“We should arrive in plenty of time to have tea with the family,” Paulina announced. Amala just stared out the window, taking in scenery that hadn’t changed even a tiny bit through all the time she’d been away. As the house came into view, her joy at returning home soothed her concerns, and she could only think how glad she would be to see everyone, and to sleep in her own bed, and to spend her days in this place that was her truest home.

Only a minute after the carriage halted in front of the house, servants whom Amala knew well came out the door to investigate their unexpected arrival. They were pleased to see Amala and Paulina, and she was certainly pleased to see them.

While the luggage was being unloaded, Viola rushed out the door, exclaiming with a combined burst of laughter and tears, “Is it true? Is it really true?”

Amala didn’t have time to answer before her mother embraced her tightly, not letting go, vacillating between her ongoing tears and expressions of joy. Amala held to her mother fiercely, knowing now that she’d not fully acknowledged how very much she’d missed her family. She was glad she’d come home earlier than planned and wished that she hadn’t waited so long.

Oliver came out the door with a similar reaction to that of Viola, stealing Amala away from her mother’s embrace only to hold her even more tightly. “Oh, my precious girl!” he said close to her ear. “We have all missed you so very much!”

“And I you,” she said, looking up at him. “It’s good to be home.”

“I am very glad of it,” Oliver said and smiled. “You have grown even more beautiful, if that’s possible.”

“Indeed, she has,” Viola said with her arm still around Paulina following the embrace they’d shared. Oliver laughed when he saw his sister and hugged her tightly as well.

They all went into the house while Viola was telling Amala and Paulina that they should go to their rooms and freshen up. She said they would all gather for tea in a couple of hours and be able to catch up on all the news. Amala hoped some of that news wouldn’t be whatever awful thing might be going on—the nature of which she couldn’t possibly imagine. Her parents appeared to be in excellent health as always. That was a good sign.