"Good morning, Chris," Molly said a few days later as she brought in his breakfast tray.
"Morning."
"Somebody is in a bad mood."
"I'm fine."
"Which is why you're growling at me," she said, setting the tray in his lap.
He sighed in frustration.
"Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?" she asked, sitting on the stool. She tilted her head and looked at him. "Chris?"
He growled. "I'm just sick and tired of sitting here!"
"I know you are..."
"I should have had the cabin finished by now!"
"It's all right. It was an accident. It only sets us back a short bit. Spot and Andy have been working on it."
"It was something I wanted to do! I wanted to be the one to take care of you and Kendra!"
Molly frowned. "It's okay, there was nothing you could do about it!"
"Don't you see Molly? I can't take care of you now!"
"What are you talking about?"
"How am I supposed to provide for you and Kendra with this bum leg?"
"You can! It's just a small injury."
"And what am I supposed to do Molly! I had carpentry jobs lined up as soon as I could get the house finished. It will be months before I'll be able to do that kind of work again...if ever!"
She pulled back slightly.
"I'm not good enough for you Molly..."
She stood, tears filling her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something before closing it and walking to the door. She looked at him again. "You're wrong Chris...you're too good for me. A guy like you doesn't deserve a girl with my past," she said, before running from the room.
Chris looked after her and sighed, yet again frustrated.
Molly ran blindly up the stairs and began throwing clothes in her carpetbag.
Misha was passing about that time and peered into the room. "Is everything okay?"
Molly sank to the floor and began sobbing.
Misha sat next to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. "What is it?
"Chris..."
"What about?"
"He thinks I won't love him anymore because of his leg..."
"You still love him, right?"
Molly nodded.
"Then you must make him see. He is being silly, just because he was injured," she explained. "Men can be that way."
"I tried Misha...but he doesn't want to see...he says he's not good enough for me. But it's the other way around...I'm not good enough for him...he deserves a better girl than me. One that doesn't come with so much baggage..."
"You are both being silly. What does baggage or injuries have to do with anything? If you love each other, then it doesn't matter."
"He doesn't want me around, Misha..."
"He is just being stubborn."
"I'm not going to stay where I'm not wanted. I'm going back to Brooklyn."
"You are wanted here," Misha said, resting her hand on her shoulder.
"But he doesn't want me here...I can't stay here...it will be too hard."
She squeezed the girl's shoulder. "You should talk to Spot or Rae."
Molly shook her head. "I think it's best for Kendra and I to return to Brooklyn."
"You will leave without telling them?"
"If I tell them they'll just try to stop me."
"Perhaps you should leave."
Molly stood and threw the last of her clothes in the bag. "I need to pack Kendra's things..."
Misha stood. "All right... It is your choice."
Molly rushed across the hall to pack Kendra's things. In a matter of minutes they were leaving the house, much as they had done after the twins had been kidnapped. What neither mother nor daughter realized at that moment was that Kendra's kitten had been left at the house.
"Where are we going Momma?" Kendra asked.
"Back to Brooklyn to stay with Aunt North and Uncle Blank."
"How come?"
"Because I don't want to stay..."
"But what about Daddy?"
"He'll be fine without us..."
She frowned. "But I want him to come too..."
Molly sighed. "He can't...he's hurt, remember?"
"Then we can wait!"
"No! We can't!" Molly said, taking Kendra's hand and practically dragging the smaller girl toward the train station.
"But why?"
"Because I said so!"
She whimpered.
Molly sighed. "I need you to stop asking questions, baby, and just do as Momma says..."
"Yes Momma..."
Molly paid for two tickets to Brooklyn and they settled onto the train as it prepared to pull out.
Suddenly, Kendra gasped. "We forgot Pape!"
"We'll have to get her later."
"But... but I'll miss her too much!"
"Kendra...please don't start...Momma has a headache..."
She pouted but looked out the window silently.
Molly sighed and leaned her head back, closing her eyes.
Kendra rested her head on Molly's shoulder.
"I'm sorry baby," Molly said, putting her arm around Kendra.
She hugged Molly tightly. "Are we gonna go back soon?"
"We'll see, sweetie."
She hugged Molly again.
"Why don't you get some rest, Kendra," she suggested.
"Okay, Momma," she snuggled into her shoulder.
~*~
Chris was surprised when Rae brought in his lunch tray later that day. "Where's Molly?"
"I don't know...."
"Did you run her off again?" he asked harshly.
She glared at him. "No.. I believe you did." She slapped the tray on the table and stalked out.
A few minutes later Spot stormed into the room. "What did you say to Rae?" he demanded.
"I just asked if she made Molly leave again... and she said I did," he grumbled.
"Don't EVER let me catch you talking to my wife that way again!"
"How was I supposed to know that I was the one who made Molly leave!"
Spot growled. "She feels bad enough about the last time...she doesn't need you making her feel worse."
"I didn't know!" Chris snapped.
"Well now you know," Spot said, leaving the room.
Chris frowned deeply and stared at the wall.
Sam toddled in a short while later.
"Where's Kendra?"
"Gone," Sam said, leaning against the couch.
"You miss her, huh?"
Sam nodded. "No one play wid me."
"Did you try asking Andy?"
"He he'ping Daddy..."
"They won't let you help?"
"They say I too little."
He smiled a little. "Well, that's not fair, is it?"
Sam shook his head.
Chris patted the chair next to the bed. "How about I read you a story?"
Sam grinned and scampered over to the chair. "Whatcha gonna read?" he asked, leaning forward anxiously.
"How about...Robin Hood?"
~*~
After leaving Chris in the study Spot walked into the bedroom where Rae stood staring out the window.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" he asked, going over to her.
She sighed. "His words hurt, Spot..."
"He was just being a jerk."
"It was true..."
"... What are you talking about?"
"I did run Molly off the last time..."
He shook his head. "Don't let what he said get to you."
"I can't help it Spot."
He put his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"It was my fault that Andy ran away too..."
"Rae, honey, stop blaming yourself. People make mistakes. We're human."
She sighed deeply.
He kissed the side of her head gently.
"Spot..."
"What?"
"I don't feel so good..." she said, weakly leaning against him.
"You're just worrying yourself too much..."
She leaned her head back against him. Gently, he stroked her head. "I don't think I need to put off going to see Trent any longer," she whispered.
Spot nodded. "That sounds like a good idea."
"Misha got a letter from Sippi...and he says that she can come back now...so I'll take Ann and Misha with me to help with the triplets."
Spot nodded. "That sounds like a good idea."
She walked over to the bed and curled up on her side.
"Do you want to be left alone?"
"Not really," she whispered.
Sitting next to her, he rubbed her back gently.
"I was never this sick in Brooklyn," she said softly.
"Shhhh," he whispered. Just relax."
She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Everything will be fine," he said softly
"Hold me?" she asked sleepily.
Gently, he slipped his arms around her shoulders. "Just get some sleep." She nodded and snuggled up against him. "I love you, Rae."
"Love you too..."
He kissed her cheek and relaxed beside her, gently stroking her arm, coaxing her to sleep. A few minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. Spot sat up. "Come in."
The door creaked open and Annie and Marty poked their heads in.
He smiled a little. "What do you girls want?"
"Gramma Noelle wants to know if she needs to cook lunch for Momma..."
"Maybe she should just prepare a cold lunch... Momma's trying to nap."
Marty nodded and left, but Annie crept further into the room.
Spot tilted his head. "What's the matter?"
"Is Momma really sick?"
"Yes... but not quite how you think. Come on, let's go so she can sleep."
"Is...is she gonna die...like Julie?"
"Shh, shh, don't worry about that."
"Is she Daddy?"
"She'll be all right."
"Can Dr. Trent make her all better?"
"He's trying. But I don't know if he can or not. Medicine isn't that far along yet, I don't think."
She sighed and took his hand.
He ruffled her hair and guided her from the room.
"When am I gonna go stay with Uncle Sippi and learn to dance like Misha?"
"When Momma heads up there... I think she'll drop you off with Misha."
"Andy says that Uncle Sippi is gonna make me go back to school..."
"Well, you always need to go to school," Spot told her.
She sighed and made a face.
He smiled. "You'll thank us later."
"But the kids are mean!"
"Not all of them are."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes."
She made another face.
"Ginny and Jackson will be there with you...and maybe even Marty..."
"Is Marty going back too then?"
"I don't know yet."
"I don't like Jackson..."
"You're gonna have to learn to get along with him...he is Ginny's brother."
"Well, I still don't have to like him..."
Spot smiled.
Noelle was waiting for them in the kitchen.
"Marty told me Rae was ill..." Noelle said.
Spot nodded. "Yes..."
"She also said that Trent wished to see her..."
He nodded. "To confirm what he suspects."
"If you would like to go with her Nick and I can take care of Chris, Andy and Sam."
Spot looked at her. "Are... you sure you want to?"
She smiled and nodded. "I think Nick mentioned teaching Andy how to fish out at the lake."
He smiled as well. "Thank you so much."
"Your welcome."
"Where is Andy, anyway?" Ann asked
"He's in the barn reading," Noelle replied.
She nodded.
Spot turned to her. "Why don't you and Marty go pack your clothes so that we can go to Brooklyn tomorrow."
"Yessir. MARTY!" She bellowed, dashing away.
"What is it Annie?" Marty asked, walking into the hallway.
"Let's get our stuff packed so we can go to Brooklyn tomorrow!"
"Really?" Marty asked nervously.
She nodded. "Come on!"
Marty followed Annie into their room and began to pack her clothes. She wanted to get back to Brooklyn but she was still unsure about going to live with the Websters. Ann wasn't quite thinking along those lines yet. She was too busy getting excited over her chance to become a real ballerina. Marty packed her few belongings into her carpetbag and sat on the window seat, looking out the window.
"What's wrong?" Ann asked, stuffing a dress into her bag.
"I'm gonna miss this place..."
She glanced around and then sat next to Marty. "Me too..."
Marty sighed. "I'm still not sure I want to go to Brooklyn."
"Why not?"
"I kinda like being out here...besides, Brooklyn has too many bad memories..."
"Why are you going there, anyway?"
"The Websters really want me to come stay with them..."
"Well, don't you get to choose?"
"I do..."
"Well then, don't go if you don't wanna."
"I don't know what I wanna do..."
"Well, don't go if you don't wanna," Ann said logically.
Marty sighed.
"Why are you going there, anyway?"
"The Websters really want me to come stay with them..."
"Well, don't you get to choose?"
"I do..."
"Well then, don't go if you don't wanna."
"I don't know what I wanna do..."
"Well, don't go if you don't wanna," Ann said logically.
Marty sighed.
"Maybe you could do it for just a little while. And if you don't like it, you can leave," Ann suggested.
"That's what Rae said."
"Well, that's 'cause she's smart too," Ann grinned.
Marty stood and picked up a baby doll off the bed.
"So are you gonna go?"
"I think so."
Ann grinned. "We can see each other at school too, you know!" She said enthusiastically.
"Really?" Marty asked, seeming to like the idea of going to Brooklyn for the first time.
"Yeah! And you can come visit, and I can come visit!"
Marty smiled.
Ann shoved some more things into her bags. "Maybe we can help Momma pack for the babies..." Annie suggested.
Marty nodded. "She'd like that, I bet."
"Race ya," Annie said, dating from the room.
"Hey! You cheated!" she said, racing after her.