The adults all took turns opening their gifts. Neither Dante nor Laurie had had a real Christmas—a Christmas surrounded by family—in years, so they were equally shocked with each gift they were handed.

Laurie cried when she opened Dante’s present to find a small necklace with a hand painted orchid on it, a reminder of their day at the waterfall near Mauna Kea. Laurie gave Dante a watch, with the date they first met engraved on the back. Everyone else showered them with gifts for the baby: diaper bags, a little handmade quilt, clothes, and lots of toys. With the gifts finished, they commenced with cooking, eating, and taking tons of photos, before settling down to watch a movie.

They spent Wednesday helping Bob and Gabriella pack up and get ready to leave. On Thursday, they all had breakfast together, but then they went out to the van to say goodbye. They were a somber group as they stood out in the driveway. Laurie gave Gabriella a fierce hug goodbye. Then she sniffled and held each of the boys until they started to squirm. Dante hugged each of them in turn.

“You marry that girl,” Bob whispered loudly to Dante as they said goodbye. “I mean it.”

Dante laughed, but Laurie’s heart skipped a beat when his gaze slid to her with a smile.

“You had better.” Bob released him.

Dante put his arm around Laurie. He stood there smiling as Bob shook hands with Albert, and hugged Emma.

Then Bob got in the driver’s seat of the van, turned the van around, and drove down the driveway blaring his horn.

Friday was quiet. With half of their house now empty, it just sounded less alive. Without having the boys to teach, Emma and Laurie wandering around the kitchen in the morning. They didn’t know what to do with themselves, until Emma dusted off some old knitting supplies and started teaching Laurie.

Dante packed everything up for their flight the next day.

Laurie couldn’t face that chore. Laurie knew they didn’t come with much, but they had somehow accumulated an entire bag of items she knew they didn’t come with. Laurie made sure they took back pictures of the family from Christmas. She also needed her medical records, vitamins, and books on expecting a baby. They had come to this house as semi-fugitives, with little on them and trusting no one. It seemed they were leaving an entire life behind just to go back.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, though everyone in the farmhouse had privately wished for a sudden blizzard. Emma made breakfast with Laurie, but when Dante and Albert walked in, Emma was crying on Laurie’s shoulder. Dante and Albert looked at each other. They sank into their seats at the table, and stayed as quiet as possible. Laurie managed to get Emma pulled together enough to sit down for breakfast.

“I want you to call me as soon as you land.” Emma gripped Laurie’s hand, sniffling.

“I will, Mom.” Dante nodded.

“You make sure she takes all of those vitamins. Laurie has to find a good OB/GYN in Hawaii or wherever it is they send her.” Emma wiped her eyes.

“I know, Mom. I got everything from the doctor she’ll need.” Dante smiled.

Emma grabbed his hand, squeezing it. Dante tried not to grimace, but his mother had a very firm, insistent grip on him.

“You’re going to talk to them about expediting the trial?” Emma squeezed harder.

“Yes. I’ll talk to the DA himself if I have to. I’m pretty sure they’ll want to put Kaimi away as quickly as possible, given all he’s done.” Dante patted her hand with his free hand.

“You remember, anytime you need to talk honey, anytime.” Emma teared up again.

“They won’t let her make phone calls to a burner phone like yours. Her calls all have to go through the main switchboard.” Dante spoke gently.

“Well, you’ll be there, so anytime she wants to speak to me you let her!” Emma’s mouth settled into a hard line.

Dante flinched. He didn’t respond, just nodded his head. His mother finally let go of him.

Dante rubbed his sore fingers in relief.

“Oh, God. I wish you didn’t have to go back.” Emma sniffled again.

“Emma…” Albert said.

Emma was crying into her eggs and toast.

Laurie made a move to comfort her, but Albert beat her to it. He stood, kneading his wife’s shoulders.

Dante heaved a sigh, picking up his plate and Laurie’s. When he came back to the table, he sat beside Laurie, rubbing her back while she stared at her breakfast. Laurie felt like she was being orphaned for a second time. He sighed.

“It’ll be okay, you know?” He tried to soothe them both. “The trial will be over before we know it.”

Both women nodded, but they didn’t listen. Albert finally cleared his throat.

“I think it’s time for you and Laurie to get going.” Albert nodded to the door.

Laurie looked at the clock. Dante’s father was right. If they delayed much longer, they might miss their flight.

Dante helped Laurie up, leading her toward the door.

Emma and Albert followed them out to the rental car to say goodbye.

“You take c…care…of her.” Emma hugged her son.

“I will, Mom. I promise.” He gave her a big, long hug.

“I mean it. You tell me the second she goes into labor. I’ll get right on the next plane.” Emma squeezed him.

Dante blanched.

“Okay, Mom. I will.” Dante gave her a kiss goodbye.

Laurie hugged Emma again. They stood there holding one another while Emma tried to pass on as much information about motherhood as she could possibly cram into the few minutes they had.

Albert surprised Laurie by pulling Dante into a hug.

Dante’s eyes widened as he met Laurie’s gaze over his father’s shoulder.

“You take care of yourself.” Albert patted Dante’s back.

“I will. Take care of Mom.” Dante broke their embrace.

“Always.” Albert clapped him on the back one last time. Albert released him, but grabbed Dante by the shoulder.

“You’re a damn good agent. They would be fools not to give you back your job after everything you’ve done.” Albert squeezed his shoulder.

“Thanks. We’ll just see how it goes.” Dante gave an unconfident shrug.

“I’m real proud of you. You know that, don’t you?” Albert asked.

Dante paused as the praise sank in.

Laurie watched as Dante looked up into his father’s eyes. For once, his father’s expression was open, unguarded. There was vulnerability there, a need to know that Dante understood how his father felt. Laurie’s heart lifted for them both. A smile played at the corner of Dante’s lips.

“Yeah, I do.” He nodded, looking away. He looked back at his dad. “Thanks for your help with everything. I don’t know where we’d be without you and Mom taking us in, and you helping me get to Kaimi.”

Albert gave him one of his rare smiles.

“Of course I would help you.” Albert paused as he snaked his arm around Dante’s shoulders. “It was fun. It was a lot of fun putting the cuffs on him after all these years.”

Dante laughed at his father’s blissful smile, and the twinkle that came into his eyes.

Laurie wanted to laugh with him, but she didn’t want to distract Emma.

Dante lowered his voice as he spoke into his father’s ear, but Laurie heard him as Emma turned away to blow her nose.

“Yeah, that part was a lot of fun. But I wouldn’t tell Mom if you want to live.” Dante raised his eyebrows at him.

Albert laughed. Laurie had never seen him laugh before, at least not a deep, genuine laugh.

Shaking his head in amazement, Dante stood next to his father for a few moments. Then, Dante took Laurie by the hand, made several more promises to his mother, and led Laurie to the waiting car.

Feeling like she couldn’t breathe, Laurie strapped on her seatbelt. They watched out of the car mirrors as the farmhouse slipped away behind them.

Laurie glanced at the clock. Dante was driving slower than usual, below the speed limit. Laurie nestled into her seat, sniffling. The farms rolled past. Dante turned onto the road that led to the airport. Dante’s breathing changed. Laurie looked over. He was grabbing at his seat belt. He was breathing in fits and gasps. He pulled off to the side of road, yanking off his seatbelt so forcefully it snapped.