My Delivery Boy

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The day of Paris

I struggled to put all the bags into the carriage. Alex finally began to help when he heard the groaning of frustration escape my lips. Everyone was around my house to watch us leave. Mary was speaking to Lenard while everyone else spoke amongst each other. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked inside the carriage. There say the kids, waiting for the moment it started moving.

"Really? And you didn't bother to help me. Just watch me struggle?" I asked as I looked at them.

Lincoln smiled a bit. "Sorry mother. I as distracted." He held up his book Lenard had given him.

I shook my head. "Just look after Annemarie. Did you say bye to everyone?"

They all nodded.

"Good. Now I shall go get Mary and say bye then we'll be on our way to the train." I turned from the carriage and took a deep breath. I watched as everyone smiled and got along. I felt my heart fill with happiness but my gut held the feeling of sadness. I was going to miss the unexpected knocks on the door and the memories I was leaving behind. Each part of this small town had some sort of memory attached to it. It was something I would hold dear to me.

I walked from the carriage and went up to Marmee and Father March. I just pulled Marmee into a hug and held it for a moment before turning to Father March. I could already feel the tears form in my eyes. "I am going to be so emotional and I hate it."

Marmee laughed. "It's fine. We all will be." She held my hand in hers and looked at me with those eyes. "I am so proud of you. You just remember that, alright?"

I smiled and nodded.

"You're going to do well out there in the world." Father March told me before pulling me into another hug.

Once I broke from the hug, I moved to father and Ellie. I could see my father was already crying when he tried to hide it by pulling me into a unexpected hug. I took in the smell of burnt wood for a moment before pulling away from the hug. He placed his huge hands on my face and smiled. "I'm going to miss you."

"I promise I will visit as much as I can."

He nodded and let me turn to Ellie who was also crying. I wasn't sure if it was because of me of the fact Alex was going with me. But she pulled me into a hug. This hug was different from our one sided hugs. I could feel the love she held so deep in her heart. It was a mothers love. Even when I wasn't her blood child, she had always seen me as one.

I pulled away from the hugs, tears now falling down my cheek. "I am grateful that my father had met you and that I had sort of a connection with it all. I don't think I would want my father with anyone else."

She smiled and kissed my forehead. "And I don't think I could've had a better step daughter."

I smiled and looked at them both one last time before heading towards the girls. The girls who had always been like sisters to me. Meg had brought John along, making me feel a bit more important. I shook hands with John before joining into a group hug with the girls. My tears began to fall more as we hugged each other. I wasn't even sure if I was the only one crying, but when the hug was done, I could see the tears of many. Beth was been tearing up which made my heart hurt a bit.

I looks at Meg first and took her hands into mine. "I am so glad that I have been able to see you fall in love. Maybe you haven't noticed it yet, but I have." I looked at John. "Please take care of her. She is one of the good ones." When he nodded and I looked back at her. "Your dreams will come true, I know it."

She smiled at me and nodded. Tears fell from her cheeks as I let go of her hands. Next was Beth. The little girl whom I was never close to but still considered her as sister. Her pretty reddish hair and the kind smile she always wore. The time she helped me with a simple hug. I placed my hands into hers and smile. "No matter what anyone tells you, you're going to make it. You're a beautiful piano player and I hold to see you play on the big stage one day."

She smiled and pulled me into a simple hug. It felt like I had finally let go of all the weight on my shoulders. One last glance at her before I moved on to Amy. Her hands held mine first. Her eyes red from crying. I moved a piece of her blonde hair away from her face before giving her a smile. I leaned into her ear, "you're my favorite painter." I moved away from her ear to see a huge smile on her face. I placed a kiss on her forehead and placed my forehead to hers. I took a deep breath before moving to Jo. She had a smile on her face as a tear slid down her cheek. I wiped it away and held her hands with mine. "You, Jo March, will always have a special place in my heart." I looked at everyone. "You all do." I took a deep breath. "This isn't goodbye forever. I promise." I let go of Jo's hands and watched her look down at her hands and back up at me.

"From this moment on, the story of Alexandria Williams starts and you all are apart of it." I smiled and looked at Laurie. He was in his normal stance, a look on his face that I couldn't place. I wasn't sure if he felt sad in this moment or happy. It could even be both of them. I was never sure with him, which was why I was drawn to him in the first place.

I walked to Laurie, he looked at me and gave me a smile. He pulled me into a hug and I could smell strawberries only this time, it was much stronger than normal. I rested my head on his chest and took a deep breath as I parted from the hug. I looked at him and placed a small kiss on his cheek. I took a step back. "I will miss you all." I nod a bit and looked at Mary and Lenard. "Ready?"

Mary looked at me then at Lenard who smiled at her. She looked at me and with a simple nod, my life was beginning. I have Lenard a hug and waited for Mary to say her goodbyes. A few moments later, I was in the carriage with the kids. Mary joined a few moments later and there was the sound of horses and the movement of the carriage. I looked out the small window and waved one last goodbye in which they all returned. I took one last glimpse at Laurie who was already walking away.

I'll wait for you, Laurie. Was all I thought to myself as we got further and further away from the house. As we got further away from the town I had called home for 17 years. It will always be home, not matter where I move to.