PART 1
Nan paced, back and forth wringing her hands in nervous frustration. She’d been nervous, edgy and frustrated ever since she’d received the telegram from Jo.
What should I do? What should I do? Nan was so troubled and confused that she wanted to cry. Taking a seat in the small chair at her writing desk, she rested her arm over the back and absentmindedly read the telegram again.
Dearest Nan,
I fear this letter does not bring good news. A few weeks ago he fell ill with a simple catarrh, but I’m afraid his condition has worsened a considerable amount since that time. He is
not expected to live through the end of this month. Oh Nan, please come…
With all my love,
Mrs. Jo
Fighting tears, she crushed the small paper in her hand, still not knowing what to do. The thought of seeing everyone at Plumfield again seemed like a wonderful dream; it had been three years since she’d been home and needless to say, she was long past due for a visit.
But would he want to see her?
He had said, plain and simple, that he never wanted to see her again. Why would that suddenly change now?
“Go to school in Maryland; work with Doctor Moore. I don’t care. Just don’t come back to me once you leave. I gave you a chance and you pushed it aside. Never come back. Do you hear me? I don’t ever want to see you again.” Then he had slammed his fist on the table, disappearing from the room,
not to be seen again before her departure.
The angry words rang painfully through her head. “If only you were here, Mrs. Jo,” Nan murmured, filled with anguish.
“I’ll wait…Surely he’ll get better and then I won’t need to go.”
But no matter how many she told herself no, Nan knew deep down that she needed to return—whether he wanted to see her or not.
“Asia! Asia!” Jo shrieked excitedly, running into the kitchen waving a telegram. “She’s coming! Nan’s really coming!” She smiled broadly, a flush of exertion filling her cheeks. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Whoa, now, Jo. You’re more excited than a little girl waitin’ for Christmas,” Asia chuckled, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist. “When she comin’? Will she stay for Christmas?”
“I don’t know,” Jo furrowed her brows. “She didn’t say, but we’re going to…” In seconds, both were completely oblivious to everything around as plans for Nan’s arrival quickly came together.
“What’re you two ladies gossipin’ about this time?” Nick asked teasingly, dropping his armload of wood into the woodbin. Dusting off his hands, he watched with amusement as both women chatted on.
“Uh-hmm…” Nick cleared his throat, crossing his arms.
“Oh, uh, hi Nick,” Jo half turned to him still continuing on with Asia.
After a few minutes, Nick sighed and turned to leave. There was no use standing there any longer being ignored when plenty of chores awaited him. “I’ll just catch ya both later,” he called, knowing neither Asia nor Jo were listening.
As predicted, they kept talking.
“I’m sure she’ll want to stay in her old room with Bess. After all, there’s no doubt they’ll have many things to catch up on,” Jo pointed out. “We’ll need to put fresh sheets on, and air the pillows out. Maybe we should have Bess find some holly and pine to freshen the room up a little bit…”
“She’ll want to stay in her old room with Bess,” Asia nodded. “Or at least Bess will want her to stay in there. Nan may not have a choice,” she smiled.
“Nan’s comin’ back?” Forgetting all thoughts from a moment ago, Nick strode over and rested his palms on the table.
Jo looked up, clearly surprised to see him. “Hello, Nick. I didn’t know you had come in. I thought were still out chopping wood.”
He threw his head back, laughing… Women … Then shook his head, throwing his hands up. “Actually I didn’t jus' come—”
“Nan’s coming back; isn’t that just wonderful?!” She interrupted, not realizing Nick had just begun to speak. But before he could say another word, Jo was again, completely lost in conversation.
“Fine, I give up!” Nick announced. Putting his hat on his head, he turned and left the kitchen.
Nan gripped her carpetbag tightly, reaching again to make sure the small handbag was still hanging on her wrist. Assured that it was, she forced herself to relax as she settled back, watching out the window.
Just as Nan could feel herself to relax, the jumbling butterflies in stomach began to flutter again. Everyone… She was going to see everyone .
“No,” she shook her head firmly. “I’m not going to let past memories ruin my time. No, no and no .”
After pulling on her coat, Jo secured her hat and looked in the mirror, making sure everything was perfect. This was a special occasion and she wanted to look her best. Down the hall, she could hear another pair of footsteps pounding up the wooden staircase.
“Mrs. Jo, ya comin’?” Tommy called–or rather shouted—loudly from the stairs.
“Yes, I’m coming!” She called back, quickly exiting the room. Carefully, Jo trotted down the stairs and into the parlor where many anxious persons were waiting for her.
“Come on, Mother,” Rob urged, taking her hand. “We don’t want to be late.”
“Late? I wouldn’t dream of making any of you late,” she smiled, pulling on her gloves. “Don’t worry, her train doesn’t come in for another hour.”
Nobody was listening. They were all on their way out the door, some already climbing into the wagon.
“Well, shall we go?” Jo looked up with a smile, only to find that the room was empty.
“Concord, Massachusetts! Last stop, ladies and gentleman. Concord, Massachusetts!” The conductor announced, roaming the aisles as he informed his passengers of the present stop.
Nan jumped up, knocking her head on the overhead compartment. “Ouch,” she muttered, rubbing her head. Grasping the small bag tightly, Nan slowly walked down the isle, preparing herself—for what, she wasn’t sure.
“Concord…” She murmured, biting her lip. “I’ve missed you so much. But now that I’m here, why doesn’t it feel right?”
“She just has to be here! I know that telegram said this train at this time,” Jo paced, wringing her hands as she gazed anxiously up and down the tracks.
“Jo, the train just pulled in. No one has even gotten off yet. Don’t start worryin’ yourself,” Nick pointed out, trying to ease her nervous and paranoid state.
“But what if she decided not to come? Or she couldn’t leave at the last minute or…Or…?” She looked at Nick doubtfully, fearing the worst.
“Now Jo, don’t go worryin’ yourself. No one has stepped off the train yet, and until they do, we can’t go decidin’ whether Nan is or isn’t on it. Look, here comes the first perso—” Asia stopped as she lifted her gaze to meet the blue eyes of a young woman just stepping down. “It’s Nan! She’s home! She’s really home!”
With a deep breath, Nan slowly gazed around the depot, searching for familiar faces.
“Mrs. Jo!” She shrieked suddenly, dropping her bags.
“I’ve missed you all so much. I can’t believe that I’m actually here—I’m actually home!” Nan hugged Asia and then Jo tightly.
“Nan, we’re so happy to have you home,” Jo whispered softly in her ear.
“Well, why don’t ya let us all get a good look at 'er instead of just hoggin’ 'er all to yerself?” Nick interrupted, pushing forward gently and standing behind Jo.
“Nick!” Nan smiled, reaching to hug him.
“’Bout time ya got home fer a visit. We need someone to show these boys,” he non-chalantly nudged Dan with his elbow, “that ya’re cannonball is still the biggest in Plumfield’s history.”
Nan’s eyes twinkled. “Is the biggest and will always be the biggest!”
Low ooh’s and awe’s came from the small crowd.
“Well, shall we get on home?” Jo asked, gently nudging them on their way.
As they gathered her bags and headed for the wagon, Nan felt a tear roll down her cheek. This was home.
PART 2
