PART 6
Jo sat at her desk, listening to the children’s pillow fight above her. She smiled as she pictured the rambunctious scene, then continued writing about the day’s events in her journal. Jo heard a quiet knock on her bedroom door and stood to answer it. “Nat,” she said, surprised, “Why aren’t you upstairs participating in the pillow fight? Do you feel okay?” She put her hand to his forehead.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Jo. I was just wondering if we could talk now.”
“Of course. Come on in.” Nat entered the room and Jo closed the door behind him.
Jo sat on the edge of her bed and motioned for Nat to sit next to her. “What’s on your mind, Nat?” she asked.
He took a deep breath. Jo placed a reassuring hand on his arm and waited for him to begin. “Besides Dan, Nan is my best friend here at Plumfield. I know I can tell her anything, Mrs. Jo.” Jo smiled and nodded her head. “Well, I really like her. I think that I have feelings for her.”
Nat looked at Jo for her reaction.
Jo tried to hide her astonishment. “Well, Nat,” Jo thought a moment, “I realize that you and Nan are great friends, but I don’t think you need to be anything more than that right now.”
“But after seeing you and Nick . . .” Nat started.
“Let me tell you a little secret.” Jo turned so that she and Nat were sitting eye to eye. “You’re going to have a lot of friends, a lot of girl friends, in your life time. Eventually, you’ll find that one special woman that you’ll want to spend the rest of your life with, but you have to give it time. Love isn’t an easy thing, believe me,” Jo rolled her eyes, making Nat smile, “Maybe one day you’ll realize that you and Nan are right together, but you may also find someone else.”
“But how do you if you’re in love?”
Jo put her hand under Nat’s chin. “You’ll know. There’s no real way to explain it, but love is the greatest feeling in the world. I know you’ll find it someday . . . just not now.” Jo let out a small laugh.
Nat stood and opened the bedroom door, “Thanks, Mrs. Jo.”
“I’m always here if you need me.”
“Nick!” Rob called, walking into the barn the next morning.
Nick stepped out of Penny’s stall and smiled at the small boy. “What do ya want, Rob?”
Rob let out a deep sigh before speaking, “Mother told me to ask you if you wanted to take a walk with us later this afternoon.” He nodded his head when he finished, “Yeah, I think that’s it.”
Nick chuckled at Rob’s well-prepared speech and at Jo’s scheme. He knelt in front of Rob, “Tell your ma that I’d be happy to.”
“Okay.” Nick watched Rob run back to the house, eager to deliver the good news to Jo.
“Oh, Jo,” he sighed, shaking his head.
Jo entered the kitchen, “Something smells wonderful Asia!”
“Nan and Bess are comin’ back from Boston this afternoon, so I thought I’d make ‘em a big dinner, dessert and all.”
“That sounds great.” Jo poured herself some coffee. “I’m sure that Meg, Amy, and Laurie will be joining us as well.”
Asia laughed, “I already planned on it.” She placed another pie in the oven and dusted the flour from her apron.
“I figured you would have.” Jo placed her hands on the table and leaned closer to Asia, who took a seat across from her. “Can you keep a secret?”
Asia gave her a sly grin, “Should you be tellin’ me this secret? Truthfully?”
Jo furrowed her brow and sat back in her seat. “Probably not. Never mind.”
“Good. I don’t want you breakin’ any trust that anyone put in you,” she smiled, “Besides, it’s not like you to divulge other people’s secrets.”
“You know me all too well,” Jo sighed and kept her thoughts about Nat to herself.
Early that afternoon, Nick, Jo, and Rob journeyed through the woods. Rob walked ahead of the couple, kicking stones and picking up sticks along the way. “Rob didn’t tell me you were comin’ along,” Nick teased as he put his hand in Jo’s.
Jo playfully punched his arm. “Good idea wasn’t it?” Nick just smiled.
Rob suddenly stopped and turned to face Jo and Nick. “What is it Rob?” Jo asked.
“I’ve been thinkin’ about something,” Rob spoke, his brow furrowed in thought.
“Better be careful doin’ that.” Nick reached down and rustled the young boy’s hair. “It can be dangerous.” The trio laughed.
“Mom, is Nick going to be my father now?” Both Jo and Nick were utterly surprised by Rob’s comment.
Jo started to blush and looked at Nick for reassurance. He nodded in agreement. “Someday,” she raised an eyebrow, “Is that okay with you?”
“It’s great!” Rob exclaimed, “I think Nick’ll make a great father.” Rob walked over to Nick and gave him a hug.
Nick was in awe about Rob’s actions, but took it in stride. “Thank you, Rob. That means a lot to me.”
Jo glanced down at her son with a loving look. She was so proud of him at times like these. “It means a lot to me, too, Rob.” Jo knelt down and gave him a hug and kiss.
“We better get back,” Nick said, “The girls’ll probably be back from Boston soon.”
“You’re right . . . although I hate to leave this perfect moment,” Jo quietly added.
Nick turned to Jo and stared into her eyes, “Who says we have to leave it?”
“Are you two going to kiss again?” Rob interrupted, causing the couple to burst out laughing.
“Is that all right with you?” Nick smiled.
Rob shrugged his shoulders, “I guess so.” He grinned and started walking back to Plumfield leaving Nick and Jo behind him, locked in an embrace.
The trio arrived at Plumfield just as the carriage carrying the returning travelers pulled up to the front of the house. Bess and Nan exited the carriage and were welcomed by the children, happy to have them back. “Welcome back,” Nick greeted, helping Meg and Amy out of the carriage.
“Thank you, Nick,” Meg returned, “We had a wonderful trip.”
“Mother!” Daisy and Demi called, running toward Meg, nearly knocking her over. “We missed you so much.”
“I hope you two were good for Aunt Jo and Asia,” she put a hand under each of their chins.
“They were perfect angels,” Jo said, “Well as perfect as any other child here.”
Nat stood back from the children that had crowded around Bess and Nan, eager to hear about their trip. Nan looked around the group, saw
Nat by himself and walked over to him. “Hey, Nat.”
“How was Shakespeare? Was it as bad as you thought it would be?” Nat spoke as he walked into the house, Nan following behind.
“I loved it. There was this great sword fight . . .” Nan’s voice trailed off as the door closed behind her.
Jo watched Nat and Nan enter the house as a huge grin formed on her face.
Asia saw Jo’s expression. “What’s come over you?”
“A secret,” sighed Jo, walking over to hear about the weekend from Amy and Meg.
Asia shook her head, “Of course it is.”
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