Once Justice Miller was well enough to travel, the whole family came to the Island for a much-needed rest. Sophie, Sylvia, Marigold, and Rosy had a frenzy of house-cleaning, getting both the Kents' home and the Millers' ready for people. On the day of their arrival, Marigold would have stayed home, but Rosy—of all people!—insisted that she stay.
"If it weren't for your encouragement I would never had made it through this whole ordeal," she said, looking surprisingly sweet and fresh in a pink skirt and ivory sweater, with a jaunty little pink bow in her golden curls, and a face free of any kind of makeup. Marigold reflected that Rosy could never look ordinary, but she liked the younger girl much better like this.
So it was the three girls and Murray who stood outside the Millers' house in the cool spring evening when the car pulled up. First out was Charlie, looking somehow younger and more subdued than Marigold remembered. She was pleased to find that no trace of the old thrill ran through her at all at the sight of him. Indeed, she found it hard to believe that she ever had imagined herself in love with him.
Mrs. Kent and Mrs. Miller slipped out next, and then came Mickey and Mr. Kent, supporting Justice Miller between them. He looked very shaky, but his grey eyes were bright and pleased at the sight of his welcoming committee. Rosy gave one little cry at the sight of her father, and flew down the steps and into his arms. He looked surprised for a moment, but held her tenderly and stroked her hair with his free hand. Mickey caught Marigold's eye and winked. She grinned back.
Eventually the whole party moved up the steps and into the house, where Justice Miller was deposited on the sofa, with Rosy on one side, Mrs. Miller on the other, and a still-abashed Charlie at his feet.
"Well," he said in satisfaction. "I almost think it was worth nearly dying if it means a reception like this."
Mrs. Miller scowled, but even her voice was subdued as she answered. "Perry Miller, don't you ever joke about anything like that. If you hadn't gotten better"—her voice died away and she shuddered.
"But he didn't die, Ilse," Mrs. Kent said softly, her own arm around Sylvia. "Praise God, he got better, and all's as it should be."
" 'God's in his heaven, all's right with the world,' " added Mr. Kent. He looked around at his children. "I think we'll be leaving you all together now."
Mrs. Miller got to her feet instantly. "Nonsense! After all you've done for us during this time, you can't just slink off home! You must stay for supper, of course." She went over to where Mickey and Marigold were standing side by side. "And you two as well. You're family now, just like Emily and Teddy and their fry."
Mickey smiled politely. "Thank you kindly, ma'am, but I'm afraid I must be off. I promised Miz Babcock I'd report in as soon as I got back."
"Come back and bring Mrs. Babcock and Miss Miranda over for dinner as well," said Justice Miller from the couch. "We owe them a great deal of thanks for lending you to us."
Mickey hesitated, then nodded. "So be it. Mari, are you coming with me?"
Before she could respond, Charlie sprang to his feet. "Please—may I?" His voice was rough and unsteady, but seemed more honest than the polished smoothness of its former tones. "I think it's time I start paying my dues around here."
"Go ahead, Mickey," Marigold said softly. "We can talk later."
The two young men started out down the road. Murray hesitated briefly, and then went after them, catching up with Charlie and speaking earnestly to him.
Mrs. Miller swung her gaze on Sylvia. "Darling child, I owe you the greatest of apologies. Not only should I have never interfered with your personal affairs, I completely misjudged your Mickey. He is—he is one of the finest people I've ever known or hope to meet." Her face crumpled. "If it weren't for him…"
Justice Miller cleared his throat. "There, there, Ilse."
Rosy got up and hugged her mother. "Don't cry, Mama. I think we've all done a lot of misjudging lately, but we've learned our lesson now." She flashed her brilliant smile around the room—at Sophie leaning her fair head on Mr. Kent's shoulder, at Sylvia and Mrs. Kent standing with their arms wrapped around each other's waists, looking almost like mirror images of each other, and finally at Marigold, standing awkwardly by the door. "I know I've certainly learned a new appreciation for my friends—and my family." She went back over to the couch and dropped a kiss on her father's forehead. "I love you, Dad."
Despite his weakness, Justice Miller wrapped his arms around his little girl and held her close. "I love you too, Rosy-posy."
Marigold blinked away a sudden stinging in her eyes and quickly went into the kitchen. She had a sudden longing for her mother, realizing with a shock that it had been nearly nine months since she had seen Lorraine or Cloud of Spruce. With all the changes in her life, she hadn't given much thought to her home lately, but a desire for it suddenly overwhelmed her.
That dinner was a huge success. Relief and joy made everyone quick to laughter and eager for fun. Mickey drew Marigold aside at one point and told her, his eyes shining until he looked positively handsome, that Mr. and Mrs. Kent had withdrawn all opposition to his courting Sylvia. They told him that he had more than proved his worth in what he did for the Millers, and they only hoped he could forgive them for their narrow-mindedness.
"Oh Mickey!" Marigold gasped. "Does that mean you'll stay here?"
He looked at her strangely. "Of course not! I still have to earn enough to support Sylvia. I'll be going off to sea this summer, and when I have enough, and she's old enough, I'll come back and marry her."
"But then…" Marigold started, confused.
He grinned lopsidedly. "But now I can write to her and visit her when my ship's in the area. And now I have hope, have something to work for."
Marigold hugged him. "Oh Mickey, I'm so happy for you."
Later that night, something happened that made her even happier. She was in the kitchen washing the dishes with Murray when Charlie sidled in. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Uh…Murray, could I have a moment with Marigold?"
Murray looked at Marigold. She nodded, her stomach tightening. "Very well," he said, his face unreadable. "Mari, I'll be right outside the door if you need me."
She flashed him a quick smile. "Thank you." She went on wiping dishes demurely, not looking at Charlie. She didn't really want to face him for fear she would lash out at him for all his irresponsible behavior, and she knew he didn't need that right now.
The silence in the kitchen thickened and deepened until it was almost palpable. Finally, Charlie spoke up pleadingly. "Marigold…will you at least look at me?"
She finished wiping the plate in her hand, set it gently on the counter, and turned to face him, her mouth closed resolutely. His grey eyes were anguished, and very real remorse was evident in his expression.
"I just wanted to say—I'm sorry," he said, his voice carrying none of the old polish and allure; it was simply gruff with genuine emotion. "I was a cad and a heel, and I should never have treated you the way I did. You—you're a real lady. I'd never met a girl like you before, and I didn't know how to treat you. Not that that's any excuse," he hurried on. "I should have known. I—I never thought about anyone but myself before, and what I wanted. I know I don't have any right to ask for your forgiveness, but I just wanted you to know I really am sorry." He drew in a deep breath. "That's all." He turned to leave.
Marigold wrestled with her conscience for all of three seconds. "Charlie," she said sweetly.
He turned back, his expression wary. "Yes?"
"I forgive you," she said simply. "And I hope we can be friends."
A relieved smile broke across his face like sunshine breaking through the clouds. "I'd like that."
He left, and Murray came back in cautiously. "All right?" he asked seriously.
Marigold felt freer than she had for a long time. "Absolutely."
The evening passed all too quickly. Before everyone left the Millers to themselves, Justice Miller made an announcement.
"It seems that we've all learned an important lesson from all this fuss," he said. "And mine is that no honor or position is as important as my family, and no matter how successful I am in the world, if I'm not a good husband or father, I'm a failure. From now on, my family is my number one priority. Kids, from now on, I'm going to be a part of your life. I want to know what you're thinking and dreaming, and I want to be supportive of your dreams. For the rest of you, I know I don't have much experience in being a good father, so I'm going to rely on all you to keep me straight and give me advice. Are you in?"
"Completely," said Mrs. Kent, speaking for them all.
As they all headed out the door, Marigold heard Rosy say,
"So Dad, I want to go to the States and become a movie star. Will you support me?"
Marigold stifled a laugh, meeting Cousin Mira's twinkling eyes with a cheeky grin. No matter what the Millers did, they would always be amusing and unusual.
