Part 4

"Momma don't be sad," Anna tried to comfort her mother but her own excitement dimmed her mother's feelings. "Alex is a good man." She folded her dresses and carefully placed them in the suitcase beside her brush and mirror set. "momma I am going to the city!" She smiled widely and looked up at her mother.

"Yes, I know, tomorrow," her mother took the dress back out and folded it properly. "I can not believe I have to let another one of my girls go." Mother gently pushed her hair back from her face. "I still remember the day you were born." She laughed a small laugh and sat on the bed. Anna pulled her knees up, familiar with her mother's far away look. "Your father wanted a boy so very bad. He wouldn't even consider a girl's name, so sure you would be a boy. When you came out a girl I was almost afraid to tell him, scared he would be disappointed. He took one look at you and fell completely in love." Unshed tears made her eyes appear glassy. "I remember he asked me how it was possible that he loved you so much when he just met you. The love we shared in this house Anna, don't forget it. Keep it with you always. It will keep you warm in the cold nights and lead you back to a place you will always belong."

"I know momma," her voice had become as husky as mothers. "When I have babies I hope they are as happy as I was growing up."

"Now, don't be too quick with having babies." She looked sternly at her daughter.

"We are going to wait until we have a house. We're going to work and save our money until we can build our own house. Alex says we can have a home right outside the city and drive to work." She looked at mother to see if she was impressed with her knowledge of automobiles.

"Are you planning to work?"

"Only till we have enough for our house," she smiled slightly. "Then we are going to have at least ten babies."

Mother laughed. "Ten?" she asked. "I thought you didn't want babies."

"I want babies momma, I want a whole house of babies. I just don't want to milk any cows." she wrinkled her nose and they shared a knowing laugh.

"I think two years have changed you more than you know."

Anna gripped her mother's hand tightly, all at once knowing things would never be the same. She smiled softly.

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The city was not at all what Anna had expected it to be. The first couple nights were the hardest. If the journey to get there hadn't been so long and difficult, she would have asked to be sent home until they had the money for a house of their own. More than once she cursed her impatience. She could almost hear momma's voice "patience is a virtue Anna, don't be in such a rush all the time."

The train ride had been exciting, and the smile hardly left her face. She had sat at the window eagerly watching the scenery slip by. Alex had watched her, knowing that he was the luckiest man on earth. He smiled at her child-like wonder.

That excitement had quickly faded when they got to the city. The noise was almost overwhelming. She held tight to Alex's hand as he led her down the crowded streets. "Don't let go, Anna," he had warned her at the train station. There, she had shooed him away, thinking he was just being overly protective. Now, there was no telling where he ended and she began.