Of all the things Sara liked about the big house, the library was her favorite. The shelves were lined almost to the ceiling and the books looked to be all new. The floor was hard wood and gigantic red tapestries hung down over the windows. The beauty took Sara's breath away.
"I knew I'd find you in here," Gil said as he opened the door.
Sara smiled. "How can anyone resist. I can stay in here all day," she said.
"Well," Gil said. "I have something to show you. It won't take too long. Grab your hat."
Sara stepped out of the house with her hat and saw Gil waiting on the porch. He took her hand and they walked up third street and onto main street. Gil was walking too fast and Sara asked him to slow down, but Sara hurried along to keep up with his footsteps.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see," Gil answered.
He turned onto another street and Sara saw a neat little row of houses that she hadn't seen before. They walked slowly down the sidewalk and they stopped in front of a stone cottage. It was interesting to see a house made of stone. Most of the ones Sara had ever seen had been made of wood.
"What is this place?" Sara asked.
"It's a house," Gil replied.
Sara was puzzled for a moment. "Do you know who lives here?" she asked.
"We can live here," Gil said quickly.
Sara was shocked that Gil had found a house that fast. She looked at it and felt sad. If he had found a house, then that meant that moving wasn't a dream.
"Let me show you the inside," Gil said as he opened the gate and let her up the stone walk.
The yard was not as big as the others, but it wasn't small. There was a large cottonwood tree in front with a swing hanging from a branch. It swayed back and fourth in the wind and Sara could see sitting Thomas in it and pushing him. The walkway that led up to the house was bricked and flowerbeds were laid the length of the porch. Gil unlocked the door with a key and Sara stepped inside.
"It's all white!" Sara said in amazement, her voice echoing in the empty house.
The inside of the house was all white and looked different from the ordinary brown walls that they had at home. Gil said it had dry-wall behind it. Dry wall was thicker than tar paper and would keep out the cold of any snow storm. There was a gigantic stone fireplace in that front room and a built-in bookshelf against one wall. There was also a window seat that had a deep red velvet cushion.
"Gil, it's so big," Sara gasped.
"Wait until you see the kitchen," he replied.
He led her down a hard-wood hallway and there she saw the kitchen. It was all stone and had shelves built into the walls. It was painted yellow and had a giant stove with four burners and two ovens. It wasn't as big as she had seen, but it was the biggest that she had ever come close to owning. There was a pantry there also, it was yellow too. Inside there was were more shelves and drawers for storing food and other cooking tools. A window looked out into the backyard and sunlight made the little pantry pleasant. The cellar was in the pantry also. You had to lift the door up and right there was a small staircase that led down into it. It was bricked and had shelves for all kinds of preserves.
"See," Gil said. "it has everything you need. "
"It is nice. It is also snug," she said.
She walked back up the small staircase and Gil took her to look at the bedrooms. There were three bedrooms, each with their own window. Sara saw that one could be Thomas's room and the other room could be anything she wanted until she had another baby. Each room was white and very spacious. There was a backyard to the house. It had a small stable and an old vegetable garden. The thought of a vegetable garden made her ache because she had one at home that she shared with her aunt. Behind the house there were no trees or rivers. There was only the backyard of another house. She couldn't walk among the flowers or hear the wind, but it was a good house.
"What do you think, dear?" he asked her.
Sara's lip trembled. It was a beautiful house, but it wasn't her house. It wasn't the house that Gil built for her and that they had first lived in. It wasn't the house Thomas was born in.
"I think it is beautiful, Gil," Sara answered.
~0~
The rest of their holiday went by in a blur. They had all kinds of good things to eat and the bed they slept in was as soft as a cloud. The days were spent reading to one another and taking long walks. The day before they left, Sara washed the bedclothes and gave the house a good cleaning. It was always proper to leave things the way you found them. Gil left the key under the doormat and they left for home. Truth be told, Sara was homesick. She missed the forest and the sound of the birds. She missed her aunt and they way they would talk and knit. Aunt Catherine was, without a doubt, her best friend. If she moved to Philadelphia, who would she knit with? Who would she laugh with when Thomas did something new?
"Penny for your thoughts," Gil said with a smile.
Sara hesitated. "I will miss everything if we move. I will miss them so much," she said honestly.
Gil sighed and pulled her close. "I know you will. I will miss it all too, but just think of how much you will have. I will be able to give you good clothes and books. Thomas will have plenty of food and warm clothes," he said. "we can have a bigger family in this house."
Sara nodded. "I know we will have a good life, but I have always lived in the country. I am afraid I won't fit in," she said.
Gil chuckled. "You'll fit in or I'll eat my hat!" he said. "I know you will have a good group of friends."
Sara could only hope he was right. She had never been good at making friends because she was different. She knitted and sewed like everyone else, but she would take a book and a swim over knitting. The woman Gil had fallen for and married was a country girl. What would happen if it didn't work out?
~0~
They arrived home just before dinner and Sara was eager to see her baby. Aunt Catherine came out carrying Thomas. In a flash, Sara had climbed down from the wagon and towards her son.
"Mama has missed you!" Sara said, lifting him out of her aunt's arms.
To Sara, Thomas had gained weight. He face was more dumpy and his hair was longer. She kissed him all over and hugged him to her.
"Did everything go alright?" Sara asked eagerly.
Aunt Catherine nodded. "He was fine," she said. "he slept through the night last night."
Sara smiled. "He did?" she asked.
Uncle Jim came up to stand beside them. "He is a big eater," he said.
Gil agreed. "Yes he is," he said. "hello there, son,"
Gil took Thomas and kissed his face. Thomas laughed and made his gurgling noise. Gil laid the baby against his shoulder and Thomas grabbed his ear in his fist.
"Ow!" Gil said. "you have gotten strong."
Sara laughed and took the baby back. "I am afraid he isn't going to stay in his cradle now!" she said.
Aunt Catherine agreed. "You're going to have quite a time," she said.
Sara and Gil stayed for dinner before going home. It was good to eat her aunt's cooking and talk with John again. Even though she had enjoyed her holiday, she was glad to be back home. Uncle Jim's house wasn't as big as the house that they stayed in, but it was homey and had everything a body could want. Suddenly, the thought of moving was too overwhelming and Sara felt her lip tremble.
"Sara," John asked. "what's the matter?"
Sara smiled. "It is good to be here," she said.
Aunt Catherine smiled. "We all missed you and Gil. Why, just yesterday I was lonely for someone to talk to," she said.
Uncle Jim gave a hearty laugh. "Am I not worthy enough to talk to anymore?" he asked.
Aunt Catherine joined his laughter. "You know how I mean, James. Sometimes a lady needs another lady," she said.
~00~
Thomas was restless that night and didn't want to sleep in his cradle. Sara held him to her and rocked him until he finally fell asleep. As the rocking chair creaked back and fourth, Sara looked into the face of her sleeping child. His face was so innocent and so sweet, that she was willing to do anything to ensure that he had a comfortable life. Babies were Sara's proof of the existence of God.
"Is he asleep?" Gil asked in a whisper.
Sara nodded. "Yes," she stood carefully with him. "he is just excited that we have come home."
"I know he is," Gil agreed. "he is turning out to be quite a little rascal."
Sara laid him in his cradle and gave it a gentle rock. "He is going to be a strong boy," she said with pride.
Gil came up behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "I know you are sad to be moving, but everything will be for the better. Think of how much we can give our son," he said.
Sara placed her hand on his and smiled up at him. "I know we will be quite comfortable," she said. "but I will miss it here. You built this house for me and this is where our son was born."
"I will miss it too," Gil agreed. "but we have to move on."
Sara knew that her husband was right. Aunt Catherine had to leave her family to start a life here in Brandywine. She wrote to her parents often, but hadn't seen them in so long. It was a way of life.