The Boarding School

After a long trip, Marty and Todd arrived via the train in Boston. "We're here," Marty said happily as they were unboarding at the platform.

"Where would you like to go first?" Todd asked.

"I have a place in mind. First stop- Miss Priscilla's Boarding School."

"Miss Priscilla? That sounds like a name for a fancy old hag."

Marty couldn't help but laugh as they stepped off the train, carrying their luggage. "Remember I told you about that place? Aunt Kiki sent me there, because she said I was a hellion. Miss Priscilla was absolutely awful. She locked me in the room for naughty girls and I didn't do anything. I was a good girl. Plus she made me clean chicken coops. I hated that so much."

"Aunt Kiki and Miss Priscilla seem like two of a kind. Are you sure they aren't related?"

Marty laughed again. "No, but I ran away from that place. I only had one friend. Her name was Megan and she was wonderful to me. When we get to Miss Priscilla's, I am going to demand I have Megan's address. If she's still here in Boston, I'd love to see her."

"I hope we can find your friend, Marty. Is Miss Priscilla's far from here? Are you sure you feel like walking?" Todd asked, concerned about her as she was rather advanced in her pregnancy.

"I feel fine, Todd, now that we are here in Boston, the place where we met and grew up. I love it here," she said as she gave him a bright, beautiful smile.

"Alright, but maybe we should find a hotel first and drop off our luggage. We could get something to eat and rest for awhile."

"Is food all you think about?" Marty teased.

"No, sometimes I think about... kissing you," Todd admitted.

"I am feeling so giddy that I just might let you," she said playfully.

"Let's get to the hotel right away then," Todd said as they started off on their journey.

They found a suitable hotel with a restaurant. They took their luggage up to their room and set it all aside. Then they lay down together on the large, comfortable bed. The sunlight was streaming through the window. It glittered in Marty's golden hair. Todd looked at her with great love in his eyes.

"I don't think I have ever seen you look so incredibly beautiful," said Todd as he gazed into her eyes. "You are absolutely glowing."

He reached out to hold her, pulling her against his body. Very slowly, with caution, his lips lowered onto hers. Marty closed her eyes. For a moment, she got lost in the sweetness of Todd's kiss. When his tongue entered her mouth, she didn't even flinch. She wrapped her arms around him even tighter.

The kiss became steamy and intense before Todd broke it off. His breathing was erratic as he stared into Marty's pasion-filled eyes. "Why... why did you stop?" she whispered.

"I'm hungry," he stated. "We can kiss more later. And we could do other things... IF you want..."

"Todd, I don't know," she said as she went suddenly tense.

Tenderly he caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Whenever you are ready."

"I like it when you hold me... and I love kissing you. I am just not ready... for more."

"I can be patient," Todd stated. "Let's talk about it later. I'm starved." One thing Todd was seldom patient about was food.

Marty made a comment about his ferocious appetite as they crawled out of bed. She straightened her clothing which was rumpled from their travels and the passionate kiss they had shared on the bed. "I love you, Todd," she said as she took his hand.

"I love you, too, baby. Let's get something to eat... then we can go check out Miss Priscilla's Boarding School of Horrors."

After a fine meal in the restaurant, Todd and Marty left for their destination. Marty's legs began to ache after awhile. She wasn't used to quite so much physical activity. Finally they made it to the Boarding School and right away, Marty realized that the building had changed.

A new sign hung over the door. Apparently, it wasn't Miss Priscilla's anymore. The sign read, "Miss Megan's School for Girls."

The exterior of the building looked different as well. Marty realized the iron gate had been removed. The brick building seemed more cozy and inviting. "Miss Megan's?" Marty spoke as she took in the sign that hung over the door.

"Maybe mean ole Miss Priscilla kicked the bucket," Todd joked.

"Let's go check it out," Marty said as she walked up and knocked on the door.

A minute or two passed, then the door opened. A woman stood in the doorway with a familiar face. "Megan?" Marty gasped in surprise. It was Megan and she was all grown up! Marty's friend had become a young woman.

"Marty? Is it really you?" Megan asked in surprise.

"It is," Marty stated. "I came back."

"Come in. Come in!" Megan urged.

Marty and Todd stepped into the foyer of the boarding school as Marty gleefully reunited with her childhood friend. "I can't believe it's really you, Marty. It's been YEARS!" Megan exclaimed.

"It has," Marty agreed. "Ohhh no, where are my manners? Megan, my dear, sweet friend, this is Todd Manning, my wonderful husband."

"Great to meet you, Mr. Manning," said Megan to Todd with a smile.

"Nice to meet you as well," Todd said. "I've heard a lot about you...and Miss Priscilla."

"Ohhh yes, I bet you have," Megan said.

"Where is Miss Priscilla, by the way?" Marty questioned.

"She died a year and a half ago... and to my surprise, she left everything to me - this school... everything."

"Really, Megan? Miss Priscilla left it all to you?"

"Well, yes," Megan explained as she lead Todd and Marty into the parlor and offered them a comfortable seat and a cup of hot tea. "I found out upon Miss Priscilla's death that the man and woman I had thought were my parents had adopted me due to the fact that my real mother was unwed at the time of my birth. Miss Priscilla was in fact my biological mother."

"Ohhh Megan, you never knew...and she treated you so awful," Marty said sadly as she sipped her tea. "She treated us so awful."

"She tried to hide that she had an illegitimate child, but upon her death, my adopted parents told me and it was then that I found out that Miss Priscilla had willed the boarding school over to me. It's a fine place now for young girls. The chicken coops have been removed and there is a play-yard in the back. The girls have chores, but they also attend classes. It is a happy place - one like you and I should have had when we were young."

"I am glad you own it now... and the girls are happy. When can I meet them?" Marty asked.

"They are attending classes right now, but I'd love to take you on a tour and show you all the improvements that have been made. The girls have plenty of toys to play with and bright, cheery rooms. One young girl has been selected from the orphanage to come to the boarding school on a scholarship in which I offer in your name. I can't wait until you meet her."

"MY name?" Marty asked in surprise.

"Ohhh yes, the name of my dearest friend. I never forgot you, Marty."

"Megan, that is so sweet of you. I look forward to meeting the little girl."

Todd was pleased that Marty was having a great time with her dear friend. He knew she wanted to stay for awhile, but he had business of his own, so he had to be going. "Speaking of the orphanage," Todd said to Marty. "I must go there in search of someone I once knew. We could meet up later."

"Alright, Todd, we can meet at Blair and Melinda's shoppe." Marty gave him the address and Todd assured her that he'd see her in a couple of hours.

"I will make certain that my driver gets Marty to her destination," Megan promised.

"Thank you," Todd said to Megan. He then turned to Marty and gave her an affectionate hug. He pressed a kiss to her lips before he made his exit.

Megan couldn't help but notice the love that shone between Marty and Todd. "You have a fine husband," Megan said after Todd had gone. "Where did you meet him?"

"I met him here in Boston about a year after I escaped the boarding school. We ended up on the Orphan Train. We now live in Llanview, Pennsylvania."

"Do you like it there?" Megan questioned. "How's your new family? You were adopted, weren't you?"

"Yes, I was adopted by a wonderful family, but I missed Boston... and I had to find you."

"Marty, I can't believe it. You're married now...AND you're having a baby," Megan said with excitement as her gaze settled on Marty's expanding middle. "I bet you're so happy. When is the little one due?"

Marty shook her head. Her expression suddenly changed. Megan could see the despair in her eyes.

"You're not happy?"

"No, Megan. Todd is not the father," she said softly.

"Ohhh my gosh! Does he know? I mean... that he's not the baby's father?"

"Yes, he knows. It happened under terrible circumstances. I was ... attacked."

"Ohhhh Marty, I am so sorry," Megan said as she hugged her friend. "I can't imagine what you must be going through right now."

"Everything will be work out in the end. I love Todd... and he loves me. He takes care of everything I need."

"I am thankful you have him then. He sounds like the perfect man."

Marty nodded. "Can we go on that tour now? I'd love to see all the improvements you've made and meet all the girls."

"I'd be delighted," Megan said as she stood up to show Marty the changes that had been made to the boarding school, including the play-yard, the girls' bedrooms, and the classrooms. They were filled with girls having school. The last place Megan showed Marty was the music room.

"Megan! I love it!" Marty said as she sat down at the piano. Surprisingly, she still remembered how to play from her youth. She messed up a couple of the notes as a pretty little girl with long blond curls entered the room and took a seat on the piano bench next to her.

"Hello," the little girl said to Marty.

"Marty, this is the girl I was telling you about earlier in the parlor. She received the Marty Saybrooke Scholarship. Her name is Gracie," Megan stated.

"Hello, Gracie. My name is Marty."

"I am pleased to meet you," said the child. "I love playing the piano just like you."

Marty smiled at Megan and Gracie. She was so happy that Megan now owned the boarding school and it had become a cheerful and happy place for young girls. "I'd love to hear you play, Gracie," Marty encouraged the little girl.

Gracie's fingers glided over the keys as she began to play a melody for Marty. It was wondrous. It reminded Marty of all the beauty of her youth before her parents had died. "

Thank you, Gracie," Marty said when the song ended.

Time had passed quickly. Marty needed to meet Todd. She said her goodbyes to her dear friend Megan. "I promise to write," Marty said as she kissed Megan's cheek. "I will send a letter soon."

"Take care, Marty," Megan said before Marty left in Megan's carriage.