Em spent extra time on her hair, making sure it wasn't out of place. She turned, looking at herself in the mirror. Somehow, she had changed, almost overnight. Her chest was bigger, her hips looked different, and she didn't hate it. Less than six months and she'd be thirteen and she couldn't wait. Not that anything particularly spectacular happened at thirteen, but it just seemed so much better than twelve. On the other hand, Maddie kissed a boy at thirteen, so maybe something great would happen for her too.
Maddie let her wear the dress she had worn to the dance several months back and it fit perfectly. Her plan was to finally talk to Josh Becker without making a fool of herself. Something about him made her tongue either stop working all together, or she would blurt things out without thinking.
"Em, let's go. We'll be late!" Maddie said, peeking her head in the room.
"I'm coming." She grabbed her history book and followed Maddie down the stairs.
"Em, you look lovely," Elizabeth commented.
"Thanks, Ma."
"Welcome, babe. Have a good day at school."
"We will."
Jack came in the kitchen and kissed Elizabeth good morning. "Morning."
"Morning, Jack."
"Dada!" Abbie squealed from her high chair.
"Hi, Abbie!" He picked her up and kissed her cheeks, making her laugh. "Such a pretty girl, Abbie Joy."
"Speaking of," Elizabeth said. "Em seems to be taking a bit more time getting ready these days. Have you noticed?"
"No, but I hope you aren't suggesting some boy has gotten her attention. I am still struggling with Maddie and Nate."
"Well, she didn't say anything to me, but I heard her talking to Maddie about a new boy, Josh Becker."
"Good grief. I don't know if I can handle Em and a boy."
"On a different topic, Mom leaves for Union City today. Actually, right now."
"That's good. I'm glad she'll be there for the birth."
"Me too."
UNION CITY, O'REILLY HOUSE
"Patrick, would you send these telegrams for me?" Caleb asked, handing two slips of paper to him.
"Sure thing. Can I hold him?" Patrick gestured to Mason, who peacefully slept in Caleb's arms.
"Yes, that would help. I need to get a bath ready for Amy."
He handed him over to Patrick and then went to take care of things in the bedroom.
Amy lay on her side, Meri sleeping next to her. He walked past, deciding to let them sleep as long as possible. He prepared the bath, using her vanilla bath soap and then lit a few candles.
A few moments later, he woke her up. "Ames, your bath is ready." He kissed her cheek and smiled when she opened her eyes. "Hi."
"Thank you for getting the bath ready. I really appreciate it." She sat up slowly, and groaned.
He put both hands under her arms and lifted so she didn't have to use her own strength. When she was standing he smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears.
"What?" she whispered.
"You're so beautiful."
"I don't feel it, but thank you."
"Well you are. You just gave birth to two babies which was amazing, by the way. And watching you feed them is so wonderful." He wrapped his arms around her gently and kissed her. "I love you, Amy Thornton."
"I love you more," she said as she reached for him, kissing him back. "Can you help me get in the tub? I might need you to help me get back out too."
"Of course. Babies are sleeping so it's a good time."
Caleb walked in behind her and shut the door. "Oh, sweetie! This is beautiful."
He smiled and held her arm as she sat down slowly into the hot water.
He looked up as he heard one of the babies cry. "They shouldn't be hungry. Probably just need a new diaper," she told him.
"I'll take care of it. You take as long as you need."
LATE EVENING
Charlotte arrived on the train and asked for directions to the O'Reilly home. Thankfully everyone knew Patrick so it was easy to find someone to help.
Ten minutes after getting directions she knocked on their door.
"Mrs. Avery, come in!" She smiled and walked in as Patrick held the door.
"Thank you. Is that a baby crying?"
"Yes it is. One of your great-grandchildren."
"She had them? I missed the birth?"
"She had them very early this morning. A boy and a girl."
Caleb came out of the bedroom. "Grandma! I'm glad you're here."
"Me too. I'm sorry I missed it, but I can't wait to meet them." She hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"She's feeding them now. Let me tell her you're here."
After a few minutes, Amy decided she didn't care if Charlotte watched her nurse so he told her to go in.
Charlotte walked in to their bedroom taking care to shut the door behind her.
"Hi, sweetheart," Charlotte said quietly.
"Hi, Grandma. I'm glad you're here."
"Me too." She sat on the bed next to Amy and took them in. "They're so beautiful, Amy."
"Thank you."
"Patrick told me you had them this morning?"
"Yes. At around one o'clock. Mason was first and then Meri came a few minutes later."
"Mason and Meri?"
"Yes, Mason William is this one," she nodded to the one closest to Charlotte, "and Meredith Grace, is this one."
"Good names," she said, her voice cracking.
"We wanted them to have Papa and Grandma's names."
"That's very special."
"Can you take him? They need to burp and I haven't figured out quite how to do that at the same time yet."
Charlotte smiled and gently removed Mason from her breast. "Ok, sweet boy. Time to burp for Grandma."
HARRIS TOWN, THORNTON HOME
After a particularly loud dinner, Elizabeth cleaned up the kitchen, enjoying the silence. Jack was helping Maddie give J.T. and Abbie baths so she hummed to herself as she cleaned the counters.
She could hear them laughing in the tub, splashing around, giggles floating all the way to her. Such happiness and innocence with children. They didn't need to worry about anything.
"Mama?" Will said from the doorway.
"Yes, babe? It's almost time for bed."
"Mama, I don't feel good." She looked at him. His color was normal. She felt his head and there was no sign of a fever.
"What doesn't feel good?"
"My tummy."
She sat down at the table and pulled her ten year old son onto her lap. "What are you worried about?"
He sat silently but snuggled into her neck a bit more. "You can tell me." She ran her fingers through his brown curls, hoping he would relax.
"I think I forgot what Papa looked like." She sighed, kissing his cheek. Her poor, sweet boy.
"Come with me." She took him into the living room and opened a chest that was sitting by the arm chair. "I want you to have this, Will. It's Grandma and Papa's wedding picture. You can keep it by your bed, so you won't ever forget him."
Tears rolled down his face. "I miss him, Mama."
"I know, sweetie. Me too." She pulled him down on her lap and wrapped her arms around him. After a few moments, he had relaxed and his breathing had slowed. "It's time for bed, Will."
"Can I stay with you, please?"
"Why don't you help me turn off the lamps first. Then we'll go say goodnight to Daddy."
"I can stay in your room?"
"I suppose."
"Thank you, Mama."
THE NEXT MORNING
Elizabeth was cooking breakfast for everyone when Jack walked in.
"Honey, Travis just brought a telegram."
"What does it say?
"Hey kids! Listen for a second, ok?"
Everyone stopped and looked at him.
FROM: CALEB AND AMY THORNTON
DEAR FAMILY,
MASON WILLIAM AND MEREDITH GRACE BORN HAPPY AND HEALTHY.
CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO MEET THEM.
LOVE AMY AND CALEB
"Twins?" Maddie asked. "That's so exciting!"
Elizabeth smiled and hugged Jack. "Congratulations Papa," she said in his ear.
He chuckled. "You too."
THE AVERY HOUSE
Jake sat quietly at the table, sipping coffee, pretending to read a newspaper. He couldn't concentrate. Charlotte had been gone one day and already he missed their time together in the mornings. Maggie was a fine cook, but Charlotte was a good friend and as far as he was concerned, a week couldn't be over fast enough.
"Mr. Hunt? More coffee?" Maggie had been hovering for a few moments and he hadn't noticed.
"Oh, no thank you." He folded the paper and decided to take a walk to go see Elizabeth. His heart needed some love and her and her children were just the perfect ones to give it to him.
"Mr. Hunt, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Amy had twins! A boy and a girl."
"That's wonderful. Congratulations Maggie."
"To you too. You're a great-grandfather now."
"I guess I am."
He thought about that. It was a beautiful thing to bring children into the world. Now to have two new little ones in the family…it was great.
He found himself smiling as he walked, thinking about holding them in his arms. The baby smell, clean and fresh. The way they made a person feel as they snuggled close.
At sixty five, he was too old to bring a child of his own into the world, so he would just enjoy the ones his children and grandchildren bore.
He walked up to the door, knocked, and then walked in as Jack was kissing Elizabeth goodbye. "Pardon me."
"Hi, Dad. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Elizabeth asked, a huge smile on her face.
"That it is, sweetheart."
Jack stole one more kiss from her and shook Jake's hand. "Good to see you, Dad."
"You too, son. Have a good day."
"I will, you too."
After Jack left, Elizabeth stared at Jake. He seemed different. "It's good to see you happy, Dad."
"Yes. I heard about the twins and I realized something."
"Oh Yeah? What's that?"
"Children are a gift from God. They bring joy and laughter to our family. I had lost my joy for a bit, and thinking of them and some other things, helped me to be happier again."
She walked over and hugged him. "I'm so glad. Did you hear their names?"
"No. What are they?"
"Mason William and Meredith Grace."
"Good names. Bill and Grace will always be a part of us that way." Elizabeth nodded and kissed his cheek.
AT SCHOOL, LUNCHTIME
Maddie and Nate sat against a fallen tree next to the area where the younger children were playing. Maddie was reading, as usual, and Nate sat there, enjoying her leaning against his shoulder. Every so often he would get a pleasant whiff of her vanilla shampoo. He turned his head slightly and kissed the top of her soft curls.
She looked up and grinned. "What was that for?"
"No reason except your hair smells good."
She slipped her fingers inside his hand and squeezed, and then returned to her book.
"Robinson Crusoe?"
"Yeah. It's a good book."
"What's it about?"
"It's about a man who's shipwrecked and then lives on a desert island."
"That's not the type of book you normally read."
"No, but Will and Drew love it when Dad reads it to them, so I'm giving it a chance. I'm not really that picky." She looked up at him, smiling, her dimples appearing. The wind blew a stray curl out of her braid so he reached out and tucked it behind her ear, loving the softness of her olive skin beneath his fingertips.
"You're so beautiful, Maddie." Her eyes grew wide. He'd never said those words to her before. It made her heart beat faster.
"Thank you, Nate." Even though he said he would wait until her birthday, she was positive, if the bell hadn't rung right then, he would have kissed her and it would have been perfect.
A WEEK LATER, THE AVERY HOUSE
Jake was happy. It had been a week since Charlotte left, so even though she hadn't confirmed it, she should have been coming home.
He looked up when he heard the train whistle. He wondered if anyone was meeting her. Maddie walked in the kitchen about twenty minutes later.
"Hi, Papa."
"Hi, Maddie. Did your Grandma come home today? I heard the train."
"No, she sent a telegram yesterday, I think. She's staying for a few more weeks."
His heart dropped. "Did she say why?"
"No. Sorry."
The plan was to bury Grace the next week out on the ranch. He wanted his best friend there for support. He needed her there.
"Papa, are you ok?"
"Of course. I'm going to take a walk."
"Do you want to walk with me and Nate? Em doesn't like to go as much anymore."
"Why's that?"
"She gets uncomfortable."
"What are you and your young man doing that makes her uncomfortable?"
"Nothing, I promise. She told me that she's jealous and the lovey dovey stuff is not something she wants to watch."
"Like holding hands?"
"Yeah. Like that."
"Well, I'll go with you."
"Thanks Papa. Nate should be here soon."
THE NEXT WEEK
DEAR CHARLOTTE,
TODAY I BURIED MY LOVE, GRACE. IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE. I WISH YOU HAD BEEN HERE. YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS AND YOU UNDERSTAND.
BY THE TIME YOU GET HOME, I WILL PROBABLY HAVE MOVED ON. I CAN'T SAY WHERE I'LL GO. HOPE VALLEY AND HARRIS TOWN HOLD TOO MANY MEMORIES FOR ME TO STAY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I CHERISH OUR FRIENDSHIP AND I ALWAYS WILL.
YOUR FRIEND,
JAKE
Charlotte read the letter three times before she decided she must go home. Losing Jake couldn't happen. Even if nothing happened between them but friendship, she needed him in her life, and so did his grandchildren.
Charlotte said goodbye to the O'Reilly family and Caleb, Amy, and the babies, promising to visit soon.
A day later, she walked into the boarding house hoping and praying he was still there.
"Welcome home Charlotte," Maggie greeted. "Did you have a nice trip?"
"I did." She set her bag down and sat at the table.
"Is something wrong?"
"I don't know. Is Jake still here?"
"He isn't right now, but I'm expecting him for dinner."
"He didn't move?" She couldn't help the hope in her voice.
"No. I think he is down at the store."
"I'll be back, Maggie."
She ran upstairs to change clothes, putting on one of the only skirts she owned and a clean shirt. She washed the dust from her face and neck, placing a dab of lotion behind each ear. Next she twisted her long, unruly hair, up off her neck and finished with a pair of earrings that Bill bought her in Hope Valley.
"Bill, I hope you know, I'll always love you, sweetheart, but I have to think of myself now." She kissed her finger and touched the photo of him on her dresser. "I'll never forget you." Before she made herself start crying and ruined her attempt at being presentable, she took a deep breath and walked down the stairs.
She walked back into the kitchen. "I'll be back later."
Maggie turned from the stove and gasped. "Charlotte Avery, don't you look lovely?"
"Thank you. I need to go…"
"Find Jake?"
"Am I being stupid?" She suddenly had insecurities about seeing him again.
"Of course not! What are you hoping will happen?"
"I just want him to know that…well I think I just need to find him. See you later, Maggie."
Maggie smiled as she watched Charlotte leave. She'd never seen her so nervous before.
Charlotte walked down the sidewalk, getting more nervous the closer she got to the store.
"Grandma? You're home!" Carlie walked out of the store as she was walking in.
"Hi, sweetie! I missed you."
"I missed you too. How's Caleb and Amy and the babies? I want to see them! When are they coming to visit?"
"Everyone is doing just fine. They will come after Caleb is done with school."
"How long is that?"
"A couple more months."
"Who ya lookin' for?" She had noticed her looking past her in the window of the store.
"No one. Who are you here with?" She hoped it was Jake.
"Em. She's taking forever!"
Charlotte smiled and hugged her granddaughter. "I love you, Carlie."
"I love you too, Grandma." Carlie stepped back and stared at her. "Grandma, you sure look pretty."
"You think so?"
"Yeah and you're wearing a skirt. You always wear pants."
"I thought I would try something different." Charlotte felt herself getting impatient. "Carlie, is Papa in there?"
"No. Maybe he went to see Mama."
"At home?"
"Yeah. He is getting things ready for his trip, but he still goes to see Mama almost every day."
Charlotte walked with Em and Carlie to the ranch, anxious to see Jake. She had to convince him to stay, somehow.
As she walked up to the house, he walked out. "Papa! Grandma's home and she sure looks pretty!" Carlie told him, making Charlotte blush. She never blushed.
"Hush now, go inside," she said, shooing her toward the door.
When they were finally alone, she found herself, strangely, at a loss for words. That never happened either.
"You came home." He stated, walking to the porch railing.
"I did. I got your letter."
He nodded, staring off in the distance.
"Jake, we need to talk. Let's take a walk?"
