Timothy awoke to the gentle warm sunlight on his face. Downstairs someone, probably Annabelle or Jennifer, was playing the piano and singing softly. He could hear the pitter-patter of little feet (and bigger feet) trying to quietly maneuver the halls without waking the patient and the late sleepers. He laid there for a few minutes longer, just soaking in the feeling that this family was giving him. The whole household was as warm and comforting as the sunlight on his face.

His mind flitted back to the congregation back home. His congregation. His home. There was a pang of homesickness, but then he remembered that he was to get a tour of the countryside from the Davis girls this morning. Timothy quickly dressed and joined the family for breakfast. He found them all in high spirits. Walter was improving wonderfully and the girls were home so the whole family was together again. After the meal, Timothy followed Elizabeth upstairs to take Dr. Davis a cup of coffee and check on him. As they approached the room, they heard a whispered argument going on. Elizabeth motioned for them to enter the room anyway. As they entered, Jessica, pacing beside her father's bed, shot her sister an exasperated look and turned away to the window. Elizabeth tended to her father and then left, calling Jessica to follow her. Dr. Davis watched them go, with tired but bemused eyes and Timothy wondered if he should ask what was wrong, but the older man spoke up first. He asked if Timothy was comfortable and so the pastor told him about the gracious hospitality and wonderful laughs he'd enjoyed from the family. This brought a laugh from the doctor and he said he was glad. They prayed together and talked of some things that were in the papers, but Timothy could tell that something was bothering the other man. Finally, he asked him outright if something was on his mind. Dr. Davis was quiet for a moment. It was obvious he wasn't one to bare his emotions easily or speak of his troubles. But Timothy had such a patient and understanding look so he decided to tell him. "It's my daughter," he said, "Jessica." Apparently the girl had a hankering to leave the country to be a missionary. She knew that her parents couldn't afford to send her to college as her three sisters had gone. She wanted to teach, badly. But she also wanted to serve the Lord. Her parents were not so keen on sending her far away from home though and that was the debate. Timothy understood the man's feelings. He had no children of his own but he could only imagine being in the shoes of a father whose child desired a life that might be dangerous. He asked Dr Davis if he would like him to speak to her. The tired eyes lit with a bit of hope, "Would you?" Timothy promised he would, that night when he got back from his afternoon with the other daughters. "Thank you, my friend. It means the world to me." Timothy wondered at the feeling of gratitude that welled in him a being given the opportunity to help this family. They are certainly something special, he thought. That must be it.

That afternoon, Elizabeth, Annabelle and Jennifer took Timothy on the promised tour of the countryside. The weather was warm and sunny, a perfect fresh spring day, so some of the younger children were joining them. The Reverend was surprised to see that they all knew how to ride, and well, all down to little 6 year old Sarah who had her own little pony. They rode for an hour and then stopped in a pretty meadow for a picnic lunch. After eating, the children started a game of tag. Timothy and Elizabeth declined their offer to join the game and instead sat on the picnic blanket and talked. Elizabeth told him about school and her friends and wanting to join the family practice and Timothy told her stories of his home and the people there. It was altogether most enjoyable. Elizabeth was very pretty, and she blushed every time she caught him staring too long. She had such a gentle and sweet demeanor, except in looks she was just exactly like her mother. Timothy really enjoyed their time together and even felt a twinge of disappointment when Jennifer and Annabelle quit the game and joined them. It was a very pleasant afternoon and they would've stayed longer but clouds started to fill the skies so the group had to pack up and head home. On the way back, Timothy remembered his promise to Dr Davis and asked the older girls what they knew about Jessica's plans. Annabelle, the quietest of them, was closest to her sister and told the Reverend some of the reasons why her sister wanted so badly to go. What she told him only troubled Timothy more. This was definitely a difficult situation that he had stepped into the middle of, but he was still determined to help.