"Will there be anything else,Mrs.Curry?" asked Molly as she wrapped up Mrs.Curry's packages.
"No, I think that's it , Molly." Mrs.Curry said taking her packages and putting them in a basket.
"Thank you and come again." Molly said as Mrs.Curry left the store. Turning her back to put some black material back on the shelf she didn't see him come into the general store.It was only when she heard his voice that she turned around.
"That color doesn't suit ya. You're much too pretty for it." James said coming up behind her.
Turning around on her heals,she jumped into his arms,hugging his neck,"What are you doing here?" she said giggling luike a little girl.
"Can't I come back and see a friend." he said,a smile spreading across his face.
"Oh,so you came back to seeJohn." Molly said laughing.
"Well he is a good friend." James said smiling at her. "But I guess you'll do."
"Thanks a lot." Molly said sarcastically,both laughing.
"What have you been up to?" James asked looking around the store.
"Nothing much. Mainly helping John at the store. Mrs.Johnson pays me two bits to clean the boarding house on my days off from the store." she said smiling up at him.
"That's good.I'm so proud of you." he said pulling her into a hug.
"I hoped you would be. I took your advice. I've been trying to make a life here." Molly said proud of herself and even more proud that James was proud of her.
"Sounds like we have a lot to catch up on. How about supper tonight? I got some friends I want you to meet." James said hoping she wouldn't ask to many questions.
"Oh,I would love it. Mrs.Johnson still holds dinner at the usual time." Molly said, getting excited about hearing about what James had been up to.
"Dinner at five- thirty then." James said nodding his head and then turning to head out the door just as another customer was coming into the general store.
"Did everybody get settled?" James asked as they all sat in Matthew and Brian's room.
"For the most part." Colleen said, she still had some things to unpack herself.
Not being born with a lot tact,Sully asked simply,"Did ya talk to her?"
"I did. She's coming to supper tonight at five-thirty." James said looking down.Hoping things turned out like he hoped.
"Good." Sully said trying to calm his nerves,"Kids,let's get ready for tonight."
"What did ya tell her about us?" asked Matthew ,who wanted to be prepared for anything.
"I haven't really told her about ya." James said looking Matthew in the eye.
"Why not?" asked Sully still suspecious of James's actions.
"How do ya tell somebody somethin like that?" asked James,wishing he had never came back to this town."Oh, by the way I know who you are and I brought your kids and the man you were courting with me.That would have went over real well."
"This situation isn't easy." Matthew said trying to disfuse the situation."But she'll have to know sometime."
"I know that." James said,walking towards the window to look out. He didn't want to loose the woman who he thought of as a daughter.He would do anything for her.
Turning from the window he looked at his companions. The children needed their ma ,that's for sure."But we have to tell her in the right way.It might be too much for her someway else.
"I agree." Sully said. He had been listening to their exchange and saw points on both sides.As much as he wanted to tell her, it would be better to wait and get her to trust them.Once she did that they might get her back.
"How do I look?" Sully said again looking in the mirror and fixing his hair for the millionth time.He was dressed in his buckskins but instead of his typical shirt he choose a white shirt with just the top button undone and with a black vest that had came with one of his suits. Colleen tried to get him to wear a suit tonight but since this wasn't Boston and not a formal he choose just the vest. And with his hair slicked back some he was looking rather dashing.
"Dr.MIke's gonna love you." Colleen said blushing remembering back to a year ago when she had her own crush on Sully.Shortly after that Sully admited his feelings for her ma and they started courting.Now looking at him dressed up she couldn't imagine him being anything more than a father figure for her.
"I hope so, Colleen." Sully said again looking in the mirror.
"Sully,relax. It's just Dr.Mike." Matthew said shaking his head.
"It's different, Matthew. If she could remember it would be no big deal." Sully said looking down at the floor trying to calm his nerves.
"Dr.Mike ain't going to care what ya look like if she can't remember ya." Brian said chewing on a piece of taffy.
"Good going, nucklehead." Colleen said slapping the back of his head lightly.
"Stop it."Brian cried,"Sully she hit me." hoping he would punish her."Did not." Colleen yelled."Did so." Brian yelled back.
"That's enough you two." Matthew said giving them a stern look. Just as a knock on the door caught their attention.
Matthew walking across the room opened the door up and there stood James."She's downstairs." he said as he turned and walked downstairs to the dining room.
With Matthew,Colleen,Brian and Sully behind him James spoke to them one last time before they opened the door to the dining room. "Be patient with her she doesn't remember anything. And remember our deal,we wait for the right time to tell her." They all noded in agreement.
The moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived. "What will it be like when I see her?" Sully thought. "How can I look at her and pretend I don't feel anything." Taking a last look at the children making sure they were ready,Sully turned the doorknob and gasped at what he saw.