(Chapter 11)

Sharon woke up a few hours later. She remembered the events from yesterday and she swooned. She moved her arm to lean on it and she heard a crinkling noise. She looked down at her hand and she pulled up the folded note. It had a bunch of hearts and smiley faces on the one side. She wondered who it was from as she scooted herself to the edge of the bed. Her hands hastily opened the note and she read it. She wasn't sad, she was actually happy. Happy because he had confessed how he felt the night before and he actually took the time to leave her a note before he left.

'I just wish there was some way I could talk to him.' She held the note up to her chest as it swelled with love.

She decided it was best for her to get cleaned up and dressed. She had almost a giddy feeling about the way she walked. Once she was dressed she found her mother and gave her a hug.

"Morning Momma!" She beamed.

"Well, someone is in a good mood."

"And why should I not be? I have the most generous, most kind hearted, most...goofy guy in Albion! I am on top of the world."

"You might fall off when I tell you some more good news."

She turned her head to her mother.

"What did he tell you!? Tell me! Tell me!" She bounced.

"He didn't say anything to me. I was going to say, I made you favorite. Pancakes!"

"Thanks Momma!"

She sat down and started eating and Christina smiled at her. The girl had amazing resilience. She sat down with her and they were both goofing around as they ate. When they were finished, Sharon gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and skipped out the door and greeted the morning. The townsfolk were more than supportive of her over the past few days. It is because of their generosity, the events with Jake, and a caring stranger that housed them she was able to keep her demons away. As she approached the pawnbroker he walked up to her.

"Hello. I have a delivery for your mother. It is the fresh batch of cookies my wife made for her." He handed her the box. The smell of the cookies emitted through the box.

"They smell yummy! Thank you, sir!"

"Be sure to say 'hello' from us." He said.

"I will!" She started to the door.

"And Sharon? Welcome back. We are glad you are okay." He said genuinely.

"I am glad to be back." She said over her shoulder. She walked back through town and she saw a group of chickens. She snuck up to the chickens and stuck herself in the middle of the flightless birds. She stuck her hands under her arms and began scratching at the dirt.

"Cluck. Cluck. Cluck."

The townsfolk laughed at her goofiness as they walked by.

"Hey! That kids got talent!" A man said.

"Aww. That makes me want kids!" A woman said.

"I got to admit, that's cute." Another woman said.

Christina was walking around town for her morning shopping and she saw the little cluster of people near the statue in the middle of town. She heard the clamoring of the crowd. As she got closer she heard Sharon clucking. She gently pushed a few people to get through. She saw her daughter clowning around with the chickens and she began to laugh. Sharon saw her mother and walked up to her.

"Momma, these are cookies from Thomas' wife."

"Oh good! These are the cinnamon cookies I wanted to try." She took the box from her and smelled the box.

"These smell wonderful. Maybe we can have these for dessert tonight!"

"Yay!" She exclaimed.

'I am so glad to have her back.' She thought. 'I still need to give Jake a reward.'

Sharon looked at her mother and she must have been on the same wave length as her.

"I wonder how Jake is? I hope he is somewhere safe and warm tonight."

"I am positive, wherever he is, he will be safe." Her mother assured.

"Oh. You didn't see what he gave to me." She reached in her pocket and pulled out two pieces of paper. She handed them to her mother and she read the first paper.

"I promise?" She questioned.

"That is his way of telling me he will come back soon. He and I had a special moment last night." She thought how that could be misconstrued.

"Not like that, Momma. He was a gentleman. Read the next one." She prompted.

She unfolded the other paper and she read it.

"It seems very likely he has eyes for you only."

"I am positive he will return." She said.

"Why did he leave in the first place?" Christina asked.

"Because he is a Hero. He is needed in other places." The fact that he said he was prince didn't matter to her. She fell in love with his good looks at first. She then realized he was a kind man as well. That made her love for him soar. She was sure in her heart and in her mind he was the one.