Harry and Abbie enjoyed their next few days alone in their apartment, needless to say. When it came time for Holly to come home, they were happy about it but wished they had gone away for awhile.

Abbie made breakfast for Harry, Holly, and herself and then joined them at the table.

"Your eggs are the best," Holly told her. Abbie made the best food in general.

"Thank you, sweetie. Now eat up because we are going to see Penny Richards to ask if she can make you a new dress or two for school."

"Ok. I think my clothes are ok, though."

"Of course they are. Just having options is always good."

Harry listened to Abbie mothering his sister. Now her sister too. He loved her for it and Holly did too. It was what she needed.

He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. When she made eye contact, he smiled and mouthed the words "Thank you."

She winked and then smiled back.

Harry kissed Abbie goodbye for the day, leaving his girls to their errands.

"You don't need to work today?" Holly wondered.

"Grandma gave me a few days off. I thought after we see Penny, we could go visit Carlie and then Sara and then Carrie and my mom. Make it a whole day about family. What do you say?"

"Sure."

"Was there something you wanted to do too?"

"Kind of."

"Ok. What is it?"

"I like working with Nana. Do you mind if I go there after going to see Penny?"

"I don't mind. Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"Ok then. Let's do these dishes and then we will get going."

So then because Holly wasn't with her she took her time doing her visits.

"So…how's married life?" Carlie asked her, a smirk on her face as she nursed Faith.

"Great," she said with a yawn.

"Tired? Well that's a good sign."

"Carlie! The things you say."

"Just an observation."

"I'm tired because Harry snores and unless I fall asleep first, he keeps me awake."

"Hmm. Can't say I have that issue. Ben sleeps quietly."

"Yeah."

"Maybe stuff some cotton in your ears."

"Tried it. I can still hear him."

"Maybe make sure you're good and tired before bed and then stuff cotton in your ears."

"What am I supposed to do? Walk five miles before bed?"

"Uh no. That wasn't what I meant. You are newlyweds."

"Carlie, seriously? Let's talk about you now."

"There's nothing wrong with a bit of friendly conversation between sisters."

"There is when one sister doesn't want to talk about that aspect of her new marriage."

"Very well."

…..

Abbie next visited Sara who was settling in to her own married life with Jay quite well. Jay worked from his office on the far side of the house which was convenient for everyone involved.

Then Abbie headed to her parents where her mom helped Carrie with her girls a few times a week.

Finally, after that she headed to the bank, hopefully to coax Harry home for lunch.

"Mrs. Yates," Wallace, the bank teller greeted.

"Hi, Wallace. Is my husband busy?"

"I believe he was just getting ready to eat lunch. You can head in to see him if you want."

"Thank you." Her heart sped a bit as she knocked on his door and waited for him to answer. It had only been four hours but she'd missed him terribly.

"Come in!"

She peeked her head in the door. "Hi, husband."

"Abbie. Thank goodness." He wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly, relief flowing through them. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. Did you eat lunch?"

"Nope."

"Let's go upstairs," she suggested.

"Where's Holly?"

"She wanted to work with Grandma."

He grabbed her hand. "Lunch it is."

"Well, I was hoping…" She was a bit embarrassed asking for her husband's attention but it was still very new.

"Don't worry, sweets. Lunch was code for what you were hoping for. Just didn't know who might be listening."

…..

"I need to go back to work," he told her as they said goodbye at the door an hour later.

He slipped his arms around her waist, his fingers grazing her silky robe. "See you for dinner?"

He nodded and kissed her long and slow, confirming his reluctance to leave her. "Thanks for lunch."

She smiled and straightened his tie. "You're welcome. Love you."

"Love you." He kissed her once more and left.

She smiled to herself as she walked in to their bedroom and climbed under the covers and fell asleep.

….

When Holly and Harry walked in the apartment later, they didn't smell any dinner cooking.

"Huh, she mentioned meatloaf for dinner," Harry said. "I have no idea how to make that. Do you?"

"I can get it started. We made it a few times at the boarding house."

"Ok, you do that and I'll go check on Abbie. She must have fallen asleep."

Harry walked into their bedroom. "Abbie?"

He knelt down next to her side of the bed and kissed her softly. "Harry?"

"Hey."

"Why are you here?"

"It's time for dinner. Holly is starting it."

"Dinner? I slept for three hours?" She sat up and rubbed her face. "I only meant to sleep for an hour. I'm so sorry."

She hurried out of the room, forgetting that she was only wearing her robe.

"I'm sorry, Holly. I should have had this cooking already."

"It's ok. You must have been tired."

"Yeah, I was." She chopped up the vegetables as Holly mixed the meat and spices and within ten minutes, the mixture was in the bread pan and cooking. "I can make a snack since this will take an hour to cook."

"Abbie, it's ok. We can wait an hour."

"Are you sure? You didn't eat lunch either." He smiled at the blush that crept onto her cheeks.

He pulled her closer and whispered into her ear, "Being with you was worth missing lunch for." He kissed her cheek and stepped back.

Holly slipped away to her room, sensing her brother would rather be with his new wife at the moment.

…..

THORNTON RANCH HOUSE

Elizabeth and Jack gathered the children, including Kiki into the living room to announce their plans to move next summer.

"So, everyone, your mother and I have made a decision and it affects all of us."
All eyes were on him as he started. "Next summer, you all know Kiki and Cam will be getting married and leaving for Alberta." The three younger kids nodded. "Well, your mom and I decided that it's time for us to move too."

"You're leaving us?!" Lydie cried out.

"No, no, sweetie. All of us. You, Charlie, Bradley, me and your mom. We would never leave you behind."

"But this is where we live," she whimpered. "Drew and Jay and Carlie are here and all the babies and I don't want to leave Grandma or Abbie." She buried her face in Kiki's lap and cried hard.

"Shhh, little sister. It's ok." Kiki stroked her long silky black hair, trying to calm her.

"It's not. You're leaving me!"

Kiki wiped her own eyes and then picked up Lydie. "Honey, I'm getting married. When we get older we move on. You will too one day. You'll find a handsome man that you love and you'll marry him and move on too."

"No I won't." Kiki smiled and held her tight.

Jack looked at his sons who were uncharacteristically quiet. "Boys? What do you think?"

"Where will we go?" Charlie asked.

"Hope Valley."

"Where will we live?" Bradley chimed in.

"In a house on land next to Will and Ashley and Nate and Maddie's land."

"Ok. Sounds good. Lots of kids to play with," Charlie said looking at his brother. They both started to run off.

"Hang on. Time to milk the cows."

"Aww man!"

Lydie got up and climbed on Jack's lap. "Hi, baby. Are you ok?"

"I'm sad." He dried her tears and she looked up at him. "But I'm ok."

"You know, we may be leaving some people behind, but we are moving to where Maddie, and Em, and Will and a lot of your aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews live."

"Yeah, I know. But, Daddy, I like this house."

"Me too, but you will like the new house too."

"Will we have a barn?" Kiki heard Lydie ask as she walked to the kitchen.

She was feeling some conflicting emotions. "Kylie?"

"Yes, Ma."

"How do you feel about us moving?"

"I don't know. My first thought was that I didn't want you to leave me, but you're not. I'm actually leaving first."

"True." Elizabeth moved over next to her daughter and slipped her arm around her. "What was your next thought?"

"That I need you," she said quietly, her voice breaking. "I thought I wanted it but I don't know if I am ready to be on my own. To be a wife and mother." She turned and cried into her mother's shoulder. "Am I making a mistake?"

"Only you can answer that ultimately, but keep in mind, you have almost a year to get ready. No one is getting married and moving away now."

"I wish I could have both."

"Growing up sometimes involves giving some things up for others. Or some people for others. You're marrying Cam but giving up living with us to be a family with him. It's not depriving yourself but actually gaining something different. Walking a new path. Your own path."

"I love you, Mama."

"To the moon and back, love."

Back in town….

"Holly? Supper is ready." Abbie peeked in the door. "What are you up to?"

"Just reading." Holly put a slip of paper in the book and closed it.

"It's time to eat."

"Can I eat in here?"

"Probably should eat at the table."

"I don't want to be in the way."

"You could never be in the way. Why do you think that?"

"You and Harry….you need to be alone."

"Sweetie, we want you with us. Do we make you uncomfortable?"

"No, I guess not."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, you do kiss a lot." Abbie smiled.

"True. When you love someone, that's what you do to show them. I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable."

"It's ok. I'm glad Harry found someone to love him. I'm glad it's you. I've never had a sister."

"You were pretty outnumbered, weren't you?"

"You have no idea."

….

Abbie moved closer to Harry's side in the bed, draping her arm over his chest. "We need to be careful around Holly. Showing affection and all." Harry kissed the top of her head and sighed.

"You're my wife, sweets. I want to show you how I feel."

"I know but she's thirteen and lives with a couple of newlyweds. It's a little awkward for her. I don't mean stop completely, but just be aware if she's in the room. That's all I mean."

"Can I hold your hand?" He slipped his fingers between hers.

"Yes, that would be fine."

"What about hug you?" He moved closer, his arms around her.

"I think so."

"Can I kiss your cheek when we say goodbye?"

"I think a kiss on the lips is ok in that instance."

"What about this?" He moved and kissed her deeply, leaving her breathless very quickly.

"Um no. That would be something we should not do in front of anyone."

He reached over her and turned off the lamp. "And this?"

"Harry."

"Abbie."

"Shush."