"We are almost home." Tom woke up Sybil. "Do your parents know?"

"I just texted them, (that) we would arrive sometime today."

"But your dad will be at the office." Tom said surprised.

"Oh, I totally forgot. Hmm yeah, then we have to let them know. I will text him."


"Robert? You are home early." Cora asked surprised, turning around to kiss him.

"I got a call from Sybil, she and Tom are almost home. I wanted to be here to hear all the stories."

"Can't wait to hold her in my arms again." She said while putting the mop away. "Did they tell you what time they will be here?"

"Sybil, said they were about 3 hours away."

"Good. Then I have time to bake an apple pie." There was a big smile on her face.

"The thought of her coming home is cheering you up already." Robert kissed her cheek and went upstairs to work in his study.

Cora was indeed cheered up just by the fact Sybil was almost home. They only needed to find Charlotte now. She was planning on asking Robert to come with her to Scotland to search. The time of waiting here at home was over.


Mary came home and walked into the kitchen, where Cora just took the pie out of the oven.

"What is there to celebrate?" She asked.

Cora looked up. "Sybil is almost home, that calls for a celebration."

"She is just coming back from a holiday, nothing special." Mary sneered.

Cora chose to ignore this comment. "How is Matthew?" She changed the subject.

Mary's cheeks coloured.

"Mary? Tell me? Something happened." Cora smiled at Mary.

"I think Matthew is planning on a proposal." Mary said.

"Oh, darling. that is wonderful. How do you know?" Cora transferred the pie to a cooling rack.

"He asked me what my ring size is. He said because he inherited a ring from his grandmother and wants to make it fit. But I don't believe that is the reason, he wanted to know my ring size."

"Just act surprised when he truly asks you." Cora hugged her daughter, she took her face in her hands. "I am happy for you, darling." She kissed her forehead.

"What are we happy about?" Edith asked. "Are we getting an apple pie, what a treat."

Before Cora or Mary could answer, she had walked on.


Cora and Robert were sitting in the living room, both reading a book. Although Cora was just staring at the pages and then on her watch.

"Darling, she is coming. Settle down." Robert looked up from his book.

He startled Cora.

"You think I do not notice that you are not reading. You haven't turned one page since we are sitting here."

Cora let out a deep sigh. "I know, but I can't help myself."

Robert walked over and wrapped both arms around her. Cora buried her face in Robert's neck. "Thank you for being here for me."

Robert lowered his head to look her in the eye. "Always darling, always." He pressed his lips against hers.

"It is good to see you two back together again, but please do this in private." Sybil's voice sounded through the living room.

Cora jumped up. "Sybil, you are back." With big steps she had reached her and held her in a tight hug.

Robert shook Tom's hand. "Good to see you back again. How was the holiday?"

Once Cora had let go of Sybil she said: "I made an apple pie, do you want a piece and some tea?"

"We would love to," Tom said.

Cora walked out of the living room, she opened the door and let out a high-pitched scream and started sobbing. Robert looked at Sybil and Tom, while he stood up and walked over to Cora.

He found her in the hallway hugging a girl, he got confused for a second and then it clicked. It was Charlotte. Tears were streaming down his face, he hugged both Charlotte as Cora. Cora's scream had lured Mary and Edith out of their bedrooms, and they also started screaming from joy, when they saw Charlotte.

"Charlotte, you are back!" Mary screeched while running down the stairs. Cora was still holding on to her girl, but Robert let go to make room for Mary and Edith. He softly pulled on Cora's arm, she let go of Charlotte.

"I can't believe you are real." Cora said through her tears.

"I hope the tears are happy tears." Charlotte said timid.

"Oh darling, yes they are. They definitely are. You can't know how much we have missed you."

"How did you come home? Where is Kieran?" Robert asked.

"Charlotte please sit down in the living room, I baked a pie. Do you want a cup of tea? We will talk in a minute." She took Robert's hand and pulled him into the kitchen.

"Darling!" She started. "Please, don't be angry or anything." She had seen the anger in Robert's eyes. Cora took his hands in hers and saw his eyes change.

Robert took in a deep breath. "It is hard, but I will try to just listen. You can ask the questions."

Cora gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you." She walked back out to the living room with a serving tray. Robert followed her.

They found their girls sitting on the floor, close to each other. They didn't notice Cora and Robert enter. Cora put down the tray and forced Robert to walk away with her.

"Leave them be. We will get our answers later, they need time to talk."

"But, Cora! We need answers too. I need to know if that scumbag did something to her."

"I want to know the same things. But we will get her answers later. Give her time with her sisters, just look at them. This is a picture we don't see a lot, all four together in harmony." She leaned in on Robert.

He wrapped his arm around her. "You are right, we will go upstairs and wait for her to come and tell us."