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“I couldn’t think of a more suitable name for such a fine vessel,” he said, directing his words to Clara.

Clara folded her arms across her chest and pouted a little, perhaps not taking it as the compliment he intended. Then again, the boat did have something of a crooked quality about it. “You’ll have to paint the name on the boat somewhere, once you’ve learned if it’s seaworthy. Let’s hope that the name is not ill-fated,” he leaned towards Clara, who rolled her eyes.

Teddy and Oliver worked together to pull their boat towards the edge of the pond. Gerald stood behind them, ready to help them give it the final push.

“Are you ready, boys?” he asked.

“Yes,” they cried out.

“Then here we go, push!” Gerald roared. All three of them pushed at the same time, and the boat ventured out onto the water. It bobbed a little and for a moment it seemed as though it was going to teeter. Water sloshed across the deck and the port side disappeared beneath the water. Gerald cringed. It would be a great shame if the boys’ efforts would end in failure.

He assumed that Clara would have some wise words about learning more from failure than success. She might even be right, but Gerald wanted to see the boys smile. As he looked over at her, he noticed that she had her hands clasped together and a hopeful look adorned her face. The boys had their fingers crossed.

“Stay afloat!” Teddy said, as though the power of his wish would be enough to keep the boat steady.

Thankfully, the water ebbed back, and the port side popped up, steadying itself. It was hardly the most secure voyage, and the boat looked as though it might submerge at any moment, but it drifted across the pond valiantly. There was something quite majestic about it, Gerald thought.

“There she goes, what a fine vessel. Hurrah, Clara!” Gerald cheered, directing his words to the boat rather than the woman.

“Hurrah!” the boys chirped.

“We should run around to the other side of the pond so we’re ready to meet it when it reaches the other side,” Gerald said, and the boys broke out into a run.

“I don’t know how you planted that idea in their head, but I am not impressed,” Clara said.

“They came up with that all by themselves. Besides, aren’t you honored that they wanted to name their boat after you? And what a fine boat it is.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, if nothing else,” she replied, then glanced at his sleeves. “And your help. There was no need to go to those lengths. I hope you are not too upset that your coat has been ruined.”

Gerald glanced at his sleeves.

“Perhaps it shall become the new fashion.”

This elicited a giggle from Clara, and he decided that he liked this sound very much.

“A ruined coat is a small price to pay to see you smile like that,” he said. Clara turned her head away slightly, and a rosy blush appeared on her cheeks.

“You do well at playing the devoted suitor, but you do not need to pay me such compliments. There is nobody else around.”

“No, but there’s you,” he said. The words slipped out before he could understand their true meaning. Clara whipped her head around. Their gazes locked together and for a moment everything melted away, but then the boys cried out in triumph as their ship approached the shore. They stood at the edge of the pond, trying to meet the boat. Clara rushed up to them, reminding them to be aware of their surroundings.

Gerald stroked his chin, wondering why he’d said such a thing.

Eventually it was time to return inside. The boys were distraught at having to leave their boat.

“It will still be there later, and tomorrow, but remember that you must come and find me before you play here,” Clara said, wagging her finger in the air and making sure both boys repeated her words and promised to do exactly that. Teddy and Oliver almost tripped over as they kept twisting around, watching Clara bob in the pond, looking incredibly lonely.

Gerald glanced at Clara and wondered if she felt the same thing.

When they returned to the house Emily rushed up to greet them. She and Sophie had been drawing. Agatha was dozing on a chair nearby, her soft snores barely noticeable when compared to the hammering, sawing, and other laborious noises that clanged in the air. The builders were moving around the orphanage at will, meaning that shadows passed across the windows.

“Can you judge our pictures?” Emily asked. She grabbed Sophie’s picture before asking permission, and clutched it in her hands, showing both to Clara.

Gerald peered over her shoulder so he could see them for himself. Emily’s drawing was of the window. She captured a builder walking past carrying a long plank of wood. Agatha was in the corner, dozing. Gerald thought it was fortunate that Emily hadn’t asked Agatha to judge the pictures, as he couldn’t imagine that she would have found this one flattering.

Sophie’s, on the other hand, depicted an imaginary scene. Clara and Gerald were at the center of the picture, standing in front of a fireplace. Around them were the children, all four of them sitting down. It was a homely, domestic scene. In fact, they looked like a family.

“They’re both wonderful pictures. You’ve done very well, girls. I couldn’t simply choose between them. As a matter of fact, you’ve all done well today. Girls, you have made wonderful drawings, and boys, you have built a boat. I think you deserve a treat. Run along to the kitchen and we can have some biscuits,” Clara said.