Three Years Later

“Mama, look! Look!” Aaron exclaimed, tugging on Alice’s hand. “Do you think they have lions?”

Alice followed his gaze to the field behind the front street, where a rag-tag circus troupe had begun to set up their tents. She remembered them vaguely from last year. There had been some trained horses trotting around, ridden by a pretty girl in a sparkling dress who only fell off once, a handful of deeply unfunny clowns, some dogs that ran around barking at the audience, and a rather good trapeze artist. 

The circus, in short, was not very good, but the tickets were cheap and the performances were enthusiastic. It was the first time she’d seen any kind of traveling performers this far west. She wondered if they’d make the same circuit next year. 

“I don’t think they’ll have lions,” she murmured thoughtfully, “But we can go and see, if you like?”

“Today? For my birthday?” he asked hopefully. 

“Well, we’ve got a special meal planned for your birthday today. Like always, with Aunt Barbara and Uncle Solomon, and Grandma Elvira. And your Grandma Hattie is coming from very far away to see you. You don’t want to miss that, do you?”

“No, I don’t,” Aaron conceded. “But tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow for sure,” she bent down and pinched his nose, which never failed to make him laugh. He giggled, squirming away, and Alice beamed down at the little boy. 

Her little boy. She could still remember the first time Aaron called her mama. She and Matthew had only been married for eight months. Since then, the mamas had come thick and fast, making her happier and happier every time she heard it. 

Hand in hand, they made their way back down the front street towards the waiting cart, Alice’s basket of groceries digging into her arm. People nodded and smiled as they passed by. 

Gracefield was doing well enough, considering that the scandal over Joel and the kidnapped women had never quite gone away. Every woman who he’d ever kidnapped was accounted for now, but many of them would never shake away the nightmares and paranoia. 

Rose, for one. Alice’s heart ached as usual when she thought of her sister. She’d followed in Alice’s footsteps and became a detective. Pasquale ended up leaving the Pinkertons too, and now he and Alice worked together, in a strange little duo, solving crimes and tracking down missing folks. 

In fact, Alice had a letter from her sister sitting in the basket, probably containing well-wishes for Aaron’s birthday. There would be a postscript promising to come visit soon, but Alice knew better. Rose didn’t want to come back to Gracefield, and who could blame her? 

There was a letter from Anna and Walter too. They seemed to bounce around like nobody’s business, traveling from place to place, having adventures and so on. They were married, of course, and Anna was expecting their first child in July. 

Funny how everybody moves on, Alice thought to herself, lifting Aaron up into the cart seat. I thought I’d feel left behind. But I don’t. 

There was a third letter in there, too, but Alice would think about that when she got home. 

“Hey, Alice!” 

She turned at the familiar voice, and smiled. 

Kate and Nathan hurried towards her, hand in hand. 

Older, more cultured, and more assured, Nathan looked more like his father than ever. His newfound confidence probably had something to do with his fine college education, and the fact he was rapidly being spoken of as the best veterinarian in the county. 

Kate smiled more widely these days. She’d started doing her hair in a more flattering style since she and Nathan married, and she wore prettier dresses. Still modest, but prettier. Today, she was in a blue striped gown that her parents surely could not approve of. 

“We were just shopping for Aaron’s birthday present,” Kate explained, smiling. “What time should we come to the house for the celebration?”

“About five o’ clock? Come a little earlier, if you like.”

“Ezra and Frances are a little put out,” Nathan explained, wincing. “We eat dinner with them every Friday, and they weren’t pleased to hear that we were going to celebrate Aaron’s birthday instead.”

“But they’re scared of Nathan,” Kate teased, hanging on his arm and beaming up at him. “Oh, they just think he’s peachy, Alice. Pa doesn’t dare contradict him. I never thought I’d see it.”

Nathan blushed, and Alice grinned. 

“I’m glad to hear it,” she said. “Ezra’s sermons are a little more mellow these days, and I think that’ll do us all some good.”

Kate glanced up at Nathan, and a particular look passed between them. 

“We have some news,” Nathan said at last, reddening. “We thought about announcing it tonight, but I don’t want to overshadow Aaron’s celebration. But we have to tell somebody, or else we’ll burst. I… we…”

“I’m going to have a baby,” Kate burst out, in an excited whisper. “Can you believe it?”

Alice broke into a wide, sincere smile. “Oh, that’s such wonderful news! I’m so pleased for you, Kate. And you too, Nathan!”

“I’m terrified,” he confessed. “Is that normal?”

“I reckon so. But talk to Matthew, if you aren’t sure.” 

Kate and Nathan took their leave, promising to arrive early, and moved off hand in hand. Alice clambered into the driver’s seat and set off, following the familiar old road which led up to the ranch house. 

“Can I look at my presents when I get inside?” Aaron asked eagerly. 

“No, you have to wait,” she laughed. “Uncle Solomon and Aunt Barbara are already here, look! They’re sitting out on the porch.”

Aaron gave an excited squeal. He adored his uncle and aunt. He jumped down as soon as the cart had stopped moving and sprinted up towards the porch. 

There was a kind of sadness in Solomon and Barbara’s eyes these days. No doubt it came from the knowledge of the terrible things their son had done, and the fact he would be in prison for the rest of his life. Still, they smiled at Alice as she climbed the porch steps, and their smiles were real. 

“I’ll bring you out some coffee,” Alice murmured, touching Barbara’s shoulder as she went by. 

“You’re a good girl, Alice,” Barbara sighed. Solomon nodded. 

“Matthew’s inside,” he added, jerking his chin. “George is here, too.”

“Sounds good.”

Alice waited until she was inside the door before tearing open the third letter, the one she was the most nervous about. 

She knew the handwriting, a looping, elegant copperplate. 

My Dearest Alice, 

It’s been a while since I wrote. Today marks the second year since your father’s death. I know he was a great disappointment to you, and I know I’ll never forgive myself for trying harder to make peace with you both before he died. Still, he was a stubborn man, and I don’t think I would have gotten far. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I would like to make peace, if you want it. There’s nothing for me here, and I miss my family a great deal. I had some thoughts about moving west to be closer to you, but I won’t do it if you don’t want me to. 

I thought we could start with a visit. We haven’t been mother and daughter for a while, have we? It’s your choice, I guess. 

I want you to know that I have all the newspaper clippings from the cases you solved as a Pinkerton agent. Your friend, Pasquale, used to get them for me, and I hid them from your father. I have the newspaper clipping from when you solved that hideous kidnapping case up in Gracefield. I got those clippings for myself. I had them framed and put up on a wall. My friends all think I’m crazy. 

Write back soon and let me know if you’ll come and visit. Or I can come there, if you prefer. I just would like to see you. 

I hope to hear from you soon. I hope that we can build something new, if you’re open to it. 

All my love, 

Mama 

Tears blurred Alice’s eyes, obscuring the letter. 

“Alice?”

She flinched, glancing up. 

Matthew stood there, head tilted, frowning. 

“You’re crying,” he murmured, stretching out a hand. He cupped her cheek in one warm palm and used the pad of his thumb to wipe away the tear. “Why are you sad?” 

“I’m not sad,” Alice sniffed. “I’m happy.”

Before she could say anything, a squeal of delight echoed through the house. Little Tabitha came tottering through the hall, all red cheeks and untamable curls. 

“Mama!” she shrieked. 

“Goodness,” Alice laughed, scooping up her daughter. “Aaron was much quieter when he was her age.”

There was a scrambling sound from the porch, and the little boy in question appeared. 

“I hear Tabbie!” he shouted. 

Tabitha squealed again, this time stretching out her fat little arms to get closer to her adored big brother. Alice set her down on her feet, and the baby toddled over to him. Grinning, Aaron wrapped his arms around her. 

“I want Tabbie to have the first slice of my birthday cake,” he announced. 

Matthew slid an arm around Alice’s shoulder, pulling her close. Closing her eyes, she leaned against him. She would tell him Kate and Nathan’s news later, and they could read through her mother’s letter, too. 

For now, all that mattered was that they were all together. They were all together, and everything was happiness. 

“I think that would be a wonderful idea,” she murmured. 

Aaron and Tabitha scuttled off towards the kitchen, hand in hand. 

“They’re crazy,” Alice remarked, winding her arms around her husband’s waist and resting her chin on his chest. 

He chuckled, tilting her face up towards him. 

“Now I wonder who they get that from?