Chapter 5

"Winnie," cried Miles as he lifted her up by the waist and spun her around, "It's good to see you again, it's been along time."

"Yes, it has." answered Winnie as he placed her back on the floor. Mae came up next to her and wrapped her up in a big bear hug, "Oh Winnie I've missed you so."

 "I missed you to." said Winnie returning the hug and smiling at her dear Mae. Then it was Tuck's turn to greet Winnie, but Winnie did not have the courage to look him in the eyes, for she felt she'd disappointed him.

Tuck said, "I'd like to have a moment alone girl." Wow, Winnie thought, flashback, and she gave a little smile to herself. She had really missed them all so much. Jesse protested, "But Tuck we just-" Tuck cut him off. "I'd like a moment alone with Winnie," he said sternly.

"That's not fair," said Jesse, for he knew not how his father would react to Winnie having drunk from the spring. He had always known that he was against it. He didn't want him to say something that would make Winnie regret her decision, for he wanted her only to be happy.

Before any more words could be passed , Mae dragged Jesse into to the kitchen followed by Miles.

"So you drank from the spring. You look exactly the same." Winnie could only look down at her feet, as she heard Tuck speak in such a way. She couldn't describe it really. He talked with years of regret, sadness, disappointment, and anger all in his voice. It made Winnie shudder and start to cry silently. "Yes," she answered, "but please don't be angry with me-"

"I'm not angry with you, child" Tuck interrupted.

"Fine," Winnie cut in, "then don't be disappointed." Tuck said nothing. "Please forgive me," cried Winnie, "I'm sorry I disappointed you, but I understood the consequences of my decision. I did think long and hard about it. I thought about what you said, and I understood not being part of the circle of life, would be a saddening thing, but I also thought about you all, and never seeing you again. I loved you all so much, you were my family. You didn't want me living forever, but without all of you, I couldn't have lived at all." Tuck sat there listening intently, his face scrunched up in concern. After a moment of silence he asked, "What about your parents?"

"They were fine with it."

"Oh," answered Tuck, "They were fine about losing their only daughter?"

 "Well…no. Not exactly. I… I left and wrote them a lot. Told them I had gotten married and had a daughter. When that daughter – me - was about 15 she came back and watched her grandparents die. She spent a few years with them, and put their minds at ease. I came back every so often as a decedent of Winnie's to make sure the estate was all in order, and to wait for Jesse."

"Please. Don't be angry with me. I just loved you all so much," as she said these last words Winnie looked up and met Tuck's gaze.

"I'm not angry with you Winnie." A long, quiet pause ensued. "I'm very happy to see you child, I just hope you don't one day start to regret your decision and start to hate us Tucks."