Author's Note: Okay, so I saw the Tuck Everlasting movie in theaters this weekend and I was disappointed, but I still liked it. I think the book is still better than the movie because it is so well done and it captures the themes of life and death and living life to your fullest better than the film. However, I did enjoy the fact that the movie had a romance between Jesse and Winnie (obviously). The love parts were somewhat corny, but I may have felt less weird about them had every teenager in the theater not made hooting noises when Jesse and Winnie kissed. I liked the ending a lot, especially the last few lines. Anyway, I think that it was a good movie overall, but it could have been better.

Oh, and a response to some of the reviews. It was mentioned that it was unlikely that Winnie would have survived a gunshot wound to the head. Just to clarify that, she was not shot in the head. If you read it carefully, you'll see that Carter used the barrel of the gun to hit her in the head and knock her out; he never pulled the trigger. That, I believe, does not stretch the limits of our imaginations.

And, finally, the chapters. I am aware that the chapters are rather short (though not as short as many of the stories posted on this site). However, I am careful about how I break them up. Each chapter has a theme and ends according to the natural flow of the story. Sometimes that means cliffhanger, sometimes not. I could incorporate them into larger chapters, but I like the way it flows this way. I am also posting very frequently (you're welcome), so if someone likes the chapters longer, then they can check back every couple of days and pretend that they are reading one big chapter. However, I will consider condensing them to make reading easier. I'll let everyone know what I decide when I do. Anyway, sorry for the extra long note. Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Fourteen: Virginia

About three hours later, Winnie heard a knock on the door downstairs. She peeked out of the bedroom, where she had been changing into the nicest dress she had with her, a dark blue one with ribbons. She could hear Rebecca's shoes clicking against the wooden floorboards as she went to answer it. "Hello, Virginia," Rebecca said politely. "Why don't you come on in and take a seat. I have some tea waiting for you in the kitchen. It's apple-flavored, the kind you like."

"That sounds wonderful, Rebecca."

Winnie stepped from her room and out into the sitting room, where she saw a rather severe-looking woman sitting on the Fergusons' green high back sofa chair. She was older, probably in her early sixties with elegantly grayed hair that had been pulled up in a bun. Her dress was burgundy trimmed with cream lace and she had matching combs in her hair.

"Well, don't hide from me, child. Come out here where I can take a look at you." The booming voice caught Winnie off-guard and she nearly stumbled into the open with surprise. The older woman smirked. "Not very graceful, I see."

Winnie blushed the color of the woman's dress. "No, ma'am."

"Come here." The older woman gave her a cursory glance. "Well, what you lack in grace, you certainly make up for in beauty. Are you married?" Winnie shook her head. "Well, it won't be long now. Come, sit here and tell me all about how you've enjoyed Tom and Rebecca's house."

Winnie started to open her mouth to respond, but Rebecca interrupted when she came in from the kitchen with the tea. "Oh, Winnie, I'm so glad you're down here. I see that you've met Tom's aunt, Virginia Ferguson. Virginia, this is Winnie Foster, the girl I was telling you about."

"Well, I assumed that, Rebecca." Virginia rolled her eyes and Rebecca laughed. Winnie could only stare at them, amazed. Virginia noticed her still standing in front of her and patted the seat beside her. "Well, what are you waiting for? Sit."

Winnie did as she was told. "Yes, Mrs. Ferguson."

"It's Ms. and Virginia. No one's called me Mrs. Ferguson since my husband was alive. Ah, the tea. I'm so glad that you remembered I like apple, Rebecca." She picked up the cup and saucer and took a sip. "Delicious."

"I made one for you, too, Winnie." Rebecca lifted another cup from the tray and handed it to her. Winnie breathed in the aroma of apples with joy. Her mother preferred Earl Gray, which was great if you were old, but less exciting if you weren't. She wasn't.

Lunch was less demanding and Winnie actually began to relax around Virginia Ferguson. As it turned out, she was always funny and sarcastic, which was something that took some getting used to for Winnie, who was accustomed to hearing such comments only when she had done something wrong.

After lunch, Virginia and Winnie retired to the sitting room again for more tea and dessert. Rebecca went back to the kitchen to fetch the strudels she had made earlier.

"So, you've never been married. Do you have a sweetheart?"

Winnie didn't know how to answer her question. What was she supposed to say? I may have a fiancé, but I haven't seen him in six years, so I don't know if he loves me or not? Somehow, she didn't think that would be appropriate. "No, I don't."

"Well, like I said, it's only a matter of time for someone as pretty as you. I remember when my late husband first called on me. Why, I was so nervous I nearly didn't come downstairs!" Virginia laughed at the memory. "It's a wonder we even managed to get married at all."

"You must have loved him very much."

"Well, I should say I did! I acted like a fool every time he came near me. When he asked me to marry him, I started crying so hard I had to sit down! I tell you, falling in love shows you things you never knew about yourself until they happen."

Winnie felt her heart swell at the thought of falling in love. Could anything be more wonderful? She doubted it. The thought of Jesse asking her to marry him sent a row of shivers down her spine. Maybe she would cry, too, and maybe she would have to sit down like Virginia did when Mr. Ferguson asked her to be his wife. Only Jesse would be with her forever and she would never have to worry about one of them dying. They would be happy and in love for the rest of their lives.

"My husband was a lot like Tom. He was such a joker. Why, I remember on our twentieth wedding anniversary he said he was going to take me out of town for a special trip, like a second honeymoon of sorts. I thought it would be somewhere we had never been before, like a big city. Would you know that man took us to Maple Bend to stay at the Blue Bird Inn? Some big city, I tell you. We ate at the local tavern and went shopping for horse feed at the general store. If I didn't love him, I probably would have run him over with our wagon." She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but Winnie could see that she was barely containing a smile.

"That was your twentieth wedding anniversary?"

"Yes, and I tell you, it was better than the first. Even with the horse feed."

"Better? How could it be better? Weren't you in love with him when you got married?"

"Well, of course I was! But love doesn't just stop growing when you say your vows. If it's real love it'll keep getting better the older you get."

Winnie didn't know what to say to this. Love getting better the older you get! She wouldn't think such a thing was possible. Wouldn't it make sense that it would be best when the couple first fell in love? She could see how Tom and Rebecca felt about one another and couldn't imagine that they could love any more than they already did.

And what about her and Jesse? How would that work for them? Would it matter that they didn't age? Would it matter that their hair wouldn't turn gray and their skin wouldn't wrinkle? Would it still be the same if they stayed the same forever and ever until the end of time?

"Anybody ready for a strudel?"