Plumfield had been a flurry of activity for the past few days but things started to calm as the entire family gathered together for dinner the evening before the wedding. Meg and Amy assisted Asia in the kitchen while the children set the long dining table with plates to the end. Jo supervised most of the commotion at the same time anxiously awaiting the arrival of her parents while Nick had discovered that the best place for the men was outside so Laurie, Ben and himself stuck to the porch waiting for the call to eat.
Finally everything came to a halt as the food was carried to the table and everyone began to take their seats. Jo strolled in, carrying the potatoes, shocked to find an empty space to her right. With a look she questioned Nick who was standing off to the side. "They won't let me sit down," he whispered, shrugging.
Confusion was soon abated as Nat and Dan appeared in the doorway, smiles of mischief playing on their lips. Everyone quieted as they stepped apart and produced a completed chair, still gleaming with coats of stain. Jo gasped as tears formed in her eyes and she rushed over to embrace her students. "We couldn't let it go unfinished," Nat said as he was held tightly.
"Thank you," Jo spoke softly, overcome.
"You boys did that yourselves?" Nick asked, not quite realizing the meaning of the chair.
"It's for you," Jo replied, her hopes rising as she looked into his eyes. "To go at the table."
"Yeah. It was Mrs. Jo's idea. We just helped her out a little," Dan said, picking up the chair and setting it down at the vacant spot.
"Wow," Nick murmured. He followed Dan and ran a hand over the wood. "Looks wonderful."
"It's nothin' complicated. Just sturdy," Dan commented as he winked as Jo. Her smile was wide as everyone resumed their seats, Nick taking her hand as she began to say Grace.
"Dear Lord,
We thank you for the family that you have gathered here today. Time has brought many changes for us all and as many of us begin new endeavors, we thank you for the moments we have shared and for bringing us together as a family. Thank you for truly blessing each and every one us and may we always remember that this is our home and all of the joys that accompany that comfort. God bless us.
Amen."
"Let's eat!" she announced as the food was dug into.
Jo looked to Nick, his eyes glistening with pride. "You never cease to amaze me," he said, kissing her hand that he still held within his own.
"I thought you said you knew about the gift."
"The boys told me you were up to somethin' but wouldn't tell me what it was. I guess they didn't want to spoil the surprise."
Jo grinned as she watched those that she loved the most in the world take part in some thing so simple as dinner. She found such solace in the act and so much joy that those in her life were there to share it. Tears glazed her eyes once again and she looked towards Nick whose expression was much the same as her own. He sighed as she passed him a bowl. "What are you thinking?" she asked, slightly concerned.
Nick shook his head in reassurance. "I was thinkin'… this definitely feels like home ta me."
XXXXX
"Hey," Nick said as he caught Jo's arm while she cleared the table from the recently finished dinner. "Can I see ya in the parlour for a minute?"
Jo gave him a puzzled look but complied, handing over her dishes to Nan who was passing through the doorway. Nick simply smiled and guided Jo through the house and into the empty room.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
Nick said nothing but led her to a chair and sat her down. He knelt before her, the firelight dancing off his eyes as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small cloth pouch. "I wanted to give ya somethin'." Nick carefully opened the bag and turning Jo's palms upright, gently poured the contents onto her hands.
After a few moments of astonishment, Jo's lips curved at the corners. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
Nick watched with satisfaction as she rolled it over, looking at the necklace with an affectionate countenance. "It was my mother's," he said quietly.
"Are you sure you want to give this away? It must mean so much to you…"
"So do you." He picked it up from her fingers and carefully undid the tiny clasp. " 'Sides, I'm sure that she would want you to have it." He stood and walked around the back of Jo's chair, gently draping the necklace around her neck and refastening it. "She would've loved ya, Jo."
"You really think so?"
"Of course." Nick leaned against the back of the chair, his strong hands wrapping themselves around her shoulders. "Actually, ya kind of remind me of Sam…"
"Sam?" Jo asked thoughtfully. "Your sister, right?"
"Yeah. Samantha was stubborn, just like you are." Jo rolled her eyes and playfully slapped at his hand. "Even had the same pretty brown eyes. I can still remember the way she used ta look at me, especially when she wanted somethin'." He chuckled. "But it was kinda hard to resist her. She was far too sweet natured to say no ta." Nick became quiet at the memories.
"You miss her, don't you?" Jo whispered.
"Yeah… I do… my folks too. With Ben bein' my only real family, I wish they were here to see all this."
"That's why I wanted to build the chair, Nick," Jo said, trying to comfort him. She turned in her seat and tugging at his hands, pulled him over to the side of the chair, bringing him to her eyelevel. "You are very much apart of our family and I wanted you to think of all of us as your own."
"Ya know I already do, Jo. It's just different. You've got folks here that have seen ya grow up." He tenderly kissed her hands. "But someday I get ta watch my own…"
Jo sighed contently and carefully stood, constantly keeping her eyes on Nick. "Now I've got something for you." She wandered over to the corner desk and after opening a small drawer, produced a delicate sheet of paper, wrapped in a bright red ribbon.
"But you already got me somethin'," Nick protested.
Jo blushed. "I didn't actually think that the chair would get finished. So, I had to improvise." She passed the gift over to him and stared anxiously as he took Jo's seat and untied the ribbon.
Nick smiled, taking in the neatly typed poem. He handed it back to Jo. "Read it ta me."
Her cheeks grew more crimson as she slowly nodded and began to read:
My Dearest Nick,
I Love You,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.
I Love You,
Not only for what you have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I Love You
For the part of me that you bring out;
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
That you can't help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out into the light all the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked quite far enough to find.
I Love You
Because you have done more than any creed
Could have done to make me good,
And more than any fate could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it by being yourself.
Perhaps that is what being a friend means,
After all.
Jo looked hopefully to Nick, slightly worried as to his reaction. "I wanted you to know…" she whispered, watching her feet, "I wanted you know that you are my best friend, Nick. And I couldn't imagine marrying anyone who wasn't."
A slow grin formed on Nick's face and he stood, making his way towards his soon-to-be wife. He wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her to him, holding onto her tightly. After several moments of blissful silence, a mischievous smile appeared on Nick's face. "So, ya mean I even come before your sisters?
"Nick!" Jo looked at him, shocked. Then suddenly her eyes squinted in playful manner and a smile adorned her face. "Of course not. My sisters will always be first. Then Marmee and Father, Asia, the lady down the street…"
