It was early spring. Jo walked through the woods to the road, then through the gates of Plumfield. As she walked down the road towards the house several children came out of the bushes and headed to the house.

"I bet I can beat you back to the house," Nan turned to the others.

"No way Nan!" Dan said. "You know I can run faster than you any day."

"Let's go! How about you?" Nan challenged the other boys.

"Sure," the others answered.

"How about you Mrs. Jo?" Nan asked as they walked up behind her.

"What?"

"Do you want to race back to the house?" Nat asked.

Jo smiled, she didn't answer, but took off running. The kids took off after her.

Nick heard yelling and laughing as he came around the corner of the house. He heard feet pounding the ground as the kids and Jo came running up to the house. Nick looked up and saw Dan and Nan coming towards him at full speed, he had to move quickly to get out of their way. As he stepped out of their way he stepped directly into Jo's path, and before she could stop she ran into him and almost knocked him over.

"Who won Nick?" Nan asked as Nick and Jo steadied themselves.

"What?"

"Who won the race?" Dan asked.

"I...ah, I didn't see," Nick looked at them. "Maybe Mrs. Jo did."

"No, she didn't. It was either Dan or Nan. You had to get out of thier way," Tommy pointed out.

"Well, I didn't really see," Nick shrugged. "Don't you kids still have some chores to do?"

"No," they all shook their heads.

"Go study. Didn't Franz give you a report that is due Friday?" Jo looked at the kids.

All the kids grumbled and went into the house. Jo and Nick looked at eachother.

"Where have you been?" Nick asked Jo.

"Were you worried?" Jo teased.

"No, Rob was looking for you and I told him I wasn't sure where you were."

"What did he need? Did something happen?"

"No, I think he was just lookin' for somethin' to do. The kids went on a walk and you were gone, I don't know where Asia was. He was just lonely."

"Oh, did he find something to do?"

"Yeah, he helped me fix the loose boards in the barn. Now he's sweepin' the school room."

"Sweeping the school room?"

"He wanted somethin' to do and that's the only thing I could think of."

"Oh, thank you for keeping him busy. I took a walk in the woods, I had to get away for awhile."

"No problem. I enjoy spending time with him."

"Mother!" Rob came running out of the school room.

"Hi! What have you been doing?"

"I was helping Nick," Rob said proudly.

"Well, I'd better get back to work," Nick walked to the wood pile.

Jo and Rob went inside to help Asia.

As Nick was chopping the wood, a strange feeling came over him. He started thinking about his aunt that he had lived with for a year after his parents died. He had the feeling that he should go see her, find out what had happened to her. With each swing of the ax the feelling grew stronger.

"I'll talk to Jo about it after dinner," he thought.

"Hi, Nick," Laurie came up behind him.

"Oh, hi," Nick stopped what he was doing and turned to Laurie. "What are you doing here today?"

"I brought Bess back and Amy came to see Jo."

"Oh," was the only answer Nick gave. He was still thinking about his aunt.

"What are you doing?" Laurre could tell Nick was not thinking about his work.

"Chopping wood," Nick thought that obvious, after all, he was holding the ax.

"Mind if I try?" Laurie could not ever remember chopping wood. He thought it looked easy.

Nick raised his eyebrows and handed Laurie the ax. Laurie took the ax and took a swing at the piece of wood Nick had put on the stump, he missed. He took several more swings before he split the wood. He grinned at Nick who was trying not to laugh.

"It's a bit harder than it looks," Laurie handed the ax back to Nick.

Nick just nodded, put another piece on the stump, swung, and split it right down the middle.

"Laurie?" Nick asked as he took another swing. "Do you think Jo would mind if I took a short trip?"

Laurie was startled at the question. "Why, is anything wrong?"

"Not really. I just have this feeling that I need to go check on my aunt in Maryland."

"Funny you should say that," Laurie pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "We stopped by the store before we came out. When Mr. Gerson heard that we were coming out here he asked me to bring this telegram to you."

Nick took the paper from Laurie, unfolded it, read it, and folded it up again.

"Is it from your aunt?" Laurie asked.

"Kind of," Nick had a puzzled expression on his face.

"Hi, Uncle Teddy," Rob gave his uncle a big Bhaer hug.

"Hi, Rob. What have you been up to?"

"I helped Nick today," Rob said proudly. "Didn't I Nick?"

"Yes, you did," Nick smiled. "And you did a great job."

Rob beamed at the compliment, then he remembered, "Mother said that it is almost time to eat and you should get ready."

"I'll eat later," Nick started to pick up the ax again.

"No, you're going to eat with us today Nick," Rob corrected Nick.

"Oh, I don't know Rob."

"Mother said," Rob persisted. "Please."

"Come on Nick, it will give me someone else to talk to," Laurie could tell that Rob really wanted Nick to eat with them. "Besides, Mother said."

"All right," Nick gave in.

By the time Nick and Laurie got cleaned up everyone else was in the dinning room waiting. The dinning room was full of laughter and chatter of children's voices. Laurie sat down next to his wife and Nick stood in the doorway trying to find a seat.

"Sit here Nick," Dan, Emil, and Tommy said at the same time and indicating different places.

Nick looked at Jo who motioned to an opening between Rob and Laurie. Nick smiled at her and sat down.

Jo took Rob and Tommy's hands, they each took the hand of the person sitting next to them. Soon the room was completely silent and Jo asked the blessing. As soon as Jo said, "Amen," everyone started passing the food and became noisy again. The room fell into another silence when everyone had filled thier plates. The only sound was the silverware against the plates.

Later that evening Jo was helping Dan with an assignment and the rest of the household was getting ready for bed. It was a cool spring night and Nick was lighting fires in the bedrooms.

"Nick," Rob went into his mother's room where Nick was lighting a fire.

"Yeah?" Nick looked at Rob standing in the doorway in his nightgown.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Yes, but I need someone to tuck me in. Will you do it?"

Nick shrugged a little, he had never tucked anyone into bed, he wasn't even sure he knew how.

"All right, let me finish here and I'll be in your room."

"Okay," Rob cheerfully went to his room and crawled into bed.

A few minutes later Nick came in.

"What do I need to do?"

"First, I need a bedtime story," Rob handed Nick the book he was holding.

Nick looked at it, "Oh no," he thought. "Not The Pretty Kitty."

Rob just smilled, he didn't see the expression on Nick's face.

"You know," Nick sat down on the chair next to the bed. "I don't read so good yet. How 'bout I tell you a story?"

Rob nodded in agreement.

"What do you want to hear about?" Nick was relieved that he didn't have to read about the kitty agian.

"Tell me about when you were a little boy."

"About when I was a little boy," Nick said thoughtfully.

"Yes," Rob didn't realize Nick had been talking to himself. "What was your father like?"

"Well, Pa was a carpenter," Nick smiled at the memory.

"Is that who taught you how to build things?" Rob was interested.

"Yeah. I remember one time my Pa and I made Ma a rocking chair. It was just after my little sister was born. Ma didn't have a chair to rock my sister to sleep in, so Pa and I decided to make one. Every evening after Pa was done with work for the day we would go into the work shop and close the door. Whenever Ma asked what we were doin' we would tell her that it was a surprise and she would have to wait and see."

Downstairs Jo looked at the clock. "Oh, Rob is probably wondering where I am. That's enough for tonight Dan. I will help you again tomorrow."

"Thanks Mrs. Jo," Dan picked up his books and went upstairs.

Jo quickly straightened her desk, then went up to Rob's room. The door was partly open and she could hear Nick's voice.

"I remember sandin' the pieces, makin' the wood as smooth as I could," Nick moved his hands as if he was sanding the wood at that very moment.

Jo could just see Rob's face over Nick's shoulder. Rob was so absorbed in the story that he didn't even see his mother standing in the doorway. Jo quietly went to her room to get ready for bed.

"Before we gave the chair to Ma, Pa and I engraved our initials along with Ma's and my little sister's. We put the chair next to my sister's cradle. Ma was so surprised when she saw it," Nick smiled at Rob, who was almost asleep.

"Can we make a chair for Mother?" Rob sleepily asked.

"Sure," Nick pulled the covers over Rob's shoulders.

Jo had been standing in the doorway again. When Nick was finished fixing Rob's covers, she came in. Nick turned when he heard the door.

"Thank you, Nick," Jo whispered as Nick rose from his chair.

Nick just smiled and went out in the hall to wait for Jo. He heard her saying good-night to Rob, then she put the light out and came out into the hall.

"Oh!" Jo was surprised to see Nick waiting for her.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure."

"Well, I've been thinking," Nick started. "I was wonderin' if it would be all right for me to leave on Monday."

"Of course," Jo thought he meant for the day.

"Really!" Nick was surprised that she didn't ask questions. "I'll be gone for about two weeks."

"That's fine," the information still hadn't registered in Jo's mind.

"Good, thanks."

Jo opened her bedroom door and was about to go in when it hit her.

"Did you say two weeks?!" she looked at Nick.

"Yeah, two weeks," Nick stopped at the stairway. "Laurie is going into Boston Monday. He said I could ride with him and then I could catch the train to Maryland."

"Maryland. What's in Maryland?"

"I'm goin' to visit my aunt, the one I told you about," Nick watched Jo nod her head. "See, I was thinkin' about her today, then Laurie gave me this telegram that came. If I read it right, it sounds like she's pretty sick and wants to see me."

Jo took the paper that Nick handed her. Jo read it, then handed it back to him.

"It says that she is very ill, dying," Jo looked very serious.

"That's what I thought," Nick put the paper back in his pocker.

"Do you need any extra money?" Jo didn't like the idea of Nick leaving.

"No, I have enough for the trip down there and back. Before I leave, I'll assign chores to everyone so that you don't have to worry about it."

"Thanks," was all Jo could say.

That night Jo didn't sleep very well. She kept thinking about Boston, "There are ships there. Will Nick get on one and never come back?"

The next morning the rumor of Nick's departure had spread through the school before Jo had spoken to anyone.

"Is Nick really going to leave?" Tommy asked at breakfast.

"Only for two weeks," Jo answered.

"Are you sure?" Emil asked.

"That is what he said," Jo wished that the children had not found out yet.

"What are you worried about?" Dan turned to Emil.

"He was going to tell me more sea stories."

"He'll come back," Nan said.

"Yeah, he's come back every other time he tried to leave," Nat perked up at the thought.

That was on Sunday morning. Nick stayed busy most of the day getting as many of the major repairs done as he could before he left. Sunday evening Jo called all the children into the parlor so that Nick could assign the chores.

"Now, Mrs. Jo and Dan are in charge of makin' sure everything gets done," Nick looked around the room at the sad faces. "Guys, come on, you know I'll be back. Every time I tried leavin' for good I came back. This time I know I'm comin' back."

This seemed to cheer them some, they left the room with happier faces. Jo, Nick, and Rob were left in the room.

"Nick?" Rob asked quietly.

Nick looked at him.

"You didn't give me any chores," Rob was disappointed. He wanted to be like the big kids.

Nick thought for a moment. "You have the special job of makin' sure the school room is swept in the afternoon after class."

That was something, but it wasn't as much as the big kids had.

Nick read Rob's expression, "Oh, I almost forgot. You also have the job of helping the other kids if they need help."

Rob's face brightened, "Thanks."

"Make sure you ask before you help though," Nick warned. "Oh, I thought of somethin' else."

Rob had started for the door, but he stopped and turned around.

"This one is REAL important," Nick looked very serious. "You have to look out for your mother, make sure she doesn't get into any trouble, or fall out of any trees," Nick had a sly smile on his face and he looked at Jo when he said it.

Nick had startled Jo the other day when she was up in a tree. She had been so deep in thought that when he yelled for her, she jumped and almost fell out of the tree.

"I will," Rob replied seriously.

The next morning Nick left early, Jo and Asia were the only people up to see him leave. Nick did not enjoy saying good-bye to them, he could tell by Jo's expression that she was worried, and that made him uncomfortable.

Nick and Laurie arrived in Boston around noon. Nick's train wasn't going to leave for a few more hours, so they found Edward Trenton and went to lunch. During the meal, Nick and Edward were enjoying Laurie's stories about growing up with Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. When Nick heard about all the scrapes Jo used to get into he thought he might have given Rob a chore that was a bit too big for him.
It was finally time for Nick to get on the train. Edward and Laurie went to the station with him.
"You sure you have enough money?" Laurie asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," Nick was getting tired of the question.
"If you need anything at all," Laurie started. "Wire Amy, she'll know how to get in touch with me."
"Thanks," they shook hands and Nick got on the train.
At Plumfield Asia was watching Jo, who was sitting at the table absent-mindedly snapping the beans for supper.
"This is going to be the longest two weeks ever," Asia thought when Jo gave a depressed sigh.
Jo could not figure out why she felt so down, at least she would not admit the reason. In the back of her mind she knew why, but she thought it was a ridiculous reason.
"Mother," Rob said loudly when he entered the kitchen.
Jo came out of her thoughts and looked at her son, who's unusual noise had startled her.
"Mother, will you come see how well I cleaned the school room?"
"Sure," Jo smiled and followed Rob out the door.
In the school room Rob proudly showed his mother how well he had done his job.
"The room looks wonderful Rob."
"Do you think Nick will think so?" Rob asked innocently.
"I'm sure he will."
"Is two weeks a long time?" Rob thought it was, but he wasn't sure.
"Sometimes yes, and sometimes no," Jo thought about his question. "It depends on what you are waiting for. If you are waiting for something fun, or exciting, two weeks can be a very long time. If you are waiting for something you do not want to happen, two weeks is a short time."
"I think it is going to be a long time," Rob said, not knowing that was exactly what his mother was thinking. "I can't wait for Nick to come home."
Jo wanted to agree, but she didn't say anything.
"I'm going to see if Dan or Nat need any help," Rob ran out of the room.

Nick listened to the train as it traveled farther and farther from Boston, from Concord, from Plumfield, from Jo. It would be supper time. Nick's mouth watered at the thought of Asia's cooking. He wondered what they would be having, he knew that whatever it was it woud be good.

"It's gonna be a long two weeks," Nick thought as he began to doze.

That night Jo hardly slept. She lay in bed wide awake for a while, she got up and checked on all the children, went back to bed, got up, checked on the children again, went to the kitchen, checked on the children, went back to bed, it went on like that most of the night. Jo finally got some sleep in the early morning hours.

The next morning Nick got off the train at one of the stops and ate breakfast. He hadn't slept much during the night because he wasn't used to the train. He had another day of sitting ahead of him, something Nick wasn't looking forward to.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I mean Plumfield, the household was waking.

"Mrs. Jo, you look exhausted," Asia was amazed to see how worn out Jo looked.

"I had trouble sleeping," Jo dropped into the nearest chair.

"I know."

"I'm sorry Asia, did I wake you?"

"Only once. Nan and Bess told me that they heard you walking around all night."

"I don't know what was wrong. I just could not relax enough to get to sleep."

"You don't know what was bothering you?" Asia knew, and she knew that Jo knew. "Maybe there was something wrong in the barn. Somethin' missin' maybe."

"Maybe," Jo said absentmindedly.

Three days after he had left home, Nick arrived at his destination. He looked at the small run-down house and the unpleasant memories came flooding back. Nick knocked on the door, a man opened it.

"Yes?" the man questioned.

"I'm Nick Riley, sir," Nick did not recognize the man. "My aunt and uncle used to live here."

"Nick! I'm glad you made it. I suppose you don't remember me, I'm Stephen, from next door," Stephen offered his hand.

"Oh, yeah, I remember," Nick shook the offered hand. "Do you know where I can find my aunt?"

"Come on in. She's in her room," Stephen let Nick in. "She isn't to good. I'm glad you got here when you did," he whispered.

Nick saw a boy about Rob's age sitting nearby, he figured that's why Stephen whispered. Stephen led Nick into his aunt's room. The room was almost completely dark, the only light came from one candle.

"Here he is," Stephen leaned over the bed. "Nick's come to see you."

"Nicky?" the woman asked in a soft voice.

"I'm here," Nick leaned over the bed so that she could see him. Nick was surprised at what he saw. He remembered his aunt as a strong young woman that could bear the pain that his uncle inflicted upon her. This woman looked so much older than her years, her face was pale and pinched, he could tell that her body was frail, and her voice was just above a whisper.

"Yes, Aunt, I'm here," Nick whispered.

"Where have you been?"

"All over the world," Nick answered. "Now I live in Concord at a school. I'm the caretaker there."

"Good, I'm glad you've settled down," she gave him a weak smile. "I have something to ask you."

"Yes?" Nick leaned closer.

"Will you take care of Theodore for me?"

"Theodore?"

"My son. He's so young, he needs someone to look after him," she told Nick as she looked at Stephen.

"Do you want me to go get him?" Stephen asked. She gave him a smile as her answer and Stephen left the room.

"I'm sorry I ran away," Nick started to apologize now that they were alone.

"I know. You couldn't help it and I don't blame you," she touched his face with her thin hand. At that moment Stephen returned with the boy that had been in the other room. The boy sat on the bed next to the woman.

"Theodore, this is you cousin, Nick Riley."

"Hi," Nick smiled at the boy. At first Theodore wasn't sure about Nick, but as soon as he smiled, Theodore knew he was all right.

"Hi," Theodore smiled back.

"Don't worry Aunt, everything will be taken care of," Nick put his hand on Theodore's shoulder.

"Thank you," she said.

Back at home, Jo was beginning to adjust to her sleepless nights. She was still tired, but she didn't feel it as much. Nan and Bess had not adjusted to Jo's nighttime activities, every time she opened their bedroom door to check on them, at least one of them would open their eyes. The boys could sleep through anything, they knew nothing of Jo's sleepless nights except for what they heard from the girls.

Friday afternoon some of the students decided to take a hike, Nan and Bess were among them.

"We're leaving now, Aunt Jo," Bess stuck her head in the parlor.

"All right," Jo was working at her desk and didn't turn around.

"Mrs. Jo?" Nan walked up to the desk. "Is it okay if Rob comes with us, he really wants to."

"As long as you keep an eye on him," Jo looked at Nan, her eyes got bigger. "Nan, what are you wearing?"

"Oh," Nan looked at the clothes. "Nat's clothes."

"Why?" Jo was amused at the way Nan answered.

"Well, every time we go on hikes our dresses get caught on everything. We decided we would save a lot of mending if we wore some of the boys pants."

"Who is we?" Jo could not believe that Nan could get Bess to wear boys clothes.

"Nan come on," Bess entered the room, wearing some of Dan's clothes.

Jo's lips turned white as she pinched them shut to keep from laughing at the sight.

"Comin'!" Nan and Bess started to leave.

"Remember that Amy is coming to get you later. Make sure you are back for dinner," Jo managed to say without laughing.

As soon as the children left, Jo went in the kitchen to tell Asia about what just happened.

The children went into the woods to see what they could find. Dan identified plants and animals as they walked. Tommy stopped by a tree and looked up and the sun filtering through the leaves.

"Hey, let's see who can climb the highest," Tommy pulled himself up onto a lower branch and started to climb.

"Okay," Nan and the other boys said.

Bess and Rob stayed on the ground, watching the others climb. All of a sudden Rob started to climb the tree.

"Oh, no you don't," Bess pulled him down.

"But I want to climb too," Rob tried to pull out of her grasp.

"I don't think that's a very good idea Rob. If you got hurt, Aunt Jo would kill us. Besides, you promised Nick you would look after your mother. How can you do that if you get hurt?" Bess hoped that would get him to stop.

"Okay," Rob was disappointed.

Nan managed to climb a little higher than Tommy. Dan and some of the other boys couldn't get very high because they were to big. When everyone was on the ground again they decided to play hide-and-seek.

After several rounds of the game it began to get dark. No one had realized that they hadn't found Rob after the first game, they weren't used to having him along.

"Where's Rob?" Nan looked at the group.

"Maybe he's still hiding," Dan suggested.

"Come on Rob! The game's over, we have to get home!" Emil yelled as loud as he could.

"I'm up here," Rob answered.

The children looked in the direction the voice had come from. There was Rob, way up in the top of the tree.

"Come on down," Bess told him.

"I...I can't," Rob cried.

"Don't worry, we'll get you down," Dan started to climb the tree.

When Dan couldn't get any higher he looked up at Rob and said, "Okay Rob, just climb down to me. That's it. Put that foot there..." Dan continued to talk Rob all the way down.

As soon as Dan and Rob touched the ground the other kids started cheering.

"Wow, you got really high," Nan praised Rob.

Rob just smiled. He didn't usually get this kind of attention from the older kids, normally they treated him like a little boy. Rob felt like one of them, he felt very grown up.

Amy arrived before the children were back from their hike. As soon as she saw Jo, she became very worried. Jo looked exhausted, she had dark circles under her eyes and she looked like she could fall asleep at any moment.

"Jo, you look awful," Amy remembered seeing Jo like this after Fritz had died. "Are you ill?"

"No, I just haven't been able to sleep," Jo sighed.

"For how long? Maybe you should see the doctor," Amy suggested.

"Oh, she'll be fine," Asia walked in. "She hasn't slept much since Monday. I imagine this will last for about another week and then she'll be fine."

Amy looked at Asia, trying to understand what she meant. Jo gave Asia a look that said, "You'd better not say what I know you're thinking." Asia just gave a little laugh and left the room.

"What did she mean?" Amy turned to Jo.

"Nothing."

Amy did not have a chance to ask any more questions because the kids had returned.

"Mother!" Rob yelled when he entered the house.

"I'm in here with Amy."

"Hello, Aunt Amy," Rob ran into the room. "Mother, guess what."

Amy stared at the noisy little boy. This was not the Rob she was used to seeing, he was loud and energetic. Rob was usually quietly sitting with his mother, not running through the house.

"I climbed the tree higher than anyone, even Dan," Rob didn't even give Jo the chance to guess.

"Hello Mother," Bess walked over to Amy and kissed her cheek.

"Hello. Where have you been?" Amy noticed Bess' outfit. "What are you wearing?"

"Dan's clothes," Jo laughed.

"I can see that, but why?" Amy looked at Bess.

"We got tired of our dresses getting caught on everything when we went on hikes, so we borrowed some of the boys clothes. It makes climbing trees much easier," Nan explained. "Come on Bess, we better get changed."

A few minutes later Amy got away from Jo and the boys, and went upstairs to talk to the girls.

"Thank you for inviting me to spend the weekend with you and Bess, Mrs. Laurence," Nan said politely as she put a few things in her bag.

"You are welcome Nan. I thought you girls might like to get away from all these boys for the weekend."

"Yeah, and maybe we'll get some sleep," Bess said to Nan who nodded in agreement.

"Why haven't you been sleeping?" Amy was curious, maybe she would find out what was bothering Jo.

"Mrs. Jo hasn't slept well since Monday, when Nick left," Nan started.

"When she can't sleep she walks around the house," Bess continued.

"She checks on us at least five times," Nan added.

"Almost every time she opens the door one of us wakes up," Bess finished.

"So, she misses Nick and that's why she can't sleep," Amy said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, but she won't tell ya that," Nan said.

You know that saying, "A little pitcher has big ears?" Well, ther was one little pitcher that stopped in the hallway outside the girls room when he heard his mother's name mentioned.

"What we need to do is get her to admit that she misses him," Amy got a mischievous look on her face.

"How?" Nan asked. "Every time someone askes when Nick is comin home she just tells us that it will be another week."

"When someone asks her they say Nick," Amy said thoughtfully. "If someone were to ask when Uncle Nick is coming home, she might think of him as more than just Nick."

"Do it Bess!" Nan encouraged.

"To bad we couldn't get Rob to ask when Father is coming home," Bess ignored Nan. "That would really make her think."

"He couldn't say Father though," Amy pointed out. "Jo might think he meant Fritz, and that wouldn't be good for her."

"He could call him something else," Nan listed some options. "Pa, Papa, Dad, Daddy, something like that."

"We'll have to think about this," Amy said.

Just then the dinner bell rang. Rob ran down the hall so that Amy, Bess, and Nan wouldn't know he had been listening.

The dinner table was just as noisy as always, maybe a little noisier, now that Rob was speaking up.

"Mother," Rob turned to Jo. "When is Pa getting home?" Rob had picked Pa because that was what Nick had called his father.

Amy dropped her fork, Nan started to choke on her drink, the other kids became silent and turned to watch Jo's reaction.

"He should be home in another week," Jo answered as if she didn't really hear what Rob had said.

Amy, Bess and Nan exchanged glances. They were amazed that Rob had heard what they had been saying and had hone what they suggested. They were also amazed that Rob's comment had not bothered Jo at all, she just continued to eat.

Nick was sitting in the kitchen with Stephen, Theodore was in bed, and Nick's aunt was lying in her bed and fading fast.

"What about my uncle?" Nick asked Stephen.

"He ran off not long after Theodore was born. She hasn't heard form him since."

Just then Nick's aunt started to cough loudly, the men went to check on her.

"It's time," she said when they entered her room.

Stephen went to wake Theodore. They sat with her the whole night. Early the next morning it was all over.

Nick looked at her face on the pillow. She looked so peaceful, and Nick knew that her worries were over. Little Theodore didn't cry much, he had been expecting his mother's death for quite some time, he was glad that her pain was over.

Nick spent the next week making arrangements, taking care of the funeral and what was to be done with the house and his aunt's other belongings. Some things he kept for Theodore. The other things he talked to Stephen about selling and sending the money for the boys schooling. By Thursday, Nick had taken care of everything he could think of, it was time to go home.

"So, Theodore," Nick looked at the boy. "Do you want to live with me at Plumfield?"

Theodore just gave a sad nod. Nick had told him all about the school and the people that lived there, and he was excited about going, but he didn't want to leave his home.

By Thursday, Jo was getting anxious for Nick's return. She kept telling herself that it ws because there were so many things that needed to be fixed that the boys couldn't do. In the back of her mind she knew the real reason she wanted him home was because she missed him. She would go down to the kitchen late every night hoping to find Nick in there looking for a snack, but he wasn't there.

Stephen took Nick and Theodore to the train station late Thursday afternoon.

"Well, thanks for everything," Nick shook Stephen's hand.

"No problem," Stephen turned to Theodore. "You keep in touch, okay?"

"I will Uncle Stephen," Theodore gave him a hug.

"If you're ever in Concord come visit. I'm sure Jo would love to meet you," Nick said as he put Theodore on the train.

"I will," Stephen waved.

As the train pulled away form the station Nick looked at Theodore. Theodore tried to hide his face as a tear trickled down his cheek.

"It's okay," Nick handed him a handkerchief.

By the time they reached Boston, early Sunday morning, Theodore was ready to see Plumfield and meet all of its residents. He had to wait though, they were going to have to walk to Concord. Nick had told him it would take a long time to get there unless they managed to find a ride on the way.

After church Meg, Amy, Daisy, and Demi were going to Plumfield for Sundy dinner. Amy told Jo that Laurie was going to tr to get back from Boston in time to join them, but he didn't know if he would make it.

"Jo, why don't you go lay down for a while," Meg looked at he exhausted sister.

"I'm fine Meg."

"Last weekend Asia told me she would be fine in another week," Amy told Meg. "That week is about up, isn't it Jo?"

"Tomorrow," Jo looked at her younger sister.

Meg knew what the other two were talking about, but she didn't say anything. She hoped nick would return, but there was no guarantee that he would.

Nick and Theodore were walking down a dusty road when a carriage came along. They turned around, hoping that it would stop, it just went past them. They turned back around and started walking again when the carriage stopped.

"Hey, Nick," a head popped out of the window. "Is that you?"

"Laurie!" Nick ran up to the carriage with Theodore trailing behind.

"You going home?" Laurie opened the door.

"Yeah."

"Well, hop in," Laurie took the bags from Nick. "Who's this?"

"This is my cousin, Theodore. Theodore, this is Mr. Laurie and this is Mr. Trenton."

"Nice to meet you Teddy," Laurie shook his hand. "You might as well get used to being called Teddy, I have a feeling that's what Jo will call you. So, are you going to live at Plumfield?"

"Yes, sir," Teddy answered quietly.

"You'll have to be a little louder than that if you want to be heard over the noise at Plumfield," Laurie laughed.

"I think he and Rob will get along well, both of them being so quiet," Nick commented.

"You haven't heard, have you?" Laurie asked.

"Heard what?" Nick thought something bad might have happened.

"About Rob, he is becoming as loud as the others," Laurie ingormed Nick.

"Rob? I don't believe it."

"It's true. When I was out there a few days ago he told me, in a loud voice, all about climbing a tree higher than all the other kids," Laurie looked at Nick's expression. "And, before I left I caught him sliding dow the banister."

Nick didn't knkow what to say to Laurie's story, he still wasn't sure if he believed it.

"How was your trip?" Edward asked.

"Well, my aunt was real sick when I got there," Nick said sadly. "She asked me to take care of theodore. I was glad I got there when I did, she didn't last too many days after I arrived."

"That's to bad," Edward didn't knkow what else to say.

"Nick, does Jo know you're on your way home?" Laurie asked excitedly.

"No, why?"

"Well, I'm expected for dinner out there today. Amy and Meg are going to be there, they don't know Edward's coming with, me. Looks like I'll have a surprise for everyone this time."

They rode on, talking about different things. Laurie asked Teddy to tell him about himself, which Teddy did. Nick and Edward chatted for a while, then Laurie told some more stories about the March sisters. As they listened Teddy fell asleep and slept the rest of the way.

"Oh, Nick. There's something else I forgot to tell you about Rob," Laurie said as the carriage enterend the Plumfield gates. "He has started calling you Pa. I don't knkow how it started, I think Amy does, but she won't tell me. I don't know if he will call you that when he sees you, but I thought I'd better warn you."

"What does Jo say?" Nick asked.

"Nothing. She doesn't seem to notice."

By this time they were at the house. They saw Daisy, Demi, and Rob playing of the porch, no other kids were in sight.

"Uncle Teddy!" the three kids ran to their uncle as he stepped out of the carriage.

"Hi!" he hugged them all. "Shh, I want to surprise your mothers and aunt."

The kids quieted down.

"Daisy, Demi, I've brought someone to see you," Laurie moved so that Edward could get out of the carriage.

Edward and the two children started for the porch.

"Rob, I have two surprises for you," Laurie said mysteriously. "You'll have to share them with the others, but you can be the first to see them."

Rob nodded.

"Here's surprise number one. I've brought you a new brother, just your age," Laurie helped Teddy out. "Rob, this is Teddy. Teddy this is Rob, Mrs. Jo's little boy."

The boy's looked at each other shyly.

"And now for the other surprise. I've brought Teddy's cousin," at that point Nick got out of the carriage.

"Pa!" Rob gave Nick a big hug.

Meg, Amy, and Jo were sitting in the parlor. They thought they had heard the carriage, but they weren't sure, so they didn't get up. When Meg and Amy heard Rob yell "Pa" the looked at Jo , who had a strange expression on her face. It was a combination of excitement and concern.

"Let's go in," Laurie took some brown packages out of the carriage and led the way to the door.

"I think I'll go tell Asia how many extra places to set,' Nick walked off to the kitchen door.

Laurie stood in the parlor doorway smiling at the three sisters that hadn't noticed him yet.

"Ahem," Laurie cleared his throat, the three women looked up.

"Laurie, you made it," Amy got up to kiss her husband.

"Edward and Nick are here," he whispered in her ear, Amy smiled.

"Now," Laurie said out loud. "If you will take your seat, I'll bring in the surprises."

Amy went back to her seat.

"First of all, some items my beautiful wife ordered," Laurie motioned for Demi to bring in the packages and give them to his aunt.

In the kitchen, Asia was surprised to see Nick walk in the door. She had expected to see some of the kids looking for a snack.

"When did you get back?" Asia gave Nick a hug.

"Just got here," Nick smiled, it felt good to be home.

"Have you seen Jo yet?" Asia asked with a sly look.

"Not yet," Nick ignored the look. "I thought I'd better tell ya that there's gonna be four more for dinner."

"Four more? Who?" Asia didn't seem to mind.

"Laurie, Edward, my cousin Teddy, and myself," Nick listed the additions.

"Teddy?"

"I promised my aunt I would take care of him. He and Rob are about the same age, I figure they can get into mischief together."

In the parlor, Laurie was about to give Meg her surprise, "Close your eyes."

Meg did, Laurie had Daisy bring Edward in.

"Okay, open them."

Meg opened her eyes, "Edward! I didn't know you were coming." She stood up and hugged him quickly.

"Now, Jo," Laurie slyly smiled at Amy, who thought that he was going to bring Nick in. "I have brought you another Teddy to raise. Rob bring him in."

Rob led Teddy up to his mother, "Teddy, this is Mother."

"How do you do, Ma'am," Teddy politely offered his hand.

Jo took the hand and gave Laurie a questioning look. Laurie just smiled.

"Mother, can he sleep in my room?" Rob thought it would be fun. "Please."

"Would you like that?" Jo looked into Teddy's blue eyes that seemed very familiar to her.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You can call me Mrs. Jo, or you can call me Mother, like Rob, if you like," Jo said kindly, looking at the boy's sad face.

Amy's eyebrows shot up at that. She looked at Laurie giving him a look that said, "who is this kid and where is Nick?" Laurie just gave a secretive smile.

"Well," Jo stood up. "I'd better go tell Asia how many extra people we will be having for dinner."

"It's been taken care of," Laurie heard Nick in the hall.

Jo was almost to the door when Nick entered.

"Nick!" without thinking she hugged him. "You're home! I missed you. I...I mean we missed you."

"Me too," he returned the hug.

Amy had a satisfied look on her face when she watched Jo and Nick.

"Jo, I want you to meet my cousin, Theodore," Nick pointed to Teddy.

"Your cousin?" Jo realized why the Teddy's eyes were so familiar.

"Yeah, I hope you don't mind. I promised my aunt that I'd look after him," Nick knew she wouldn't mind. "He can sleep in my room and we'll figure out a way for me to pay for his schooling."

"Nonsense. He and Rob will share a room and you don't need to worry about paying for his schooling," Jo ended the discussion before it was even started.

"Where is everyone? The house is so quiet," Laurie exclaimed.

"They went fishing, but they should be home soon," as Jo finished saying that the kids could be heard running up to the house and onto the porch.

"Father!" Bess gave Laurie a hug.

"Nick, you're back," Emil said.

"I told you I would be."

The noise level in the room rose as all the kids greeted Nick and asked him questions. It got so noisy that Jo almost couldn't hear Asia say that dinner would be ready in ten minutes.

"Quiet!" Jo finally had to yell, but as soon as she did all the noise ceased. "Go get cleaned up, we're going to eat in ten minutes."

Immediately all the kids went upstairs to change clothes and wash hands. Rob took Teddy up to see their room.

"What's in the packages Amy?" Jo asked curiously.

"Well, when the girls stayed with me last weekend I started to think about them wanting to wear pants on their hikes. I thought it made sense, especially for Nan, who likes to climb trees. So, I ordered a pair for each of them and a pair for you," Amy handed Jo the packages. "I thought you could use a pair when you go on hikes and climb trees."

After dinner the house became quiet again. The kids had gone off to do different things. Laurie, Amy, Meg, Edward, Daisy, and Demi had gone back to town. Jo was working at her desk and Nick was talking to Asia in the kitchen.

"Has Jo been sick?" Nick asked. "She looks real tired."

"That's because she hasn't slept well since you left," Asia watched for Nick's reaction.

In a way Nick was glad to hear this and Asia could tell.

"Where is Jo?" Nick asked casually.

"At her desk."

Nick went to find her.

"Jo?" Nick walked into the parlor.

Jo had been writing in one of her books when she put her head down on the desk. She was now sound asleep, pen still in hand.

"Jo," Nick shook her gently. "Let me help you upstairs so you can lay down."

Jo woke up just enough to stand up and let Nick lead her up to her room.

"Hi Pa," Rob said cheerfully as Nick and Jo passed him in the hall.

"Shhh, where's Teddy?" Nick still wasn't used to being called Pa.

"He's almost done unpacking," Rob whispered.

"Good, when he's done why don't you show him around outside. You're mother's gonna take a nap and it would be better if you boys made noise outside."

Rob nodded, "She needs a nap."

Nick got Jo laid down, then he went outside to start catching up on some of the work. Jo slept all afternoon and all evening, she awoke to a grumbling stomach at about ten o'clock.

Jo sat up in bed and listened, the house was quiet. She then realized that she was still wearing the clothes she'd been wearing during the day. Once she thought about it she couldn't even remember laying down for a nap. Her stomach grumbled again, so she got up.

When she entered the kitchen she couldn't believe her eyes, there was Nick eating some of Asia's biscuits. He looked up when he head her on the stairway.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes, how did I get upstairs?"

"You don't remeber me waking you up enough to get you to walk upstairs?"

Jo thought for a moment, "Oh, yes, now I remember."

"Are you hungry? I think Asia left a plate of food for you," Nick got up to find something for Jo to eat.

Jo sat down, "Tell me about your trip."

Nick began to talk as he get her plate ready. It was just like it used to be, sitting in the kitchen, talking and enjoying each other's company.

Thanks for reading this. I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think at cmshumak@hsonline.net