The trip from the schoolhouse to the row houses was a short one with the wagon. As Jesse pulled the team to stop in front of the Grant's home, he turned to Nathan.

"I can get the things into the house if you'd like to walk Elizabeth home," Jesse told him.

"Thank-you," Nathan said, not bothering arguing. It had been a long day and if he were honest, his bruises from Saturday were bothering him more than he would care to admit.

"Can I come with you, Uncle Nathan?" Ally asked from where she was sitting in the back of the wagon with Elizabeth.

Nathan looked at Jesse.

"I'll be fine on my own," Jesse replied.

"Then yes, you can come," Nathan told his niece, even as he climbed down from the wagon seat.

Ally gave a cheer as she jumped down from the back of the wagon. Elizabeth followed though more slowly than the young girl. Soon, the little trio was walking down the row of houses. Ally was chattering about her party. Some of it was directed to Elizabeth, the girl thankful for her teacher's help with her party, the rest was Ally just talking in general. Nathan was more than happy to let his niece do the talking. His day had started early and it had been eventful nor was it over. Nathan thought about the letter still tucked away in his Bible with his niece's name on it.

"Can you come in for a few minutes? I have something for Ally."

Elizabeth's words brought Nathan out of his thoughts and made him realize that they were now standing outside of Elizabeth's house. In the light of the lantern hanging outside her front door, Nathan could see the amused expression on her face.

"Just a few minutes," Nathan said, speaking up before Elizabeth repeated the question.

Elizabeth led the way into the little house. Laura was walking around the house, Little Jack in her arms.

"Everything okay?" Elizabeth ask, the concern evident.

Laura gave her a smile as she walked toward them with Jack. The little boy seemed okay, his head resting on Laura's shoulder. "I think so," Laura told her. "He's been fed, he's dry, and he doesn't feel warm. However, he's been fussy. Every time I tried putting him down he started crying. As long as I'm holding him, he's fine."

"Hi, Mama," Little Jack said, smiling when he saw Elizabeth.

"Hi, my sweet boy," Elizabeth said, shrugging out of her coat. She planned to hang it up and take her son from Laura but Little Jack had other plans.

"Na'tan," Jack said excitedly, having spotted Nathan. He held his arms out to Nathan.

"Hey, Jack," Nathan said, reaching out to take the toddler from Laura, who gratefully turned the boy over.

"I'm not sure how I feel about him going to you instead of me," Elizabeth said, frowning.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Nathan assured her. "He just doesn't see me as much," he added.

"I hope so," Elizabeth said, as she turned to hang her coat up on the rack.

"Is it okay, if I leave my books here tonight, Mrs. Thornton?" Laura asked, having grabbed her own coat.

"You're not going to need them tonight?"

Laura shook her head. "I plan on going home, doing my chores and maybe reading in bed a bit before bed."

"I appreciate you staying so long today."

"It's fine. I don't mind at all and I did get some schoolwork done while Jack napped."

Elizabeth smiled. "Leaving the books are fine. I'll see you in the morning."

Laura said good-bye and then left. As the door shut behind her, Elizabeth smiled at the sight of Nathan making Jack giggle by making faces at the boy. Turning to Ally, Elizabeth motioned her over to the little desk.

"I got you a present," Elizabeth told her, picking up a small, wrapped rectangular package. "I didn't want to give it to you at the party because I don't usually give my students birthday present and I didn't want the other children giving you a hard time about it," she said as she handed the present to Ally.

Taking the gift, Ally ripped the paper off, curious as to what her teacher had gotten her. As the paper fell away, Ally found she was holding a journal.

"Thank-you, Mrs. Thornton," Ally said looking up at her teacher.

"I want you to practice your writing in there. You can write your thoughts and feelings, poems, or stories. Anything that pops into your head, write it down in that book," Elizabeth told her.

"I will," Ally said. Taking a step forward, she gave her teacher a hug. "Thanks to you and Uncle Nathan this has been the best birthday ever."

"You're welcome," Elizabeth told the girl, hugging her back. "Now I should let you get going, we both have school tomorrow."

Ally nodded. "Goodnight, Mrs. Thornton."

"Goodnight, Ally," Elizabeth replied. She looked up at Nathan. "Are you feeling okay?" she asked. "You're looking a little pale.'

"I'm fine," Nathan told her. "It's just been a long day." Nathan looked from Elizabeth to his niece and back to Elizabeth. He didn't miss the disbelieving looks on either of their faces. "Really," he insisted.

Elizabeth reached out for her son. Little Jack easily came to her. Settling Little Jack against her in one arm, she then took a step closer to Nathan. Standing on her tip toes, she placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Go get some rest then," Elizabeth told him as she took a step back.

"I will," Nathan promised her. "Bye, Jack," he added, waving to the little boy.

"Bye, Na'tan!"

Nathan put an arm around Ally's shoulder and steered her toward the door. Ally went down the front steps first followed by Nathan. As he stepped from the last step, Nathan looked toward the town. Part of him still felt like he should be in town if something was going on. It was after all, his job. However, Ally was important as well and Bill had said he could handle it. Letting his duty to family outweigh the pull to his job, Nathan steered his niece toward their home.

"Are you really okay?" Ally asked.

"Yes," Nathan assured her. "I'm just tired and a bit sore," he told her. "Nothing a little rest won't take care of."

"Okay," Ally said, resting her head against her uncle as they walked toward their home.

Up ahead, they could see Jesse pulling the wagon out of the light from the lantern in front of their own town home. Spotting them, Jesse raised his hand even as he pointed the horses in the direction of the little town. With the arm not around Ally, Nathan returned the gesture.

Uncle and niece walked quietly the rest of the way home. Walking into their home, Nathan saw the box of decorations sitting by the door. He wasn't sure what they were going to do with them but he figured he'd decide on that tomorrow.

"I guess Jesse took your presents upstairs," Nathan said, taking Ally's coat. "Why don't you go find places for everything. I'll be up shortly."

"Okay," Ally said.

Nathan hung up his niece's coat and her footsteps hurried upstairs. He took his own coat off slowly, his still bruised back protesting more than he wanted to admit. Hanging his own coat up, Nathan headed for the steps himself. Following his niece upstairs, albeit at a slower pace, Nathan glanced in his niece's room as he walked by. The quilt she had been given was already spread across the bed, while most of her other gifts sat in a pile on the bed, but Ally was placing the wooden jewelry box he had given her on the top of the dresser. Nathan had a feeling that Jesse had spread the quilt on the bed while he was bringing stuff up.

Continuing to his own room, Nathan went inside. As inviting as the bed looked, Nathan knew if he even sat down, he wouldn't want to get back up. Instead, he walked over to the night stand. Reaching out he picked up his Bible and flipped it open, finding the letter for Ally.

Holding the envelope in one hand, Nathan flipped the Bible shut with his other. Putting the Bible down, Nathan looked down at the envelope. His niece's name, in his sister's handwriting, looked back at him. He wasn't sure how Ally was going to react to the letter, but he knew not giving it to her wasn't an option. Colleen had written this letter so she could have a connection with the little girl that she wouldn't see grow up. She had trusted him to see that Ally got this, and the other, letters.

That was a trust that he wasn't about to break.

Taking a deep breath, Nathan let it out slowly. Then, letter in hand, he headed back to his niece's room.

Standing in the doorway, Nathan watched his niece posing before the mirror, wearing the sunglasses that Fiona had given her. Reaching out, Nathan knocked on the door to announce his presence.

Ally looked in his direction. Looking a little sheepish, she removed the sunglasses. "Just having a bit of fun," she told him.

"I see that," Nathan said, walking into the room. He made his way over to Ally's bed and sat down. Patting the mattress next to him he told her, "have a seat."

Ally placed the sunglasses on the dresser in front of her jewelry box and sat down next to Nathan. Next to the box, Nathan saw that his niece had placed the picture of him and Colleen that her grandfather had given them.

"I have something else for you," Nathan began, looking away from the picture and to his niece. "You've been told that your mother was sick for a while before she passed. It wasn't a surprise to any of us. Well, your mother used that time to leave a legacy."

"What kind of legacy?" Ally asked curiously.

"She used the time to write some letters. Letters to you and me. Colleen was very specific about when she wanted me to give you the letters and the first one that she wrote for you was for your twelfth birthday," Nathan replied, holding out the envelope to Ally.

Ally reached up slowly for the envelope. Nathan wasn't sure how to read the expression on his niece's face. Reaching out, he put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

"Your mother loved you, Ally," Nathan told her, his voice shaky with emotion. "The hardest thing for her to deal with was knowing that she wasn't going to get to see you grow up. This was her way of being a part of that," he told her before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"Would you like to be alone to read that?" Nathan asked when his niece still didn't say anything.

Still staring at the words on the envelope, Ally nodded her reply.

"Okay," Nathan told her. "I'll be in my room, if you need to talk afterwards," he informed her, hugging Ally close again before getting to his feet.

Nathan walked to the door. Pausing in the doorway, he glanced back. Ally was still looking at the envelope. Watching her, he was thankful that he had waited until the end of the day to give her the letter.

Reaching for the doorknob, Nathan pulled the door shut as he left the doorway. Making his way back to his own room, Nathan made his way to the bed and laid down. The activity and emotional toll of the day seemed to wash over him in a flow. It had been a long day. One that he knew wasn't over. As exhausted as he felt right now, he was sure his niece was going to need him after she read her letter.

Looking up at the ceiling, Nathan found himself saying a silent prayer that he would know the right words to say when the time came.

Ally barely heard her uncle's retreating footsteps as she stared at the envelope.

For Alyssa Rose on her Twelfth Birthday.

Her mother had at one time held this envelope. She had written those words on it eight years ago. Ally watched the words blur before her eyes. Reaching up, she wiped the tears away as the started to fall.

Like she had told Mrs. Thornton, memories of her mother had faded over the years. Sometimes she thought she could remember her face and then other times there was just haze. Seeing the photograph tonight seemed to be helping those memories, as her recollections of her mother seemed a bit clearer. However, she had always remembered a woman's voice singing to her. She also remembered being held by a woman and feeling safe. She knew those, as vague as they were, were memories of her mother.

Now she held something that was more tangible than vague memories. Ally couldn't believe that she was holding something her mother had once held. That she was about to read words that her mother had written.

With shaky hands, Ally opened the envelope and removed the sheets of paper. As she unfolded the paper, she found a thin chain that had been tucked into the fold. Holding it up, All saw a small, thing, gold cross hanging from the chain.

Hoping the letter would explain the significance of the necklace, Ally set it aside and looked down at the letter that she held in unsteady hands.

My sweet Alyssa Rose,

As I write these words, you are fast asleep beside me in the bed. I know soon, someone will come and carry you to your bed to sleep, but for now you are right beside me. I wish it would always be that way. That I would be able to stay beside you as you grew from this sweet little girl into a woman. I have accepted that I won't see you grow up. I have fought hard against this illness for your sake. Sometimes though the spirit is stronger than the body. That is the case this time.

I hope that this letter finds you happy. More than anything, happiness is what I want for you my sweet girl. Remember that, as you read this letter and the letters that will follow. I don't want these words to bring you sadness but to bring you peace and comfort. I want you to feel my love as you read these words and know that I will always be with you in spirit.

More than anything right now, I wish I had a crystal ball to see what the future holds for you. Alas, I don't. However, in my heart, I know that it would've been your uncle who has been raising you. Even though I haven't yet asked him, I know without asking that he will take you in if your father is not up to the task. As your father, though he loves us both, has a sickness of his own I realize that there is little chance he is in your life. I've seen that in these months that I have been sick. His drinking has gotten worse and worse. He is seldom here these days. I wish for your sake he could beat his love of alcohol. There was a time that I thought it would happen. Jeff was doing so well. Our lives were going well. Then troubles started to arise. Instead of looking to family and friends in those times, Jeff looked for comfort in a bottle. That is not the way to deal with life's challenges. I know Nathan would have taught you otherwise. My brother would have taught you to face that challenges head on by leaning on those you care for and God. I know this because Nathan learned that at a young age. Our own father was not in the picture much while we were growing up. Your Uncle was the source of strength that saw me and your grandmothers through those times. Whenever your in doubt about what to do in life, look to your uncle to be the example that you need. He will never lead you wrong.

The years ahead are going to be full of ups and downs. That is just a part of growing up. Hold onto your childhood why you still can. I know you long to be a woman. I did. I wanted to be considered grown up and have responsibilities when I was twelve. Once you get a little older, you'll have wished you had stayed that child a little longer. Try not to be in a rush. Things will happen soon enough. You'll soon go to your first dance, your first crush, your first kiss and your first broken heart because of a boy. I wish that I could be with you for all those things. Instead, I have to entrust you to your uncle, God, and whoever else special who comes into your life.

Speaking of which, I don't know if your uncle has found that special woman in his life yet (as I said earlier, I'm assuming he's raising you) but I'm sure that it will happen one day. He deserves that kind of happiness. I want you to know, that it is okay to love that person. To think of her as a mother if you so choose. Every child needs a mother and a father in their life. I know that Nathan will fulfill that father role in your life and I know that he would only love someone who would love you as well. Letting her be a mother to you is not being unfaithful to me. I know you will always love me, no matter how vague your memories are of me. I will always be your first mother, even if someone else fulfills that role in your life later on and I pray that someone will. Being able to go to my mother made my teenage years more bearable and I want that for you, Alyssa.

In this letter, you should've found a little cross. I have no doubt your uncle will recognize it because it was he who gave it to me on my thirteenth birthday. He was so proud of this present as it was the first one he had bought with money he had earned himself. For months he would do odd jobs after school. I'd ask him what he wanted the money for and all he would tell me was it was a surprise. That golden cross was the surprise that he was working so hard for. I've cherished it over the years and I hope you will to. I want it to be a reminder that both God and I are watching over you.

Be brave. Be strong. Be kind and know that you are loved.

Love from above,

Mother

Ally once again, wiped away tears. She had been careful not to let her tears fall on the paper. She didn't want to blur the words her mother had wrote for her years ago.

Ally marveled at how her mother had seemed to know how the future would turn out. Her mother had been right about Uncle Nathan raising her while they also assured her that her father leaving her had not been because of anything she had done. She had seemed to know that her daughter would be struggling with the desire of having a mother in her life but not wanting to betray her memory. Now, more than even before she wanted things to work out between Mrs. Thornton and Uncle Nathan. Not just for herself but for Uncle Nathan as well. Her mother was right about that as well. Uncle Nathan deserved to be happy and Mrs. Thornton made him happy.

Folding the letter carefully, Ally put it back in the envelope and picked up the necklace. This really had been the best birthday ever. She'd had her first birthday party, had gotten a picture of her mother, as well as a present from her mother. Ally couldn't think of any way it could've turned out better.

Ally put the envelope under her pillow. She knew that she would eventually need a safer place for it, but for tonight she wanted to know that it was close. With the necklace in her hand, Ally headed for her uncle's bedroom. She wanted to let him know that she was going to be okay and she wanted him to help her put the necklace on.