Part 4
Jo woke up in bed early the next morning, not knowing that something rather important was missing. The sun shone through the window right upon her eyes and she had to squint a moment until she finally jumped out of bed, getting out the aim of the sun’s rays. She quickly got dressed and ran downstairs into the kitchen where Asia was already cleaning pans from preparing breakfast.
“Good morning Asia, how beautiful it is outside today,” Jo said happily without quite knowing the reason she was happy was because of a certain teacher.
“Well, the sun is bright this early in the morning, isn’t that something to be cheery about Asia?,” asked Jo while trying to hide the true reason of her happiness.
“Well, yes it is, but I just have not seen you this happy in a LONG time,”Asia said, stressing the “long” part.
“I don’t know why Asia, I just woke up this way. By the way, have you seen Nick this morning? I have to ask him to fix the window upstairs, its stuck again. You know how the kids are with that one window,” Jo said looking around thinking it odd that Nick was not present for his usual early breakfast before getting to work.
“The funny thing is Miss Jo, is that I have not seen Nick around all morning,” Asia said curiously and worried.
“I will go check on him, maybe he came in late again and has overslept. You know him with that poker in town,” Jo said, pretty much convinced this was the reason for his absence.
Jo knocked on Nick’s door but there was no response. She tried turning the doorknob and to her surprise it was unlocked, another peculiarity. She opened the door completely and walked inside to find a completely spotless room. Jo continued to walk into the room, only to find that every drawer was empty, every piece of clothing and personal momentos that Nick had collected since his stay at Plumfield, all were missing now.
‘What is going on here,’ thought Jo nervously.
Jo continued to look around, but could not even find a note as to tell what was taking place here. Jo walked back to the Plumfield house alone. Asia could see this plainly from the window that she used for all her spying at Plumfield, but she noticed that Jo’s happy demeanor must have disintegrated on her way back to the house. This only meant that something upsetting has occurred. Jo walked in quietly at that moment.
“So, where’s Nick for breakfast, don’t tell me he is going to skip breakfast again after I have told him…..,” Asia began to deliberate, but was interrupted by Jo.
“He is not there, I think he has left. Also, he left no note,” Jo said rather upset.
“I wonder why,” was all Asia could add to the situation.
Jo left the kitchen, knowing that she had to go break this unwanted news to the students of Plumfield.
Jo rounded up all the students of Plumfield into the parlor.
“Guys, I have some unfortunate news to tell you,” said Jo uncomfortably. She already knew how they were going to take the news. The memory of last years Thanksgiving came back to her.
“What Mrs. Jo?,” asked Nan nervously.
“Well, it seems that Nick has left Plumfield,” said Mrs. Jo, now glad to get that off her shoulders.
“He can’t be gone,” said Nat.
All the children chimed in at the same time afterwards.
“I know, I know, this is a shock, he left no note, so I cannot be certain as to why he left and ……… if he will ever come back,” Jo finally said.
“Now I think the best thing is that we get things back to normal around here. I think you all have some chores to complete,” said Jo, trying to be enthusiastic as possible.
The children all left with glum faces. Jo remained in the parlor, unknowing that Dan had remained a moment.
“He’ll come back Mrs. Jo. I know it. I have a feeling,” Dan said in the silence. Jo turned in her chair, startled.
“I hope so Dan,” she said, and with that Dan left to complete his chores.
Meanhwhile, Charles was in the other room and overheard the conversation. He walked off in triumph.
Meanwhile, that morning, Nick and Tom had managed to make it to Boston and were getting things settled for boarding of the Annie Marie that very next day. Nick stood there for a moment, staring out across the bay, memories flooding back to him.
“Nick, are you with me friend,” Tom asked as he was passing his hand in front of Nick’s face to bring him out of his reverie.
“Yeah, yeah, I am, just thinking about old times,” Nick replied.
“Isn’t is great to be back,” asked Tom.
“Yeah,” Nick said, not knowing if is was a lie or not. He followed Tom to the hotel for the night and then they would leave the next morning for boarding.
After Tom and Nick played some poker, they decided that they better get a good nights rest before the beginning of their voyage the next day. But, Nick just sat there all night in bed thinking. ‘I should have left a note to tell Jo and the kids where I am going and said goodbye,’ thought Nick.
So early that next morning, long before Tom awoke, Nick slipped out to the telegram office and had a telegram sent to Plumfield.
“That’s exactly how I want it to read sir,” Nick said with certainty.
“Ok, the telegram has been sent Mr. Riley,” the telegram operator reported.
“Thanks,” and with that Nick went back to the hotel to gather his belongings. Tom was already awake and ready to go back to sea.
“Hey, where did ya go off to,” asked Tom curiously.
“Just had some unfinished business to attend to, but this is over now. Let’s get to that ship my friend,” Nick said.
Amy and Meg came to Plumfield in an urgent manner that bothered Jo. Amy was holding a small piece of paper that resembled a telegram. All three sisters entered the parlor for the private conversation.
“So, what brings you here today, I did not expect you until tomorrow for tea?,” asked Jo rather sullenly. She was still a little shaken from Nick’s abrupt departure.
“A telegram came for you in town and its news that you need to know Jo,” Meg said, taking charge of the situation as she always did as the oldest sister.
Jo took the telegram and read the following message:
In Boston to leave on Merchant Marine ship “Annie Marie.” Will depart next afternoon. Farewell to all at Plumfield. Sorry for no goodbyes—do have my regrets for that now.
“He just up and left you then. Very typical of a man,” chimed in Amy with her usual comments.
“Amy!,” Meg yelled to Amy’s rather rude comment.
“Well, it’s true. After everything Jo did for him and then he just leaves like that,” Amy replied to Meg.
Finally Jo interceded into the conversation.
“He can do as he pleases,” was all Jo could say and turned and looked out the very came window that she looked out the first time Nick tried to leave. She could remember that night so clearly, him packing his sack. ‘Nick had tried to leave twice but always came back. Why has he not returned this time?,’ thought Jo as she looked out that window in a daydream.
“So, what are you going to do about it Jo?,” asked Amy abruptly.
Jo barely heard the question.
“Oh,……I don’t know Amy,” Jo replied.
“Well, you once did tell him you had feelings for him, right Jo?,” asked Meg.
“Well, yes, but it was not completely clear and that was a while ago Meg,” Jo said, trying to avoid the past.
“Well, do those feelings still exist?,” asked Meg, the first person to touch upon the truth.
“That’s the funny thing with Nick, I don’t quite know how I feel, I just get all jumbled up inside,” Jo finally told someone how her feelings for Nick really were.
“It sounds like you love him Jo,” Amy blurted out without thinking.
This statement rolled in Jo’s mind for a brief second.
‘Wow, love never was like that with Fritz. With him, everything was so clear and defined. No “what ifs.” I knew that I loved him with certainty,’ thought Jo in that brief moment.
Then all of these visions of Nick not at Plumfield flooded her and what it would be like without his presence entered her mind. This solidified her feelings for Nick.
“Thanks Amy,” Jo stated after her revelation.
“What?,” Amy asked without knowing what she had done.
Meg knew from Jo’s face what was going through her mind and smiled.
“Why don’t you go after him Jo. The telegram stated that he was leaving tomorrow,” stated Meg with enthusiasm. This brought a very fond memory of her chasing after Edward Trent with her two sisters.
Jo looked at Meg in awe, but then turned serious. “I have to go pack then.”
Meg , Amy, and Laurie accompanied Jo to Boston. Charles and Asia were entrusted with the care of Plumfield for a couple of days.
They arrived in Boston that afternoon and went to the hotel to drop the luggage off. Next, they went to the docks, but they had to find the Annie Marie among all the ships at dock.
“I hope we aren’t too late, the telegram said his ship was going to leave in the afternoon,” said Jo.
“I’m sure it’s here Jo, just up to us to find it,” said Laurie reassuringly.
They walked for one hour without any sign of the Annie Marie.
Finally, the decided to ask for help.
“Sir, do you know where the Annie Marie is at dock right now?,” asked Jo impatiently.
“I’m not sure, I think I saw her down there a little while ago, but she leaves at three Mam,” the man said as he pointed further down the docks.
“Thank You,” Jo said. She looked at her watch, which her father had given to her as a child. It read 3:03.
“Oh my, it’s too late. It’s already past three,” Jo screamed.
She began to run down the dock with her two sisters and Laurie barely keeping up with her. A ship had just left dock and the name on the ship was barely visible, but Jo could make it out as the “Annie Marie.”
“Nick, Nick!!,” was all Jo could do, but it was no use, no one could hear her pitiful screams on the ship.
The ship continued out to sea and all Jo could do was watch as the ship left with the man she loved on board.
“I’ve lost him when I finally found my way,” Jo said quietly under her breath.
Amy, Meg, and Laurie were present to hear this testimony. Jo finally had learned how to love again after the death of her husband. Jo turned to them with tears streaming down her face. Meg knew that her sister did not need comfort right now, only a way to rextify what had just happened.
‘Will I ever see you again Nick?,” thought Jo very hard, sort of hoping that her thought would travel the sea to him by some miracle.
Nick stood on board, looking out over the ocean, wondering if he had done the right thing.
“I’ll be back Jo,” Nick said in a whisper to himself.
Will Nick ever know of Jo’s true feelings now that he as left Plumfield(forever or not??) What will happen in the future for these two characters?? Will Nick Riley ever return to the only home he's ever had???
Read Part 5 to find out!!!
