"You want to adopt me?" Jimmy asked again. "Does that mean I would be a Ford?"

"Only if you wanted to be," Ken told him, not wanting to pressure the boy into anything.

"We just want you to feel like you always belong with us," Rilla told him.

"James Kitchener Ford," Jimmy said letting it roll off his tongue. "Jimmy, Jims Ford," he tested out again. "Can I tell people?"

"Of course," Rilla laughed. "Tell anyone you would like."

"Can I call your mom, even if I wait until we're home?" Jimmy asked looking at Rilla, for some reason he thought she would be the person he should tell first. That she might understand just what it means to him more than anyone in the world.

"I'm sure we can work something out," Rilla nodded her head. "I'm sure she would love to hear from you," she added. "Now we should all get dressed for breakfast. I also do believe you have an afternoon with your grandparents."

Jimmy nodded as he rolled off the bed before he turned back to face Oliver who was rolling around in imitation.

"I'm going to be your big brother by law," He whispered to the littlest boy.


"Wouldn't it be easier to move sooner rather than later?" Rilla found herself say out loud to Ken as she folding clothing that was to be packed up in a trunk for the journey home.

"Pardon?" Ken looked up asking as he folded his tee shirts in a pile.

"Your Uncle is what? Sixty-six? Your father already sixty-four, I know he likes to work and the company is like his second child possibly." Rilla spoke the truth to her husband. "Wouldn't it be more beneficial for you to learn from him and the main company sooner rather than later?"

"You always seemed against the move?" Ken spoke cautiously. "Yet you are the one who is talking like you have thought this over?"

"Because I have since last night, we had almost five years near my family," Rilla told him. "Also the main reason I believe I was so set against moving to Toronto. When it approached the first time is now no longer an issue."

Ken looks up suddenly confused. He never thought there was an underlying cause to her reluctance back then, beyond her not wanting it. Now he knew better, he knew just how broken she had been for a while. He understood more than ever, why she had refused. Because the reason was down at the park with his grandparents to burn off some energy as they packed.

"Jims," Ken said letting out his breath. "You couldn't leave him." It made so much more sense to him now than anything he thought of years previously. "We should see what my uncle has to say before we decide anything," Ken said after a short pause. "While we are here."

"If he likes the idea?" Ken asked hesitantly. "What should we tell him?"

"I would like Jimmy to finish out a year of school," Rilla said after a moment. "Either the summer, or at the most by next summer?"

"What if," Ken said motioning to her stomach. "What happens if you are pregnant, I won't make you move in the middle of pregnancy?"

"Well, we have two choices, we wait or just wing it," Rilla said simply. "But we don't even know what he will think of the idea."

"I know but I feel like we should have some sort of game plan," Ken replied. "If he said the summer and we're in the middle of trying or even expecting? That won't be good for you. You barely left the house for the first six months and even thing you barely made it to your parents."

"So, if he says this summer we wait until we are situated. If he says don't rush the next summer will be fine we carry on as planned," Rilla told him.

"Are you sure about this?" Ken asked one more time.

"Would I be telling you I was if I wasn't?" Rilla gave him a look.

"Fair enough," Ken said. "I'll give him a call and see if we can pop by, or if he wants to come here."

Rilla nodded, "I will continue on packing, I think Ollie may need a larger bag to go home with?" She said looking over everything she still had to pack.

"There may be a spare few up in the garret," Ken told her as he approached her side and gave a kiss to her temple. "I'll give my uncle a ring and see what we can borrow for the way home."


"What would you like to talk about?" Uncle said as he sat in the living room of the Ford residence at the request of his nephew.

"Rilla brought up something and after a discussion about it. I realized that she is right," Ken told as he grasped her hand in his. Like he was making sure she still was all right with this.

Rilla smiled and squeezed his hand back.

"I know you say that I'm not needed right away, but it doesn't feel like that to us. Wouldn't it be better if I was around sooner rather than later?" Ken asked his uncle. "I know I just got the maritime division up and running, but Keith will be more than ready to take over the helm."

"The choice is yours, Kenneth. I gave you the time because it seemed like you and your bride wanted some time to settle into life together." Benjamin said sitting back into the sofa and he heard a cry from upstairs.

"Excuse me for a moment?" Rilla said excusing herself and swiftly went for her son who was shouting Mama at the top of his lungs.

"What is it, Ollie?" She asked him as he stood grasping the edge of the crib until he reached up for her. "Did you have a bad dream? Is that what's wrong?" She gathered him up in her arms and kissed his cheek. She then grabbed one of the many hankies lying around and wiped his cheeks and nose.

She changed him into one of his many warm flannel creepers and pulled on a fresh pair of wee little stockings.

"I don't think you met Oliver yet," Rilla said as she came back into the living room with Oliver on her hip. "Ollie this is your great uncle Ben," she said. "Can you say, uncle Ben?" She whispered into her son's ear. "Wave hello?" Oliver looked at her and copied her waving hand motion the best he could.

"He looks like a sturdy young lad," Ben said smiling sadly. "Looks like he'll be tall as his father."

"Most likely, he is rather long these days." Rilla nodded her head as she sat down and passed Oliver one of his toys that were beside her.

"Rilla wants Jims to at least finish the school year, rather than mid-year, which isn't fair to him." Ken started looking at his wife who nodded. "It's just a choice of when? This summer, next summer? We mostly want to plan out what needs to be done and what can be done this year." Ken explained without going into too much detail of what they were planning for themselves.

"Of course," Ben nodded his head looking at the younger man. "Truthfully I wasn't expecting this, although it is a welcome idea. While I do trust your capabilities. You are correct that you most likely have much to learn and to learn it from me while I am around. It makes more sense. I am rather married to the office and have no plans to retire yet, but I do see your point." He said as he stroked his chin. "Where would you live?" He asked.

"We'll have to look for something and see what is available," Ken said looking at Rilla and Oliver. "We'll need at least four or five bedrooms, right now three and an office that we use as an extra bedroom."

"Well, I still have the house, it hasn't been used in years. It's not far from here. It's down over in Rosedale, I am sure you remember the house." Ben told him. "If you want it, it can be made yours. Otherwise, it would just be sold, but I rather keep it in the family.

Ken nodded as he stood up and went over to one of the bookshelves that lined one wall. He went over them as if he was trying to find the right one. He pulled an old out flipping through it until he found the photo he was looking for.

He came back and handed it to Rilla who had placed Oliver down on the floor. It was him as a young boy with another boy whom Rilla could only believe to be his cousin. Two young boys in front of a somewhat whimsical looking house.

"Can we go see it?" Rilla asked looking up from the photo. "I know it's last minute, but it's our last day after all."

Ben chuckled though his face was still rather sad. "Of course, I wouldn't dare make women settle on a house she has never seen. Nothing makes a woman happier than a home she enjoys. Isn't that right Kenneth?"

"Rilla just wants to make sure it will work for us," Ken said with a small smile.

"Is the little one coming with you?" Ben asked looking at Oliver. Who was busy playing with some blocks he pulled from the trunk that Leslie has left for the kids.

"No one else is here at the moment, Persis is at her in-laws with George and Joe," Ken told him.

"I'll go his jacket and mittens," Rilla stood up. She quickly dressed Oliver and put on her coat and woollen stocking to keep her legs warm from the cool air.

Rilla held on to Oliver as they drove through the streets of Toronto. They drove to another neighbourhood she had never been to, then again she hadn't truly seen much of Toronto.

"The paper is up near the waterfront, not too far of a drive to the office. Branksome Hall is pretty much around the corner from the house as well." Ben explained to Rilla who only looked to Ken for clarification.

"The school Persis went to," Ken supplied. "I suppose if we have a daughter we will go there as well," he said with a small smile on his lips.

"Didn't Persis go to an all-girls school?" Rilla asked him as she looked out the window at the passing houses.

"She did, I don't think she thought about dating a boy until college," Ken said with a grin. Rilla shook her head with a light laugh. She was sure Persis had plenty of beaus that he never knew about. She was also sure that if they did have a daughter. She would have him wrapped around her finger from the moment she was born.

"Here we are," Ben said as he stopped on the side of the road at a whimsical house that looked like it came out of a fairy tale. It was large and made of orange brick. The first thing Rilla saw was arched French doors, with a bay window above painted in a light grey-green colour it on the second floor. The other side of the house had two windows on each floor from what Rilla could tell there were three floors! Three! Along with a tall pointed roof, some of the windows were rectangular, but the two main floor ones were darling arched windows that marched the door.

"Come along, It may be dusty my apologies. I have stayed at the apartment for many years," Ben said as he found the old key.

It was dark but Ben quickly found a kerosene lamp to give them some light. A few steps later her had drawn open some of the curtains letting in the winter light. Letting it full up the front of the house and foyer. The walls were painted in a cream colour which made the house seem wider than it was. She followed the men as she looked around. There was a formal dining room that had a large table that seated 8 people that was paper in a silvery vine pattern. Straight ahead, while tucked on the other side of the hall was a powder room a toilet with a pedestal sink in a roundish room. Along with a closet that had small shelves for storage.

The dining room then turned into a large kitchen, which was spacious with a small breakfast area. It even had a wall of pantry shelves. Off to the side, there was a door that led out to a small veranda that would be hidden by a large tree in the summertime. Large columns were weathered but still had a fair amount of grey paint on them at each corner.

Rilla looked around in wonder as she hoisted Olive who had fallen asleep once more in the car. He was getting too heavy to carry around as she used to. Ken motioned for her to pass him which she gladly did, it gave her more of a chance to look around.

They turned back to follow through the archway between the kitchen and dining room. Rilla found herself in a large room filled with windows, and off to the side, there was a housekeepers room.

"It just keeps going on," Rilla said in awe as they followed Ken's uncle up the stairs. They went first to the library and office that was lined with built-in bookcases. Dark wood panelling lining the walls that matched the built-in shelves. The bay window that was in the front of the house, the colour was rich despite the dust in the room. There was a fireplace on the right side of the room for cozy evening reading.

Next came a full bathroom and three bedrooms, one the main with had French doors leading out to the second veranda balcony. Again it was light and airy, with Rilla found herself smiling. There was a small bedroom across from the large room to it which would be a perfect nursery. It had been painted a yellow colour the long had faded. It even had some peeling wallpaper that had been of some sort of nursery theme. There was a large bright bay window that let in the sunlight through dusty lace curtains. While they had another two bedrooms of adequate size that would work for Jimmy and a spare room.

"The upstairs in just a garret. The walls are plastered and I believe at one point had been painted like a playroom?" Ben said pointing to the stairs leading upwards.

They headed back down the stairs, looking over the front living room with had a large fireplace.

"What do you think Ollie?" Ken said as Oliver woke up from his nap and was curiously looking around. "Do you think you might like it here?"

"I think as long as we are with him he will not care where he is," Rilla said as she walked over and placed a kiss on Oliver temple.

"Mama," he said reaching out for her. Rilla took him and settled him on her hip. She looked at Ken, trying to gauge his thoughts. He looked back at her asking her silently what she thought. She looked around once more around, picturing them living, watching children run about.

She slowly nodded her head.


They didn't speak about what had concurred so swiftly. The changes that would come to their lives. There was much to figure out, discuss, plan, along with telling the families of the change of plans. They would have to explain and break the news to Jimmy, find a school for him.

It boggled Rilla's mind slightly at the number of things that needed to be figured out. It was almost a relief as they boarded the train that morning after saying goodbye to Leslie and Owen at the station. While Persis and Joseph stayed behind as they had said goodbye at the house.

They were ready to start the travels back home. Ready to begin the process of telling everyone, she planned on asking Mrs. Clarke if she would consider going with them. There was more than enough room for her and she didn't think she would find another housekeeper like her. She had helped Rilla through some of her sickest days and Rilla did her best to make sure that she knew how much it meant to Rilla.

"Remember yesterday morning when we explained about Ken's cousin and moving to Toronto one day?" Rilla spoke up in their seat.

"Yes," Jimmy said looking up from his plate. "Why?"

"Well, there's been a few changes since we spoke to my uncle," Ken spoke up who was helping Oliver eat his cracker. "It looks like we may be moving to Toronto sometime this summer."

"What about school?" Jimmy asked feverishly.

"We'll find you a new school," Rilla smiled weakly. "I know you just made friends, but Ken and I think he and the family should do this now, rather than later. By the time we settle into Toronto, you'll be a Ford as well."

"Will you miss the Island?" Jimmy asked curiously.

"Of course I will, and my parents, siblings, Ingleside," Rilla told him. "But we can always go visit in the summertime, leave Ken at the office," she said teasing her husband.

"There is also a family cabin," Ken told the growing boy. "In a quiet wooded area with a lake, lots of fishing as well."

"I do like Toronto," Jimmy said as he looked out the window. Rilla looked at Ken with a sigh who merely chuckled to himself as he offered Oliver a drink of water from the thermos that Leslie had sent them with. It appeared that as long as Jimmy was with them, he was fine with whatever they decided.

In all, the train back was much like the way to Toronto, passing time by reading and walking the various carriages.

"Mother?"

"What is it dear?" Rilla asked Jimmy as she held Oliver's hands as he walked.

"Can I buy some candy?" Jimmy asked. "Grandpa Owen gave me this," he held up two quarters in his hand that came from his pocket.

"Five cents only, I don't want you eating too many sweets in the morning," Rilla reminded him. Though she smiled at Owen's thoughtfulness.

"If I buy you something?" Jimmy asked trying to figure out if she would let him buy more.

"Eight cents then," Rilla gave him a look. "And don't be cheeky and get me liquorice," she told him before he could rush off. Ken had taken him to the candy store in the city. The two of them had pretended to buy her least favourite candy while hiding her favourite from her.

"Come on Ollie Mommy's back is starting to hurt, how about we look out the window for a little bit?" Rilla said as she lifted him.

When Jimmy came back he had Ken in tow. He held out a bag full of penny candy in her favourite flavours. Ken was already working on a lollypop it seemed as well which made Rilla shake her head.

The layover in Montreal was only an hour before they were back on a train. This time settling into the compartment that allowed them to sleep at night more easily. Not that Oliver allowed them much sleep, but it was better than the way to Toronto. It seemed much of the same families that had been on the train when they went west, were coming back east. Giving the mass of children something to do between the long hours of the train.

Still, Rilla felt relief when they finally made it to Kingsport and Ken promptly hired a cab to take them home. Home for now at least, another few months until things changed once more. Plenty of phone calls and letters to write to catch up on, she was hoping that there would be a letter from Paris and Hawaii waiting for me.


Okay, I finally wrapped up Christmas. I can't say wrapped up Toronto because well, it appears you'll have more Toronto soon enough!

Hope everyone is safe and well, and thank you all for the lovely reviews on the last chapter!

Tina.