In the Garden
Mother sat in her rocking chair, gazing forlornly around the silent house, acutely aware that any day now Jim would return home. And what in the world was she going to say to him? Waking up a few weeks ago to find that Thumbelina had vanished for the second time had thrown the old woman into a panic; now, in addition to her grief and fears for the tiny girl she dreaded having to tell her adopted son the news that she knew would break his heart.
A few hours later the old woman startled awake from an unplanned nap, holding her breath to listen for that sound again before smiling faintly. Sure enough, that was her Jim, shouting jubilantly somewhere outside. With contradictory emotions washing over her, she rose and stepped through the door, Jim's name on her lips. It went unspoken however, as Mother stood in total shock at his companion, a graceful young woman in a blue dress with long honey-brown hair and a large smile. "Thumbelina?" She whispered, afraid uttering the word would somehow make it untrue; cause the girl to vanish right before her eyes.
"Mother!" Thumbelina cried, rushing forward to embrace the kind woman as she'd wanted to her entire life. "Mother, it's me!" Tears streamed down the elder woman's face upon hearing the familiar voice she'd thought was lost forever. Setting aside her confusion and disbelief—for the moment—Mother held her daughter and reached out a hand for Jim, who'd been watching the reunion with a teary smile; in an instant the family was finally whole and together again.
Jim and his Lina were married in the garden soon after their return, amid blooming flowers and cheering friends; Mother beaming as she watched them exchange their vows. Every time he looked at his dearest, Jim was so thankful he'd gone on that sea voyage; bringing him to the woman who'd brightened his days from the moment she'd stepped out of the flower petals and into his heart.