

"Thanks, Mr. Oleson!"

"Please, I'd appreciate it if you'd call me Nels," he said.

"Oh, we couldn't do that! You'll always be Mr. Oleson to us!" replied Sylvia with a smile.

"No, no, really. Call me Nels,"

"Oh, all right then," Albert said. "Thank you, Nels," he shook Nels' hand. "Here's the money," He laid six dollar notes on the counter, but Mr. Oleson pushed three of them back. "But I don't understand," Albert looked confused. "It said six in the catalogue,"

"Think of it as my wedding present to you and Sylvia," Nels smiled.

"Thank you, Nels," Sylvia said.

Because of Sylvia's amnesia when she woke up, Laura had not been able to visit when she had said she would, but, when Albert and Sylvia (riding in their shiny new buckboard) got back to the house at Plum Creek, she was waiting for them with Almanzo and Rose.

"Hey!" Laura shouted.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wilder!" exclaimed Sylvia.

"Laura and Almanzo," Almanzo corrected with a smile.

Albert waved. "Hello, Rose," he called.

"Do you want to see what I've brought with me?" asked Laura.

"Do I ever!" cried Sylvia.

"Come inside, then, and I'll show you,"

Laura had brought her wedding dress. Ma had spread it out on the table, and was admiring it for what must have been the twentieth time, when they all came in.

"Albert! Sylvia!" she was ecstatic – Laura had told her Sylvia's good news. "Oh!" she cried, running to hug Sylvia.

Today was a happy day for everyone, except perhaps Mrs. Oleson, about whom nobody really cared – if they seemed to, they were pretending, because they were scared of her.

Laura lifted the dress off the table and showed it to Sylvia. "What do you think? Would you like to wear it?"

"Would I like to wear it? Oh, yes, please!"

"Let's try it on, then! Sorry, Albert, you can't see it until the day,"

"Why?" he said.

"It's bad luck,"

Sylvia straightened the skirt of the dress while Laura and Caroline pinned the bodice. She went and stood in front of the mirror, astounded at how much older she looked – not Sylvia Webb, fourteen-year-old girl, at all, but Sylvia Webb-soon-to-be-Ingalls, fourteen-year-old woman.

"You look beautiful, Sylvia," Caroline said. "Just beautiful,"

"Thanks, Mrs. Ingalls,"

"It's all right to call me Caroline, Sylvia!" she laughed.

Sylvia couldn't help laughing. "You're the third person to say that to me today!" she pushed her hair over her shoulder. "It's funny,"

Laura laughed. "I know what you mean – when I got engaged to Almanzo, everyone kept telling me to call them by their Christian names, too. It took quite some getting used to, I can tell you!"

"Oh, you look so pretty!" Caroline stood behind Sylvia. "I shall be proud to call you my daughter-in-law,"

Sylvia wanted to go and show Albert, but Laura said she mustn't.

"Ah, well, it was worth a try," Sylvia shrugged. Her previous ordeal hardly seemed to bother her now; it must have been because of Albert and the understanding that he had shown her when everyone else had not. How she loved him! "Oh, I can't wait for the wedding!"

"Well, it's only three more days; it'll come round pretty fast!"

"I know you're my teacher, Laura, but I was wondering if you'd stand up with me at the wedding. Will you?"

"Oh, of course I will!" Laura beamed. "What do you want me to wear?"

"Could you wear your red dress with the blue ruching? It's always been my favourite!"

"Certainly!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Wi- I mean, Laura,"

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