Chapter 1
Pulling his wagon to a stop outside what had been his home during his teen years James could only sigh, truthfully unsure what he would encounter once they walked into the printshop. As he tried unsuccessfully to push these thoughts aside, he smiled, wrapping an arm around his adopted daughter as he looked to his wife, unsure how she had been able to get any sleep.
"Sarah." He whispered, gently shaking her shoulder, knowing she needed to get inside before he put the horses up.
James?" she whispered, confusion in her eyes as she looked up, struggling as she slowly pushed herself up to where she was keeling, looking into James's kind blue eyes "Are we stopping for the night again?"
In reply he nodded, his eyes holding a tinge of their usual tease "If you mean stopping because we're at Dr. Franklin's then yes. He'll probably be chastising me for bringing you all the way down from New York seven months pregnant but... you know."
"I've written him letters but I do wonder just how much he knows... about us and I've been too afraid to tell him about... I've just been too afraid to let him know..." at this her expression fell, suddenly feeling guilty she hadn't knowing James saw him almost as a father, having never known his own.
"You're worried you'd eventually have to give him bad news? I understand, I haven't told him either though I've wanted to so badly... nor have I told him about Sally, just had so many other things on my mind. Now come on, you and Sally are going inside before you two freeze." he gently ordered as he took Sarah's hand, helping her before lifting Sally down from the wagon "I'll be in as soon as I get the horse in the barn and I'll bring both your bags."
Nodding, Sarah turned to her daughter "I'm sorry we had to bring you all the way to Philadelphia but Dr. Franklin was and still is, a great influence on both mine and your father's lives."
At this, Sally nodded, even at ten years old she understood from the stories her adoptive parents had told her "You want to see him again." she whispered as she followed her mother inside both nervous and excited to meet the man who not only meant so much to her parents but had done so many amazing things in his lifetime.
As they walked in, Sarah was surprised to see a boy, somewhat reminding her of James when they'd first met, seeing him oddly making her slightly nervous remembering the four men she'd shared her years as a young adult with.
"'Morning ma'am, name's Henry what can I do for you?" he asked, smile on his face as he walked over to Sarah and Sally."
"I'm Sarah Hiller, Dr. Franklin asked me and my husband James to come... we were journalists for his paper during the revolution."
At this, Henry smiled "He's resting by the fireplace now who's this pretty girl?" he asked.
"Sally Hiller." she replied, looking back to her mother.
"Go on and talk to him, I'll go out back, see if your husband could use any assistance."
"Thank you." Sarah whispered, finally pushing back her hood as she and Sally walked over to where the doctor sat, his feet propped up as he sat reading, his favorite pastime. Now watching him, Sarah could only sigh, realizing the pained expression he so desperately tried to hide "Dr. Franklin?" she whispered, hesitantly reaching a hand down to massage his ankles remembering they always bothered him, especially during his attacks.
"Thank you, Sarah, they've been bothering me all morning." he whispered,laying his book aside as he looked Sarah and Sally "I've missed you so much my dear and who is this?"
"Sally..." Sarah whispered, her eyes holding a touch of sadness at the memory "James bought a printshop not far from where my father's land is. I didn't want to give up being a journalist so we worked together then one night he proposed."
"I'm not surprised my dear but what about Sally?" Ben questioned, his eyes holding a slight twinkle at the news he already knew.
"James will have to help me tell you more later but Sally was an orphan in New York. James found her in the printshop a few days after he'd bought it. Her parents were patriots... they were killed by a small group of loyalists that somehow had yet to leave... he took her in, claimed her as his daughter."
Nodding Ben smiled as he gently took the young girl's hands "You learning your parents' trade?" he asked, an eyebrow raised as he grinned.
"Yes sir, Dr. Franklin but I mostly help Papa with the press and reading notes so he can set the type." She whispered, hesitantly laying her right hand on top of the doctor's left one, gently stroking his knuckles as she looked into his kind blue eyes. She silently did this, until the three of them were startled, hearing a loud noise.
"James?" Sarah gasped, suddenly worried as she rushed towards the back door, silently motioning for Sally to stay.
"Don't worry, just sounds like he dropped your mother's trunk." Ben chuckled knowing it wasn't the first time James had done it.
Though Ben had made it clear nothing was wrong, Sally only nodded as she continued stroking his knuckles, still slightly uncomfortable in this new city though she already sensed she would enjoy her time with the doctor. She tried to think of something she could say that wouldn't sound childish when her parents came in, James and Henry toting the trunk while Sarah carried their three bags.
"Sarah, it's alright we just couldn't carry its weight all the way in here... What on earth did you..." suddenly it dawned on him, just as Sarah silently answered his question, her hand going to their unborn child.
"I didn't know and from what he wrote in his letter... I don't want to leave him... not if..."
"We'll take the trunk up later..." James whispered as he gently undid Sarah's cloak, lifting it from her shoulders and draping it over his arm "You tell Dr. Franklin the news yet?"
Shaking her head, she sighed "No... I wanted to tell him with you."
"Well come on." James smiled, taking Sarah's hand, leading her over to where Ben sat, Sally still stroking the older man's knuckles, this time his other hand.
"Dr. Franklin..." Sarah whispered as she laid a hand on his shoulder "James and I have news that neither of us have had the nerve to tell you... until now."
"You mean Sally? or is there another you're not telling me about?" he questioned as Sarah smiled at James, her hand subconsciously returning to where it had been before, something that had become a habit lately since she could feel every movement the baby made.
"There's another." James replied, blushing as she laid his hand beside Sarah's "Only three more months."
Ben could only smile as he looked to both his former apprentices "I couldn't be happier for all three of you."
That night James sighed as he sat on the edge of Sally's bed, the day having been a long one for them "You like Dr. Franklin I take it?" he asked while gently brushing his daughter's hair.
In response, Sally smiled "He reminds me of what I imagine my grandfather was like."
Nodding James smiled "You should ask him to tell you stories of your mother and me, I wasn't much older than you when I left the home I grew up in, neighbors who had rescued me from a fire when I was a baby, to seek apprenticeship from Dr. Franklin. Yes, they treated me well but I never quite felt like I belonged. I knew I wasn't technically one of their children and I was constantly reminded of it. Dr. Franklin however, he had other apprentices but... I can't explain it. He gave me something I'd never truly felt I had, self worth and with Dr. Franklin it meant though he wasn't my father either, he treated me like he was, he could see what I was made of and encouraged me... you'll just have to hear his version."
"Father..." Sally whispered "you just described how you make me feel."
At this, James could only sigh, tears beginning to trickle down his face as he wrapped both arms around his daughter, gently squeezing her shoulder as they both shared the moment "That's all I've wanted you to feel." he whispered though his voice was shaky.
While James put Sally to Bed, Sarah smiled as she sat beside Ben's four poster bed, the fact she could barely keep her eyes open clear as she struggled to keep their conversation going "Sally loves books, she's not quite able to do the type for the press yet but she's bright... oddly reminds me of Henri, granted he wasn't eager to learn schooling like Sally."
Shaking his head Ben sighed at the memory of the boy he hadn't seen in years despite the fact Henri did write, unlike James and Sarah he was sure he'd never see the boy again "Ah yes, I miss the boy but I am thrilled to know he's loving his life in France with Lafayette but Sarah I'd feel better if you'd head off to bed yourself, I know you're tired."
"I suppose you're right." Sarah sighed as she stood, gently laying a hand on Ben's arm as she gently wrapped an arm around his neck "Goodnight Dr. Franklin."
Finally in their room, Sarah sighed as she finished brushing her hair for the night before placing her brush back on the vanity "James..." she whispered, crossing the room to join him on their bed.
"Shhh." He whispered, holding her as she let the day's emotions go as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I know things weren't great when we left but it hurts seeing him like this." Sarah sobbed.
"Sarah, you're just tired." James whispered as he gently laid her back against the pillows he'd propped up before he began to gently rub her feet "It hurts me as well but Dr. Franklin has dealt with these same things since I've known him, all we can do is be there for him... I just don't want you to put his health above the baby's, which I admit I find slightly difficult myself, selfish as that sounds, putting the man I see as my father over my son or daughter."
"James..." Sarah whispered, all the while trying to blink back her tears "It's not selfish, I have no way of knowing how you feel but if this were my father I'd agree. While I stayed with you, anxious for news of my father I saw all of you, Ben, you, Henri and Moses, as my family. I still remember that winter Henri had influenza. I stayed by his side as a mother would. Ben finally made me go to bed because I fell asleep, my head on Henri's bed while I held his hand... because I was so afraid we'd loose him. I saw him as a little brother and looked after him in that way."
"I am glad to be back in Philadelphia, just don't overdo it." James whispered as he laid his hand on Sarah's protruding abdomen, the movement he felt comforting as he laid down, his mind still wandering as he closed his eyes.
