"Hi Mr Bill" a small voice called. Bill turned to see William Thornton running up main street to him the morning after the train with the kids had left. Bill would be lying to himself if he said it didn't hurt him a little bit to see so many kids with out families to care for them, it was still weighing on his shoulders, seeing the town children playing outside after school had made him feel better.
"Hey there, are you alone?" Bill asked craning his neck around the corner, looking for an adult to follow him.
"Mama is cleaning up the school, I'm supposed to stay with Auntie but she said i could come and play in the field." Will said.
"I see, well isn't the field all the way over there?" Bill asked glancing towards the field behind the cafe.
"Well, she didn't say what field." Will shrugged toeing at the dirt.
"I see." Bill said swinging his saddle onto his horse.
"Are you going for a ride?"
"Yes, going to go check on the Peterson farm while they are away this month, just make sure everything is running smoothly." Bill said tightening the strap on his horse.
"Can I go with you?" Will asked. Bill eyed him for a minute.
"Well alright, but go make sure your Aunt knows where your going, go on go tell her." Bill nodded toward the cafe.
"Alright!" Will cried racing across the street into the cafe.
"I saw that Bill" Rosemary said smiling walking up behind him on main street.
"What are you talking about?" Bill asked.
"You always have a soft spot for children, especially that little boy." Rosemary said giving him a grin.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Bill shook his head as William can running back from the cafe.
"Auntie said I could go but i couldn't be a bother." Will said
"Well that sounds good to me." Bill said mounting his horse and reaching up to swing Will up behind him.
"You two have fun now!" Rosemary waved to them. Bill rolled his eyes but Will waved back to her happily as Rosemary chuckled to herself.
"How is Elizabeth?" Faith asked sitting on the sofa having tea with Abigail and Clara as Kate was peeling potatoes.
"She misses the children, but she is happy to have her school house back. She is in there scrubbing the floors now." Kate said. Putting a potato into the pot and reaching for another. Abby sat in the dinning area doing homework with her friend and Tommy was sitting at Abigail's feet playing with his wooden train.
"Well it was a hard time, I'm sure it will weight heavy on her heart for a few days to come." Abigail said gently rocking baby Sarah in the rocking chair.
"That Elizabeth, her heart is just to big for her own good." Clara said teasingly shaking a rattle for Lily who sat in her lap playing.
"How are you feeling Clara?" Faith asked. Clara's belly was just starting to show through her dress now and Kate knew Abigail could not wait to have a new baby to dote on all day long.
"I feel great now, I'm not tired anymore and I feel like i can eat everything in site." Clara said.
"Good, that's what we like to hear." Faith smiled. Kate sighed happily, there was a lot going on at home, she knew Elizabeth was still feeling down about the orphan train leaving, Kate herself was still bothered by the thought that they could have done more though short of adopting thirty children she wasn't sure what else they could have done. Knowing that Elizabeth wasn't herself bothered, Kate as well. But she loved afternoons like this, chatting with dear friends and spending time together.
"Auntie, can we have more cookie?" Abby asked walking in with an empty plate.
"You will spoil your dinner if i give you more."
"But we're hungry!" Abby sighed.
"Oh they are growing girls let them eat." Abigail said putting a few more treats on a plate and handing it to her. Abby happily skipped back into the dining room with her friends as Rosemary let herself into the kitchen.
"Good afternoon, my it's nice and toasty in here." Rosemary said rubbing her hands together over the stove.
"There's hot tea and cookies to warm you up too." Abigail said.
"Wonderful! Oh darling Eric was looking for you he said something about meeting him in the grove." Rosemary said with a little wink to Kate.
"Do you mind if I run out?" Kate asked glancing at Abigail.
"Of course go go you practically finished dinner already I'll plate it." Abigail said.
"I'll help" Rosemary nodded as Kate grabbed her shawl from the peg on the wall.
"See you later." Kate grinned kissing Tommy on the top of his head before heading out the door. She tugged her shawl around her heading down main street and turning off the dirt path. All the leaves were off the trees and gathered on the ground making a satisfying crunch as Kate walked through the woods coming to the little grove at the top of the hill. She was surprised to find a little fire burning by a blanket on the ground.
"Hello" Kate called softly.
"Hi, sorry I had to step out to get more firewood, everything around here is still pretty dry." Eric said coming into the grove from behind the trees.
"This looks cozy." Kate smiled as Eric dropped the wood by the fire.
"I know you have been so busy lately, and things have been hard for you so I thought maybe we could have some time together, a nice dinner just us?" Eric asked.
"I would love that, but i should probably clear it with Abigail..."
"Oh don't worry, Rosemary said she would help her with dinner, and she helped me make something for us too." Eric smiled pulling out a basket full of food.
"You got Rosie to help." Kate smiled knowing how much Rosemary must have loved this."
"I did, come sit get warm" Eric said, Kate sank down on the blanket next to him and he wrapped his arm around her warming her up.
"I thought about having dinner at my house, but i figured our days of having a picnic were numbered until spring time, and i figured we would be warm enough with a fire."
"No i love it, it was a great idea."
"I brought marshmallows to toast."
"Wonderful, how is your house coming, I'm sorry i wasn't around to help you move in this weekend."
"It's alright, I realized how very little i have, a small bed, a table and two chairs and that's about it to speak of." Eric said making Kate laugh.
"Another reason I was a little embarrassed to have you over today, it's a poor state of a house i am afraid."
"Oh I am sure it's lovely and you will fill it with things in no time." Kate smiled.
"I can't complain about having so little things for myself, it's much easier to clean the house when i can just sweep an empty floor and call it a day. However hosting guests is when i start to wish i had more then just one easy chair." Eric shrugged making Kate laugh.
"How are things at home, how is Elizabeth doing since all the children left yesterday?"
"There is still some looming.. Guilt maybe, or uneasiness, Last night she was so tired though she just fell right to sleep as soon as the kids did, we both were it was a long weekend."
"Well hopefully with time you can start to feel better soon. Let me know if I can do anything to help."
"Thank you, i was thinking about keeping the kids on Saturday so she and Jack can spend some time together, that always makes her feel better."
"Done, I have Saturday off, how about lunch at Abigail's and then we can go for a wagon ride around the valley and finish it off with dinner, and games at my house, maybe we can even have a fire and roast marshmallows?"
"I think that sounds wonderful." Kate smiled leaning into him a little more.
"Good, and maybe we can bring them back for bedtime and we can have a quiet little after dinner dessert?"
"I think i would love that even more" Kate said softly tilting her head toward him. Eric grinned bending to kiss her softly.
Kate woke up in the middle of the night to noises in the kitchen. She rolled over trying to go back to seep figuring it was just Jack up for a midnight snack, but the noise continued far longer then it took Jack to make a sandwich. Kate got out of bed wrapping her robe around her and pulling her door open softly. By the oil lamp light in the kitchen Kate saw Elizabeth up in the sitting room cleaning up some books and then silently sitting at the piano running her fingers over the white keys not daring to play anything and wake up all the little people sleeping upstairs. Kate leaned against the doorway watching her silently. She watched as a tear trailed down her sister's cheek and Elizabeth wiped it away with her lace sleeve. Kate was surprised, it was unlike Elizabeth to be so visibly emotional. Kate went to her quickly, the floor under her bare feet creaking making Elizabeth jump.
"What are you doing awake?" Elizabeth asked trying to wipe another tear so Kate wouldn't know she had been crying. Kate sat down on the piano bench beside her sister.
"I know your so upset about not being able to help those kids." Kate said quietly.
"I just can't get them out of my head, My head knows that we couldn't have taken in 30 children to care for. But my brain can't seem to get my heart to understand. I just feel like I ach for them, like i could have done more." Elizabeth sighed.
"You did all you could, we sent them off with warm clothes, new toys and belly's full of good food." Kate said.
"I know, and i will pray for them each night that they find a safe and loving home." Elizabeth nodded. Kate nodded and they were quiet for a moment, Kate knew her sister was still bothered by the thought.
"I feel like I failed them." Elizabeth whispered sounding more vulnerable then Kate had heard her in a long time.
"You didn't fail." Kate said softly. Elizabeth glanced over at her.
"You certainly didn't fail me. I'm still here, you made all the difference to me." Kate whispered. Elizabeth smiled softly putting her arm around her sister pulling her close. Kate put her head on Elizabeth's shoulder relaxing into her.
"You can't save all the kids Elizabeth, but you saved this kid, I wouldn't be who I am with out you. You spent your whole life teaching and so many children from this valley went on to college or the mounties or opened their own businesses. You mean so much to all of them both inside and outside the classroom, how many times has one of your students knocked on our door needing help with something that had nothing to do with school work? Like when Luke was supposed to watch his sister and he lost her? And when Hanna's mom was sick, they all came looking for you for wisdom and comfort, and you gave it to them no matter what time of day or how many of your own babies you had at home who needed you. But selfishly I like to think that i am the most thankful for you. We may have had a roof over our heads growing up, but you were my one true home." Kate said softly. Elizabeth sighed hugging her close.
"You always know how to make me feel better." Elizabeth whispered softly giving Kate a smile.
"Just like you make everyone else feel better, I know you are hurting for those kids, but you did everything you could and when you hear from Alice and Charlotte, you will do more. But until them i think you should just remember all the good that you do."
"Thank you, your right I will. I supposed i have been allowing myself to sit in my sadness, I'm going to think of some other ways i can share my blessings, that always makes me feel better."
"But first maybe some sleep?" Kate asked as Elizabeth covered a yawn.
"Your right, sleep first" Elizabeth laughed softly.
"Sleep first, then change the world." Kate smiled making Elizabeth laugh.
"I love you" Elizabeth sighed.
"I love you too."
"I can see my breath outside this morning." Abby said as she came through the back door lugging the milk bucked by her side and putting it on top of the table where Elizabeth was finishing breakfast a week after the orphan train had left.
"We had a frost last night, I'm going to have to wrap up the apple trees today after I finish helping Lee fix the roof." Jack nodded following her inside and taking off his boots.
"Cover them with what?" Tommy asked.
"Your Ma's best quilts of course! Got to keep them nice and toasty all winter" Jack teased making Tommy laugh as he ticked him lightly.
"Why are you fixing Uncle Lee's roof on Saturday?" Will asked.
"Because it gets to dark now to finish it after work like we could in the summer." Jack told him as he starting to set the table.
"Well there is warm oatmeal so come warm up before you go back out." Elizabeth said. Kate came downstairs carrying Lily wrapped in a warm blanket.
"It's chilly we should pull out the long underwear today." Kate said as Jack took the baby onto his lap.
"Oh no not those itchy things." Will sighed as Elizabeth gave him a little smile.
"When i was a boy we used to have to wear our long underwear when school started." Jack said as they all sat down to warm breakfast bowls.
"But it's still hot in September" Abby said.
"Yes but we lived further north and out on the open flat prairie. A blizzard could spring up at any minute, even in the fall." Jack said.
"Will we get a blizzard this year?" Tommy asked.
"I think it's safe to say we will get a good amount of snow after the dry summer we had we could use it for the plants in the spring."
"Can we go sledding and skating on the pond?" Abby asked.
"You bet" Jack smiled
"Just as long as we are all home safe and sound when the storm comes." Elizabeth added as Kate nodded her agreement. They all turned when they heard a knock on the door.
"It must be Aaron, Aunt Rosie probably sent him over to play to keep him out of the way of the work today. Will you go let him in William?" Elizabeth asked as Will jumped up hurrying to the door and pulling it open.
"Grandma!" Will cried making them all turn back to the doorway again.
"Hey there's my boy!" Charlotte Thornton said as Will jumped into her arms and she caught him strongly as if she was much younger then Kate knew her to be.
"Ma! What are you doing here?" Jack was the next to get up greeting his mother with a warm hug.
"Well seems to me I haven't dropped in on you lot in a while and I thought i should make sure everyone was still getting on without me." Charlotte smiled as everyone else hurried to greet her.
"And this must be little Lillian." Charlotte smiled taking the baby in her arms after she had hugged everyone.
"Oh Lizzy she looks just like you." Charlotte cooed to the infant as Lily gave her a gummy smile.
"Did you bring us something?" Will asked.
"William that's not polite." Elizabeth said quickly but Charlotte just laughed.
"Of course i did my boy." She handed Lily to Kate digging into her shoulder bag where she kept everything she owned.
"I found these over in Indian territory, prettiest things i ever did see." Charlotte said pulling out something in her fist. The kids held their hands out and Charlotte dropped three beautiful blue beads in each waiting hand. They were bluer then the sky and so shiny, they really did take Kate's breath away looking at them.
"Wow! I want to make a necklace!" Abby cried.
"These are better then Sammy's marbles for sure, can i bring them to school?" The kids all started talking at once as Elizabeth laughed.
"Alright everyone let your grandmother come in" Elizabeth ushered the kids away from the door so Charlotte could come in and put her stuff down.
"I'll go put your horse in the barn then I have to get over to the Coulter's, why don't you come by later they would love to see you" Jack said.
"I will be sure to do that." Charlotte nodded as Jack kissed her cheek.
"Be safe." Elizabeth said softly as Jack kissed her
"I will, I'll be home soon, you all be be good for you Ma." Jack said as the kids nodded as their front door opened again and Aaron let himself into their house as if he lived there.
"Hi Aunt Charlotte!" Aaron cried greeting her happily as Charlotte game him a warm hug.
"Aaron look what Grandma brought us!" Will said showing Aaron the blue beads.
"Wow!" Aaron cried.
"Don't think I forgot you young man." Charlotte handed Aaron some beads of his own.
"Mama can we go upstairs and play, And can i get some thread to make a necklace?" Abby asked.
"Yes go on up" Elizabeth laughed as all the kids thundered up the steps.
"My they get more full of energy each visit." Charlotte chuckled.
"I am having trouble keeping up with them some days myself." Elizabeth smiled putting a bowl of oatmeal in front of Charlotte as she sat at the table.
"Let me see this girl again, oh goodness look at you with the little pink dress." Charlotte said as Kate handed her the baby again. Charlotte had a tough outside but Kate knew there was nothing she loved more then snuggling her grandchildren.
"Sit girls sit, tell me what's been new around here." Charlotte said as Kate and Elizabeth sat by her at the table.
"Oh you know us, new baby, school year started, trying to keep the house running." Elizabeth sighed.
"Well I am here to help! You keep the school running, you keep that cafe running and I will run the house, give you a break Lizzy."
"Thank you, but we want you to relax while you are here too." Charlotte waved Elizabeth off as she always did.
"So Katie girl, tell me what is new with you?" Charlotte asked.
"Oh just the usual, the cafe is good, with the holidays coming we are getting more busy, Abigail is helping me plan the Christmas dinner already, it's still a month away but the more prep we can do the better..." Kate started.
"Oh Katie tell her about Eric." Elizabeth said pouring a cup of tea. Kate froze for a second flashing her sister a look.
"Eric?" Charlotte asked sitting up straighter.
"Umm yeah, there is a new man in town, his name is Eric." Kate said.
"And you like this man?" Charlotte pushed.
"I do, I think I love him actually." Kate said feeling the color rise to her cheeks. Charlotte nodded.
"Is he kind?"
"Yes?"
"Hard working?"
"Very"
"Good, well then i would like to meet him, why don't you go invite him to dinner tonight." Charlotte said.
"Well sure.. I can ask but... You know He might be..." Kate stumbled and Elizabeth flashed her a look that said she was sorry for having even brought it up.
"Should i not meet him? Is he not a suitable man?" Charlotte asked.
"No he's very kind."
"Well then why don't you run along and invite him to dinner." Charlotte sat back crossing her arms that told Kate the conversation was finished.
"Yes, yes of course." Kate stood putting on her boots.
"Now Elizabeth, i am here to work so what needs to be done? I can start with these windows for one thing, they need a good washing, and then maybe we can bake up a batch of cookies to bring to the Coulter's. I do want to see dear Rosie and I can't go empty handed..." Charlotte was saying as Kate grabbed her coat and pulled the big door closed behind her.
It was a short walk to the row houses but Kate saddled up Gracie anyway taking out her horse was a rare treat and Kate needed something to help clear her mind. She trotted to the field up hill and stopped, overlooking their little Valley before heading back down and riding to the row houses. She stopped first at the fifth house in the row, Gracie came to a slow stop as if she knew what Kate needed. Kate slipped off her not bothering to tie the horse up knowing she would stay close as she climbed the stairs. The empty house should be locked but Kate had found a way to jimmy it open and slipped through the door. The room was dusty but she fall sunlight shown in makeing it bright as Kate ran her fingers over the cast iron stove that at in the corner of the little kitchen. She knew she shouldn't be in their old row house. But something about it brought her so much calm. This place was her home, it had been her first home when they first came to Hope Valley and Abigail took them in. It was her home again when Elizabeth had saved up enough money to rent it again just the two of them. It was where they had lived when Jack had first joined them and they were a small family of three. Part of Kate missed those days, though she was so happy where she was now. Kate took a deep breath taking in the familiar sent of the wood burning stove before leaving again making sure to close the lock behind her.
"Stay there Gracie." Kate. She horse hardly looked up from where she was grazing in the grass across from the houses. Kate walked down the row passing the Coulter's old house and where Cat Montgomery used to leave before getting to the house Eric now rented, one of the few still being lived in. Kate knocked on the door slowly.
"Coming" She heard Eric call and the door opened.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you yet, i thought we were going to grab dinner later today." Eric said looking at her confused. Kate stood for a minute not sure what to say. Eric had on his pants and just undershirt with his suspenders hanging down at his waste. She had never seen him in this state before. She had never gone to visit his room when he was living above the saloon. She had only ever seen him when he was fully dressed and they had meet in town, or when he had picked her up at her house for a date. For some reason seeing him like this took her breath away.
"Kate, is everything ok? What's wrong?" Eric asked giving her a funny look as Kate hesitated.
"I... Sorry I just.."
"Come in, what's wrong?" Eric asked ushering her in from the cold and closing the door behind her.
"Charlotte came into town this morning." Kate said.
"Jack's mom?" Eric asked, Kate nodded.
"That's great, I can't wait to meet her, you speak so highly of her." Eric said putting away a mug he had washed earlier.
"Yeah" Kate nodded softly.
"What? Do you not want me to meet her?" Eric asked.
"No, no i do..."
"You are acting awfully strange today." Eric said.
"I'm sorry, I just... I love Charlotte but she can be kind of judge, and says what she thinks. I knew she was coming and I do want you to meet her, I just wish i had a little more warning."
"You need to mentally prepare? Do you think she won't like me?"
"No, no i think she will love you, she's just protective. She didn't like Elizabeth much when she first met her. Charlotte is set in her ways, but i think she will like you. I am ready, really, i want you to meet her, she sent me here to ask you to join us for dinner." Kate said.
"Are you sure your ready? I don't want to force you into anything, i can pick up an extra shift at work tonight and use that as an excuse." Eric said.
"No, i do, i want you to come, besides if i say your busy knowing Charlotte she will just show up at your work to meet you anyway." Kate muttered making Eric chuckle.
"Alright, well then I'll come to dinner, hey, your so nervous." Eric said rubbing Kate's arms as she bite her lip.
"I'm ok, i want you to meet her. You mean so much to me and this is a big deal, Charlotte is like my grandmother. Actually she is a lot like me, Jack always say i remind him of her."
"Well them I'm sure we were get along great." Eric said as Kate offered him a little smile.
"Me too" she grinned.
"What are you doing here i gave you the day off." Abigail said as Kate walked into the cafe kitchen were Abigail was cutting up carrots.
"I just wanted to come check on you" Kate shrugged.
"You just couldn't say away can you." Clara teased her coming in with a tray full of empty dishes.
"I was by the row houses and wanted to take the long way home" Kate shrugged.
"You live in the opposite direction." Abigail narrowed her eyes at her as Kate ignored her.
"Oh Kate darling i thought i heard you, how is Aaron doing, he's not driving Elizabeth crazy is he? I told him he had to be on his best behavior or he would have to come sit in the shop with me all day." Rosemary said walking into the kitchen.
"I haven't been home since this morning but I'm sure he is fine, the kids were all playing upstairs when i left, besides Charlotte is there she will keep them all in line."
"Charlotte Thornton came into town! When?" Rosemary asked excitedly.
"She came in this morning, she was planing on coming by your house to visit with you today."
"Oh well i was planing on staying home and giving the house a good cleaning before winter, but Lee sent me away. Something about me hovering around them when he and Jack were trying to work. Is it my fault they make me nervous on that ladder?" Rosemary waved it away rolling her eyes.
"I'll send her to visit you in the shop then if i see her." Kate said.
"Thank you, perhaps I can talk her into a more fashionable outfit while she is there." Rosemary said.
"I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you." Abigail said just loud enough for them to hear as the four women giggled together.
"She wants to meet Eric at dinner tonight." Kate said softly as the room went quiet.
"Are you ready for that?" Clara asked.
"I think so, Eric seems ready." Kate shrugged.
"That's a big step, you have never introduced her to a man before." Abigail raised her eyebrows.
"You make if sound like I have had a long list of suiters." Kate felt the color rising to her cheeks.
"Oh I don't mean that, i just mean this is a big step. Charlotte can be a harsh judge." Abigail said softly.
"I know, but Eric is important to me, and it's best to get these things out of the way." Kate nodded firmly.
"I agree, besides Eric is a fine man and Charlotte is fair, you have nothing to worry about." Clara told her.
"That's right." Rosemary nodded.
"Thanks for calming my nerves." Kate smiled softly.
"Don't be nervous darling the lord will work everything out." Abigail said pressing a basket of fresh rolls into Kate's hands to take home.
"Thank you, see you all later." Kate smiled.
"Now you be sure and tell us how it all goes." Rosemary called after her.
"I will." Kate promised swinging onto Gracie and riding back home.
Dinner was busy, everyone was trying to catch up, thee kids wanted to hear all about Charlotte's travels and kept talking at the same time wanting to tell her everything new with school and their friends. Charlotte asked Eric a few questions in between and Kate squeezed his hand gently under the table. It ended in a fury of apple pie ending up in William's hair and Elizabeth having to hurry him into a bath before bedtime as Kate stepped out onto the porch with Eric as he pulled on his coat.
"That went well" Kate sighed.
"Really? Because besides answering a few questions about work and where I am from I i didn't really get a word in." Eric asked.
"I know, I should have warned you the kids are always really excited to see her and have so many questions. But she's Charlotte Thornton, if she didn't like you she would have run you out of the house, she doesn't tend to break bread with people she doesn't like."
"Well, i guess I'll be thankful i got to finish my meal then." Eric chuckled.
"You were right, I know what Jack means when he said you two are a lot alike."
"Careful what you say." Kate teased putting her finger close to his nose and raising her eyebrows jokingly.
"No i just mean you are strong independent women. The way she walk talking about raising Jack and his brother all alone while their father was away so often, and she was teaching school, it must have been a really hard life, and then to lose her husband, I can't imagine being able to go on with life." Eric said softly, Kate nodded gently.
"That's why Jack left the Mounties after Abby was born, he was gone for the whole winter and some of the spring the year before. It was really hard on everyone, he hated being away and we hated having him gone. And it was a lot for Elizabeth to work and run the house and miss him so much."
"Abigail to the rescue I suspect"
"Everyone really, Abigail, Rosemary, Clara, Lee Faith, Bill, sometimes I don't know what we would have made it through that long winter without them all to make us laugh through the worry, it was probably one of the worst times i can remember. Not knowing if he would come home safe.
"Your surrounded by a lot of strong women, your sister included, I have no doubt you are just as strong as the people you idolize." Eric said softly squeezing Kate's hand.
"Your nice." Kate smiled.
"Well I'm still on my best behavior in case someone is peeking though the window." Eric smiled as Kate laughed.
"Good night, I'll see you at church tomorrow." Eric smiled leaning in to kiss her softly.
"I have the afternoon off, how about we have a nice quiet lunch before Sunday dinner with everyone? I am sure with Charlotte here the Coulter's and Clara and Jessie will be joining us at the cafe, then you really wont get a word in."
"Only if I can cook for you without you leaning over my shoulder." Eric said.
"I'll try my best." Kate said as Eric laughed kissing her gently again gathering her up in a warm hug.
"See you tomorrow." He whispered picking up his lantern.
"Get home safe." Kate called with a wave before going inside. Jack was reading a book with Abby while Elizabeth was feeding Lily, Kate was surprised to see Charlotte was no where to be seen.
"She's putting the boys to bed." Elizabeth said reading Kate's mind.
"Did she say anything?" Kate asked.
"About what?" Jack asked looking up but Elizabeth shook her head.
"Well, how and I supposed to know?" Kate asked again glancing up the stairs still surprised that Charlotte had not been waiting to give her opinion to Eric as soon as he left.
"I think it's a sign it all went well." Elizabeth shrugged.
"What are we talking about?" Jack asked glancing between the sisters
"So it's fine?" Kate asked.
"I would say it went as best as you can hope for." Elizabeth nodded both girls still ignoring Jack as he watched them.
"What are they talking about?" Jack asked looking down at Abby.
"Sometimes I think only they know." Abby shrugged at him.