"Mommy, are you awake yet?" Walter sneaked careful into the room.

Sleepily Anne opened her eyes. It was barely dawn.

"Walter, what's the matter? Why on earth are you up at this hour?" She whispered quietly.

"Today is the party, Mommy. We must get up early." Walter sat down on her bed.

Anne tried to stifle her laugh.

"But, Walter the party won't start for hours. Go to sleep again."

"I can't sleep, Mommy."

Anne sighed: "All right, will you lay down here, by me?"

Walter didn't answer and crawled into her bed.

"Mommy, we don't have to go back to Daddy, do we?" Walter asked.

"No Walter, I don't want go back. Can you understand this? Or do you want to go back?"

Suddenly, Anne had doubts. Was she doing the right thing? Or should she forget her feelings and go back, because of the children? Perhaps the children wanted their father?

"No, I don't want to go back, Mommy. Daddy is always so terrible to you. He shouldn't hurt you. I want to stay here. I have more friends here than in Kingsport. You should be happy, Mommy."

"I am happy, Walter. I love you, Darling." She kissed his forehead.

Walter laid his arms round her neck: "I love you so much, Mommy."

Anne's heart warmed at his words. It was so beautiful, having someone love you. Every human needs to be loved. It was compensation for all the bad things in life.

"I like Dr. Blythe, Mommy. He shows me so many things and he is always so funny." Walter said suddenly.

"I like him, too." Anne whispered.

"Do you know, what I would wish, if a fairy godmother gave me a wish?" Walter asked sleepily

"No, Darling, what?"

"I wish." he yawned. "I wish Dr. Blythe were my Daddy." Then he fell asleep.

Now, it was Anne's turn to be unable to sleep. She looked at her sleeping son in her arms and stroked his hair away from his face.

"I wish it, too." Anne whispered.