Furthermore(80)

“But you haven’t lost us, Mother,” said Alice softly. “You never did.”

Alice stepped backward to let Father step forward, and she wandered off in a daze, her head heavy and swimming with truths newly collected. For Alice, who’d only ever wanted to be loved and cared for, Mother’s confession was a revelation. And a curious life lesson. She and Mother had both loved Father dearly; but though this love had carried Alice, it had crushed Mother, and this was a power she hadn’t known a heart could possess.

Love, it turned out, could both hurt and heal.

Strange.

“I told you she loved you,” said a familiar voice.

Alice was so startled she jumped nearly a foot in the air. “Why Oliver Newbanks!” she shout-whispered. “How dare you spy on me!” (But she was secretly pleased to see him.)

“I just wanted to make sure you were alright,” he said, smiling. “I knew this would be a hard moment for you.” The sun was setting overhead, making the sky look as if it’d been slit open to rush the sunshine out. Oliver appeared to be glowing in the halo.

“I am,” said Alice, but she was quiet about it. Thoughtful.

“What is it?” Oliver said, studying her. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m going to redo my Surrender, you know.” She sighed. “In the spring. And I’ll finally have a task of my own.”

“Of course you will,” said Oliver, beaming. “And you’ll do splendidly.”

“Well,” she said, examining her fingers. “I might be gone a very long time.”

Oliver’s smile slipped. He cleared his throat and said, “Right. Of course.”

“So,” said Alice, looking off into the distance. “I was wondering if you’d come with me.”

Oliver blinked, surprised.

“I mean you don’t have to,” Alice said quickly. “Firstly it’s illegal and secondly I know you’ll be busy with other th—”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “Not for anything.”

And Oliver smiled and Alice smiled back, and she looked up at the sky and wondered, as she closed her eyes, how this small, cluttered world had managed to make room for all her happiness. Father was home and Mother was kind and Alice and Oliver would be friends for a very long time and that, as they say, was that.

Or at least it is all I will say on the subject.

Until next time, dear reader.


THE END