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Clara had never seen such a happy sight.

She followed them outside. All thoughts of pressing flowers had been driven from their minds. They scampered along the ground.

“They’re getting married! They’re getting married!” they cried out. Agatha and Theodore came walking towards them.

“Do I hear correctly?” Theodore asked. Clara smiled and nodded. “Let me be the first to congratulate you.” He shook Gerald’s hand, while Agatha hugged Clara.

“I’m so happy for you. You’ll make a wonderful wife,” she whispered.

Then, Theodore hugged Clara, and Gerald hugged Agatha.

“I’m glad you didn’t wait as long as we did,” Theodore said.

“Even so, the wait was still painful,” Gerald replied, his gaze lingering on Clara.

“You will have to make things right with your father,” Agatha said. In all the excitement, Clara had forgotten about that. Her eyes widened and she wore a look of shock.

“You didn’t ask him for permission,” she gasped, turning to Gerald.

He raised a finger in the air. “Actually, I happened to stop by the residence before I came here, and we had a conversation. I agree that I must work to earn his forgiveness, but he did not turn me away. I informed him of my intention to propose.”

“What did he say?”

“His exact words were that he trusts your judgment, Clara, and he would abide by whatever decision you made.”

Clara smiled. She owed her father a great deal of thanks when she saw him again.

“We should have dinner with them to clear the air. And with Eleanor as well; I hate to think she has a poor opinion of me,” Clara said.

“Nonsense, although a dinner is a fine idea. Everyone shall be invited,” Gerald said, spreading his arms out as if to embrace the world.

“Even us?” Teddy asked.

“Especially you,” Gerald said. He lifted Teddy in the air again and raced across the garden. The other children followed, flinging their arms in the air and hooting wildly. It was such a profoundly happy sight, and Clara’s smile rested on her face. Theodore moved away, leaving Agatha by her side.

“I’m so happy for you, Clara. It struck me from the first moment you met that you and Gerald were made for each other.”

“You are wise, Grandmother. Thankfully we did not let the opportunity slip through our fingers, although we were close to doing so. Do you think that mother and father will be angry with him for long?”

“I believe that all wounds can be healed by love and happiness, and when they see how happy he makes you, they will not hold onto any bad feelings.”

A single tear trickled down Clara’s cheek. Agatha linked arms with her and tilted her head to the side.

“Is that a happy tear, or a sad one?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps both. Today has brought wonderful news, and I suppose it’s only just beginning to settle in. But when I look at them like that, I can’t help but think that they’re going to be separated soon. This place will never be the same without them.”

“I know, but that is the nature of St. Margaret’s. It hurts us, but it’s a good thing that they find new families. It shows everything is working as it should.”

Clara sighed. “There’s just something different about the four of them. They’ve been together for so long, and I suppose part of it is that I have grown up with them as well. When they leave it feels as though I will be saying farewell to a part of myself.”

Agatha patted her arm. “I would like to tell you that it gets easier, but it doesn’t. Just be comforted by the fact that you were able to give them stability and love when they needed it most. The thing about having children is that eventually we have to give them to the world. Sometimes they suffer terribly, but other times they thrive. We will always be there to comfort them when the former happens, and celebrate with them when the latter occurs. You have always been good at bearing pain, Clara, and you will have to do it again and again if you are to continue working here.”

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” she said. She watched as Gerald tumbled to the ground and all the children piled upon him, rolling over him, pinning him down, and tickling him. Clara put a finger to her lips and chuckled to herself.

“Does he know?” Agatha asked softly.

Clara shook her head.