Six - Righting Our Wrongs
"Remind me again why you thought this was a good idea," Laurie requested.
"Because I was afraid Kate was falling in love with him!"
"Which she has?"
"Yes! But I've made a complete mess of things instead of making them better."
"And how would making Philip think Kate hated him make things better?"
Well, when he put it that way... "Because then Kate wouldn't leave us! But now I see I was wrong, and I've made a mess, a big mess, and now I need to fix it."
"What time was his train leaving?" Laurie asked as their carriage bounced along down the drive as quickly as they would allow - maybe even a little quicker. It was Laurie Laurence and Jo March after all, and they were in a hurry.
"I don't know. But I have to stop him - I've made a horrible mistake and Kate will hate me forever if I don't fix this."
"Jo, she's your sister, she loves you. I doubt very much that she will hate you, let alone forever."
"We March girls are very stubborn."
"That I do know."
Finally, after what seemed like much longer than usual, an eternity, they reached the train station. Jo was jumping down from the carriage even before Laurie drew the horses to a halt.
"Jo!"
"Hurry, Laurie! There's no time to lose!" Jo went tearing through the bustling station, searching for Mr. Fare - Philip.
It was Laurie who came across him, the kind man appearing deflated and certainly not radiating the same passion as the man he had met before. "Excuse me, Mr. Fare?" The man looked up at him in surprise.
"Mr. Laurence." He rose to his feet from where he was sitting on the bench, his luggage beside him, and reached out to shake Laurie's hand.
"Laurie, please," Laurie reminded him. "I hate to make you miss your train, but I do need you to come with me."
Philip now looked a mix of confused and surprised. "W-whatever for?"
"It's about the March sisters."
Now Philip appeared worried. "What is it? Did something happen?"
"Pardon me, I didn't mean to alarm you. I mean one March sister in particular."
Now Philip's face fell again. "Kate."
"Laurie!" Jo came bursting through the crowd then, ignoring the protests of other station patrons as she shoved past them. "Oh, thank goodness you found him! Oh Mr. Fare, I've never been so glad to see a man in my life! And that's saying a lot!"
"It is," agreed Laurie.
"Miss Jo," Philip addressed. "Pardon me, but I have no idea what's going on."
"There's something we must discuss," Laurie explained. "I'm afraid there's been a big misunderstanding."
"It's my fault," Jo was quick to admit. "I've made a grave mistake and I need to right my wrong."
Back home at the March house, Kate was in no better state than before.
"I love him, Marmee," she sniffled, her eyes puffy and her cheeks tear-streaked.
Her mother stroked her hair. "I know, my sweet girl. And I also know that first love can be the deepest, and the most difficult."
"But why? I thought love was supposed to be a beautiful, wonderful thing."
"And it is."
"But then why does it hurt so much? It doesn't make any sense."
"No, it doesn't. Love is beautiful and wonderful, but it can hurt the deepest."
"I won't ever find a love like this again," she decided. "This is it." The words hurt in her heart to think, let alone say out loud.
"I don't think that's true. You have so much love within your heart, my dear, and so much of your life ahead of you, and I refuse to believe it is all gone."
Kate didn't respond, only continued to cry.
The sound of the door bursting open and Jo calling at the top of her lungs, "Kate! Kate!" got their attention a few minutes later.
"Mr. Fare!" came Amy's excited cry moments later. "You're here!"
"Hello Amy. Miss Meg, Miss Beth," Philip's voice followed.
Kate and Marmee exchanged a glance before Kate was on her feet and flying down the stairs to the sitting room where she found her sisters, as well as Laurie and Philip.
"Philip!" she cried, hardly believing it. Was he really standing there in their sitting room?
"Kate, you look awful!" cried Amy. Then she turned to Philip. "She's be crying non-stop."
"Didn't you check yourself in the mirror?" agreed Meg.
"Oh, stop it, this is a surprise for all of us," cut-in Beth.
"Yes, forgive my state of appearance," Kate apologized, brushing some loose hairs out of her face.
"No need, I think you look beautiful, as always."
Everyone gasped. "Aww!" cried Amy. "Oh, how sweet! How romantic!" She lay her hands on her chest and spun around.
"Girls, let's give them a moment, please," said Marmee. "Please, come in, Philip," she offered. "We'll make some tea."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Then he turned back to the redhead, who he had never really fully looked away from. "Kate." He smiled at her. "Jo told me on the way that there was a mix up of the letters."
"Yes, I gave him the real one, the one I helped you write," Jo said on her way following her mother, sisters and Laurie into the kitchen.
Philip produced said letter from his pocket. "Did you really mean all that you said?"
"Aw, he skipped his train for you, that's so sweet!" cried Amy.
"Amy," cried Marmee, dragging Amy into the kitchen.
"It will be easy to catch a later train, and this was important." Philip's smile stretched further.
"Yes, yes I did mean everything I said," Kate told him. "Every word."
"I appreciate you clearing things up, Jo," said Philip once he and Kate joined the others in the kitchen for tea. "I will admit I was very confused by the letter, for Kate has shown nothing but kindness towards me."
"I'm sorry, I'm really very sorry," Jo apologized. "To both of you."
"Thank you, Jo," said Kate, reaching out and taking her sister's hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze.
"You don't hate me?"
"Of course not, Jo. I could be very angry with you, but I could never hate you."
Jo smiled and immediately squeezed her sister in a tight hug, narrowly missing knocking over their teacups. "Oh I'm so glad! I really thought you hated me!"
"No Jo. I love you."
"I love you too, Kate."
Aww, some sisterly love :) I think this is such a great family - especially sibling - movie!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)