𝕄𝕪 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕄𝕪 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖 - Theodore Laurence ✅

46

The March, Hannah, Mr. Brookes, Fred, and Mr. Laurence all sat quietly in the small living room. It has been an eventful day, waking up to the news that Laurie and Cathy's disappearance, to a letter from her denying marriage with a duke's son, to an argument spark between families to now.

Aunt March had left along with Wayne and his family, her once-held-high head had bowed in guilt to the family for her niece's action but the Dunns were much more apologetic after knowing the truth of their son's actions. They had come in the morning to discuss, a very heated one between Aunt March and Marmee about the future, and agreed to drop the arranged marriage.

Now the sun had set, and yet the two main characters have to return. So obviously, when the sound of the door opening as a figure enters, everyone had snap their head in the direction of the sound.

They were greeted by Laurie opening the door for Cathy from behind her, waiting and watching as she carefully placed her scarf on the rack before both entered the house. Looking up to finally meet eyes with the others, Laurie had his in a frown and confusion while Cathy felt more nervous as she sweetly smiles, "I'm home?"

As if her voice snapped them back to reality, the March sister was the first to step into action. Pulling their sister into their embrace, before they ramble and gossip like any typical sisters would about the event that happened this morning.

As Laurie gradually regained his senses, he attempted to unravel the story that had unfolded before him. However, the loud, shrill squeals of Amy, the motherly concern of Meg, and Jo's unceasing admiration of Cathy's actions all combined to create a chaotic and confusing atmosphere. In his bewilderment, he looked to the adults present for guidance.

"The Dunns were here this morning. Your aunt too." Mr. Laurence spoke up, his stern voice made the room silent once more. Cathy look at her parents in worry while Laurie had a more protective gaze toward her before asking for more information from his grandfather. "What they want?"

Marmee took the lead, clapping her hand together as she moved inside the circle Meg, Jo, and Amy created towards her middle child. She embraced Cathy so warmly as if it might be her last. Hugging her so tight, "You're free my child," she whispered in Cathy's ear. Everyone watch as Cathy's eyes grew in size, tears were pooling in them as Marmee continued to hold her and repeated again and again.

Hannah couldn't hold it anymore, and broke into tears as she joins the others in the circle, pulling the March siblings together as they huddled together. Cathy felt squeezed and slightly hard to breathe but choked sobs left her mouth as she laughed and cried at the same time.

Laurie, witnessing the emotional scene unfolding before him, felt an immense wave of relief wash over him as he realized that Cathy was finally free from her abusive fiancé and the confines of the arranged marriage. The burden that had been weighing heavily on his heart began to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of hope for Cathy's future. He knew that the young woman deserved a life filled with love, happiness, and true companionship, and now the possibility of such a life was open to her.

As the family continued to embrace, Laurie's eyes met Cathy's, communicating his unwavering support and solidarity with her newfound freedom.

The circle slowly broke apart as Cathy calm down her emotions. Her smile was wider than ever. The sense of relief and joy in the room was cut out by Amy's sudden yell of frustration and playfulness as she raised Cathy's right hand in the air and glared at Laurie.

Everyone watched in confusion at first, Laurie did too before it hits him. Groaning out loud while rolling his eyes, Cathy instead gave Amy a confused soft smile. "Excuse me? What is this Laurie?!" Everyone now turned to the said male's name being called out. Everyone trying to piece the puzzle together but they didn't need to since Amy exclaimed out loud, "I don't see a ring here!!"

The room burst into laughter and applause but Laurie could see the clear look in their eyes, genuine curious too for the lack of ring on Cathy's finger. "If you haven't got a ring, I will gladly give the one I made for your grandmother," Mr Laurence shouted out now, almost excited as he rampages through his shirt pockets.

Laurie groan once more but this time he grew annoyed, walking past the March siblings to get to the kitchen, but not before stopping beside Cathy and whispering in her ear, however, purposely loud enough for everyone to hear, "I'm not dealing with this. Don't have enough alcohol in the system too. They're all yours." With that he heads to the kitchen's fridge as he said, he searching for a cold drink to calm his nerves.

Leaving everyone confused as the attention now shifted to Cathy as she was trying to explain the whole situation to the whole with her kind and soft tone. "He did suggest the idea..." She lingers on her words, getting everyone to listen eager to know what happened. "But I refused." She finally said with a sigh.

Expecting to get yelled at or annoyed by them, especially Amy. Instead, the girl burst out laughing with full-on snorts as he pointed to Laurie childishly, "Laurie boy just got rejected! Hah! Bet that broke his ego!" / "I heard that Ames!"

Cathy smile fondly, and look over her shoulder to the kitchen to see just in time as Laurie drown a bottle of cold drink in his hand, but they made eye contact. That eye contact was enough to tell her; he didn't take her rejection to heart. There was still time.

Seeing that small interaction, was also enough for the rest to not worry. They knew that Cathy was adapting to this new change, opening up and being honest about her feelings. And Laurie was now ready to step up from his childhood and own up to his mistakes.

They are going at their own pace, and by their small looks, smiles, and secret gestures. Everyone knew, in time, they will settle down together.