The days carried on quickly, faster than Jo had expected. Nick kept himself busy with assigning daily tasks to each of the children and trying to finish up an endless list of fixes, including the front gate. In many ways, the week went along like any other, but Jo could feel a disquiet from the children and a heavy unease in Nick. She watched him sadly gaze around the table chaos during dinner and would often catch a sigh coming from his lips when she kissed him good night. The knot in her own stomach was growing increasingly tighter as the last few hours grew closer. She continued to tell everyone, including herself, that this was only temporary – that Nick would be home in a few months and things would carry on as they had. But as Wednesday arrived, that reassurance seemed fabricated, just a way to keep everyone from holding on too tightly.

Jo had asked Asia to prepare a special meal for dinner that night, the menu to be full of Nick's favorites and she had each of the students write a special note to include in his travels. She wanted that last evening together to be something memorable – something to tide everyone over until his return.

After school, Jo busied herself with some last-minute preparations. She had managed to get a copy of the school's photograph, one that included everyone important and she sealed it up along with a lengthy letter for Nick. The night before had been spent pouring her heart out onto paper – there was a need to remind him of everything that made his life at Plumfield, in case the waters became too inviting.

Jo hurried upstairs to grab a few extra linens for the evening's dinner when she overheard voices coming from Rob's room. Her young son loved to play with the figures that Nick had carved for him – the animals were his favorite and the voices he would use always made Jo smile. But the soft baritone coming from behind the partially closed door was definitely not Rob's. She knew exactly who had joined in at playtime, so she crept quietly towards the room, peering through the slight opening. The sight brought tears to her eyes – Nick sat cross-legged on the floor, a wooden turtle in his hand. Rob was laid out beside him with a giraffe and lion, a battle between the larger animals had ensued. The turtle would occasionally join in the crusade, its movements not as playful but the lack of enthusiasm didn't slow the encounter. The giraffe managed to get the upper hand and galloped away, taking the turtle along with him. Rob smiled up at Nick, proud of the finale. At first, the sullen look on Nick's face seemed to go unnoticed by the young boy but Rob suddenly stopped his play and glanced over. "You're leaving tomorrow?"

Nick was startled out of his reverie, a softer expression coming to his eyes. "Yeah - Buddy, I am."

Rob sat up, crossing his feet to match Nick's stature. "Is three months a long time?"

"It can be – depends on how you look at it."

Little fingers traced the shell on the back of the turtle, deep in innocent thought. "Mother says that turtles can live to be over 100 years old. That's a long time…"

Nick smiled. "A lot longer than three months."

Rob nodded; his gaze focused on the detailed reptile. "Mother also says that turtles go back to the same beach every year… they always return home." He sighed and lifting his head, held out the turtle. "You should take this with you."

Jo could see tears starting to well up in Nick's eyes, her own misting over. She didn't know how well Rob would grasp of the situation; he was still so young. But he seemed to create his own understanding of the circumstances.

Nick nodded, gingerly taking the carving into his palm. "I'll take good care of him."

"I know," the young boy replied, his attention back on the other animals. "You just gotta come home with him."

Jo caught a sob in her throat as she noticed a couple of tears roll down Nick's cheeks. He swiped them away quickly, unseen by Rob. "'Course I will…"

The little boy looked up, staring hard at the man who had so quickly become a father figure. "Promise?"

Jo watched Nick nod, her emotions pulling her from the door, trying to remain unnoticed. As she stepped away, wiping the tears that had spilled over, she heard a quiet word in the warm baritone voice. "Promise."

XXXXX

Dan fidgeted in his chair at the dining room table; that evening's dinner seemed extremely uncomfortable. Mrs. Jo had planned an elaborate meal to celebrate Nick's last night - just a waste of time in Dan's mind. What was there to celebrate?

Things had been strained over the last week, a pile of new responsibilities now on Dan's chore list - thanks to Nick. And while he was upset that he had so many added duties, he made up his mind early on to do whatever was asked of him. He had to step up and fill the space that was being left. If Nick were going to fail them, Dan wouldn't be the one to let his family down.

There were so many people crammed into Plumfield's dining room, it was stifling but ignored by everyone else. Dan glanced around the table. The conversation was light and cheerful amongst the adults - both Mrs. Brooke and Mrs. Laurence had been invited, along with Mr. Laurie. Mrs. Jo's sisters always had to be involved.

Mrs. Brooke's children were seated beside Rob. The cousins giggled at some joke that only little kids would think funny. They didn't seem to care that Nick was going – maybe they were just too young, Dan reasoned. The rest of the students talked amongst themselves – they seemed fine too, but it must have been an act for Nick's sake. At least that is what Dan had convinced himself – why else would they seem so happy?

Nick sat at the head of the table – the spot usually taken by Mrs. Jo herself and the one that had belonged to Mr. Fritz before his passing. It was a place of honor and for that night, Mrs. Jo had given it up to Nick, insisting on taking the seat to his right. In Dan's mind, it was simply wrong – that wasn't a place for someone like Nick.

Asia brought out a large turkey and placed it amid the abundance of food; Dan rolled his eyes at the ooo's and aww's from the group. Everything was such a big fuss and all for a man who would be gone for only three months. There was no need for such festivities. But if, in fact, this would be Nick's last meal at Plumfield, why should they honor someone who was turning his back on the family that had seen him through so much? None of it made sense, at least not to Dan.

He understood Nick's desire to return to sea – all the boys hung on the words of his adventures – the foreign lands and exotic people. Perhaps that was where the problem lay – this voyage was not just a story – it was an adventure that Nick was having all on his own. After spending so much time at Plumfield, a somewhat mundane and quiet life, maybe the need for adventure was strong – maybe there was a pull that would keep anyone out on the waters. And maybe it was unfair that Dan couldn't live out his own adventures. He had responsibilities and duties and needed to be there for Mrs. Jo. Especially now that Nick was running off. Who else would look after the horses and chop the wood? Who else would fix that front gate when it inevitably broke again?

Dan sighed and picked at the food that sat in front of him. The room buzzed with conversations – the normal chaos creating a hum that hurt Dan's ears. He was used to the craziness, but for that night, the liveliness was overwhelming. It was as if no one recognized the change that was coming, the storm that was to engulf them all. Once Nick announced he was leaving, Dan realized the truth. Everyone believed it would only be temporary, that three months was such short amount of time. But Dan knew they were all wrong – if a life at sea was as enticing as Nick said it was, there was no way he would return. His time at Plumfield was just a stopover, just a sojourn until he could get back to his journey. No matter how many promises he made, Dan knew that his time out on the water would wash them all away.

After the dinner dishes were cleared, Mrs. Jo appeared with a massive chocolate cake – made by Asia, thankfully. Another round of praise went around the table as she moved to set it in front of Nick before taking her seat.

"I just want to say a few words," she began, Dan noticing the slight waver in her voice. "Almost two years ago, Nick appeared on our porch - uninvited but definitely welcomed." A wave of chuckles flowed through the group. "We had a bumpy start, some growing pains but it wasn't long before he became a very important part of our family." Dan shook his head – the gushy words were just too much. Family didn't abandon each other. They didn't run away and set sail on a ship, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. Family stuck together and Nick was no longer a part of that.

Mrs. Jo's hand shook as she took Nick's, an unsteady breath escaping before she continued. "I – we just want you to know how important you are to us and…" A couple of tears rolled down her cheek and Dan's rage increased with every second. Did Nick see how upset she was? Did Nick realize what he was doing to her – the pain he was causing? It was becoming too much – Dan couldn't stand to be in the room any longer.

"… and that we all care about you very…" Mrs. Jo started as Dan sprung from his chair. He could feel the heat from his anger redden his face. Everyone's attention turned to him at once and throwing his fork down onto the plate, he stormed towards the door.

"Dan…" Nick pleaded, trying to head off the young boy.

"Have a nice life," Dan muttered as he flew into the kitchen, his path the same just a week before. But this time he didn't linger around the porch – he didn't want to hear the excuses or reassurance of anyone who followed. He stalked into the woods, needing to be alone, needing the time to be mad. He would have enough on his shoulders in the morning – so much would be different. This was his time to mourn the change and find the acceptance that things would never quite be the same again.