The small town was now used to seeing Ethan and Christiana around. They were no longer strangers to the townsfolk but two hard working souls who were smiling despite the burden life had put on their shoulders. And children had a great fondness of Christiana and her warm bread, and neighbours wagged the head respectfully at Ethan and his ability with wood.
One such day was when the sun was setting very low and the sky was streaked with the tones of amber; and two well-dressed but fatigued figures entered the town. A still dignity was in their worn-travelled faces. They were Sophia's parents.
Tighter and tighter Margaret held her shawl and her husband was talking to a baker, saying, Do you know a young woman, Christiana? and a man, Ethan? They say they live here."
The eyes of the baker flashed. "Ah, yes. The orphan pair. Good people. you will find them at nightfall on the stream. And after work they constantly walk there.
And thus heart racing as they had not felt in years the rich pair made their way to the small bridge of wood.
There were Ethan and Christiana, as usual. Ethan had his arm over her shoulders, and her warm laughter was tickling her as she was teasing him over what a crooked stool he had created that day. They had been so engrossed in each other that they had not realized the footsteps that were coming up till the voice of Margaret startled the silence.
"Ethan... Christiana..."
Both froze. Christiana turned and her eyes opened in disbelief. Ethan flushed and his jaw hardened in an expression of fighting-cock.
"Why are you here?" Not cruelly, but warningly, Ethan asked. The memories of their rejection, of the pain that previously pushed them out of the mansion, stood at his chest.
Through the tears in Margaret's eyes. "Because we were wrong. We turned our backs to love and took pride. And now... now we know where our error gone us to.
This his husband came forward with a steady voice. We believed that getting riches would save our family, yet it destroyed us. Sophia is not the child she used to be and our house is deserted without honesty and love in it. What has been done, we cannot undo--but we call--please--with us again.
The breath of Christiana came to her throat. The hand she held tightened around Ethan. Her eyes were roving restlessly through his face, and she could neither believe it nor desire it.
But Ethan shook his head. You are not the same people that you shoved away. We have built something here. Simple, yes, but ours."
Margaret came near, and her voice was desperate. And yet, should you follow us, that will be yours as well. We do not wish to deny you the love or peace or the bond. We desire nothing but to tell you, To make our home to be amended With the help of you two.
There was an oppressive silence upon the bridge. The flowing stream was gurgling, as though it expected Ethan to reply.
Christiana at last spoke, in a soft but positive voice. An agreement should be made but there has to be one condition. That nothing--no money, no power, no vestiges of old times--will come between us. Ethan and I are one. That cannot be broken."
The two parents nod their heads. "Yes," the father said. "On that, we agree. When you come it will be as you are and not what we are trying to make of you. We just pray to be able to set things straight.
Ethan looked back at Christiana. She smiled submissively at him. And in that moment, he knew.
He exhaled the stress gone off his shoulders. "Very well. We will come. But they must not be as strangers, not as charity. We shall arrive like a family, whole, intact, and equal.
The floods of tears were streaming down Margaret and this time Ethan did not resist her hand. Christiana put her other hand over theirs, and, first, three broken roads came together in one place of repair.
In the shadows was Sophia standing where nobody could see. She watched her parents holding the hands of people she despised in her eyes previously.
And the keen stinging of jealousy turned round in her breast.