In the end, it didn’t take long for Violet to calm the staff member who came to check on the commotion following the reunion of Amy and Taylor. A reunion that filled Violet with a warmth that burned as brightly as the affection she felt for her friend, her *girlfriend* (to borrow the word from Amy herself). However, before the two made their way inside the orphanage, Violet spared one last glance at where Amy and Taylor stood still locked in an embrace.

Though it pained her to leave their side, Violet felt it was important to give them the time they needed to reconnect without being interrupted. Besides, she was the one who wrote the letter to the orphanage to inform them of Amy’s impending arrival and her intention to take Taylor home. That should make it easier to start to explain the situation. Then, when this was all said and done, the three of them could come back together and…start their life? That was a surreal thought and one that held Violet’s attention throughout the ensuing discussion with the older woman. Almost to the point of distraction.

However, she managed to calmly walk her through the events of the past year, and by the time Amy and Taylor joined her inside the orphanage, Violet was stepping out of the office with the appropriate release form in hand.

“Oh, done already?” Amy asked after she stepped up.

“Not quite,” Violet answered and then extended her hand with the piece of paper. “You need to sign this and see the woman in the office.” Seeing as she was the one actually taking custody of Taylor.

“Ah, I see.” Subsequently, Amy turned to Taylor and squatted before her, coming down to her level. “I’m going to go talk to the lady about you coming home with me. Why don’t you take Miss Violet and go get your things, okay?”

“Okay!” Taylor replied excitedly before turning and offering her hand. “Come with me, Miss Violet.”

“Of course,” Violet said before reaching out and taking Taylor’s hand. However, before she even had a chance to squeeze it, the little girl stepped off and started tugging her along the hallway toward a staircase at the far end. Again, Violet turned her head and looked at Amy, who offered a gentle wave and a bright smile of her own before opening the door and disappearing into the office. Whereupon Violet returned her attention to Taylor and increased her pace to match the small, excited steps that dragged her along.

“Follow me!”

The two went up the stairs and took the second door on the right, about halfway down the hallway. The room inside was completely open and mostly devoid of furniture except for 6 beds where the children must’ve slept and two dressers on the far wall with three drawers each. One for each child, no doubt. Taylor dropped Violet’s hand once they were inside, and quickly ran to one of the bottom drawers to pull it out. Following some light rummaging, she held up two envelopes, a little worse for wear since the last time Violet had seen them.

“Look, I kept your letters.”

“I see that,” Violet said with a smile on her lips and her hands crossed in front of her dress.
“Will you read them to me?”

Violet couldn’t help but chuckle lightly at the question as she took another step into the room. “I tell you what,” she started before tilting her head past the little girl to the drawer that was still open behind her. “Your big sister wanted us to pack your things, so maybe we should do that first? If we don’t have time now, I’ll read them to you tonight before you go to bed. How does that sound?”

“Oh, okay.”

“Okay,” Violet repeated back with a nod of her head. Their deal struck, and she made her way to the dresser and knelt on her knees to get a better look. “Are these all your things?”

“Uh-huh,” she confirmed.

Violet nodded and reached in to inspect the few items that were inside. Some dresses, a toy or two, a second pair of shoes. Not much, unfortunately. Even with all the wealth at his disposal, Amy’s father hadn’t seen fit to ensure the girl was better off? Surely, that couldn’t have been so difficult? But she tried not to let any thoughts of Richard York cloud the happiness that was this moment. Instead, she reached into the drawer and retrieved the small bag tucked into the back. The one she must’ve come with.

“Do you think you can help me?” Violet asked a moment later.

“Oh, yes. I’m very good at cleaning and folding dresses.”

“I have no doubt you are.”

Only a few minutes with this little girl and Violet knew why Amy wanted to care for her so dearly. It was the same feeling that struck the doll back when she first delivered the letter, but it was heightened now knowing that Violet would also become her caretaker. Or big sister, as she and Amy called it. However, Amy very clearly wanted to be more to the girl. And she would, of course. In time, Violet had no doubt Taylor would come to see her as a mother who loved her no less than if she had given birth to the little girl herself.

But Violet couldn’t dwell too much on the future just yet, there was serious packing to do! Or so Taylor would have her believe by the look of pure determination on the little girl’s face. In the end, she was no liar, either. Taylor had everything tucked away (somewhat neatly) into the small bag just in time for Amy to appear at the doorway.

“Have you packed?” She asked after putting their bags down, crossing her arms, and leaning against the door jam.

“Yes! I’m all ready!” Taylor shouted before getting to her feet and running to where Amy stood, only to nearly tackle her a moment later. The sight once again filled Violet with love, and she spared one last look inside both the drawer and the bag. After retrieving an errant sock that had been left behind, Violet stood from where she knelt and moved to meet Amy and Taylor. And just like with Amy, Violet resolved to expand the little girl’s wardrobe when they returned. New clothes to match her new life.

“Is everything set?” Violet asked when she arrived at the door to the room.

“All good,” Amy confirmed before placing a hand on Taylor’s back and giving her a gentle push out the door. “It’s time to go, Taylor. Did you want to say goodbye to anyone?”

“Can I say goodbye to my friend?”

“Oh, of course.”

Friends could be everything, couldn’t they? So, after Violet and Amy both took a bag, the trio made their way downstairs and out into the backyard once more. Whereupon they came to a stop on the steps and watched Taylor run off into the grass to find whoever it was she wanted to talk to. Not many children turned to regard her as she did so, but one other little girl stood and brushed off her dress before running up and giving Taylor a hug.

“So, she really did make a friend,” Amy said before scooting closer and leaning to the side so she could rest her head on Violet’s shoulder.

“It would appear so,” Violet agreed. “It must have been since the last time I was here; she was off on her own then.”

“Ah, I hate to take her away from that.”

“I know,” Violet started before letting her head fall to gently rest on Amy’s while they watched the two girls say their goodbyes. “But perhaps they can write letters someday?”

She could feel Amy’s laughter rather than hear it over the screams and excitement of the children around them and the amusement was mirrored in her own smile.

“Yeah, and I know just the person to help her with that.”

“We’ll need to teach her to read, first.”

“And write,” Amy added.

“And type,” Violet continued, causing both women to chuckle softly.

“Yeah,” Amy hummed before standing straight and taking in a deep, shaky breath. “There’s a lot to do, isn’t there?” Then she turned to Violet and the carefree look of only a few moments ago began to melt away into something akin to concern. “There’s paperwork to do back in Leiden, she needs to get into a school, and we still need to find a place to live.”

Of course, Violet could only nod in agreement. “Yes, we need to do all those things.” And no doubt many more. That was only the tip of the iceberg and there were no doubt countless issues to be addressed in the coming weeks.

“And that’s not even the worst part,” Amy continued as the look on her face deepened. “He’s still out there.” She didn’t even need to say her father’s name for Violet to know who Amy was talking about. Honestly, she was right. The pair had written their letters and made their pleas to those they knew and loved. Would it be enough to keep Richard York away for good? She honestly didn’t know and perhaps they would never truly would. Not until his obituary showed up in the papers one day.

Though Violet only met him once, she liked to think she knew his type. One that would take advantage of his flesh and blood to secure his own legacy and use a child in the process. Now he had to choose what that legacy would be, a daughter that loathed him with every fiber of her being or the companies that bore his name. In the end, Violet thought she knew which one Richard York would choose and for now, she could only hope that she was right.

When the two girls were done, Taylor turned and started running back to Violet and Amy, who came down the stairs to receive her. “Did you say goodbye to your friend?” Amy asked.

“Yes!”

“What’s her name?”

“Lily.”

“That’s a nice name,” Violet added.

“Yeah, just like the flower.”

“Just like the flower,” Amy agreed. “Now, are you ready to go?”

“Mhm, let’s go home!” Taylor practically shouted those last words and reached out for Amy’s free hand.

Clasped, they started off toward the side of the building with Violet in tow. However, before they disappeared around the corner, Taylor brought up her free hand and waved to Lily one last time. Whereupon she grabbed Violet’s hand too and picked up the pace. Hands together, they all walked around to the front of the orphanage and then through the gate without any of them looking back. Their life was ahead of them now and it felt like the possibilities were endless!

But even with the future stretched out before them, Violet couldn’t help but think of the past as they walked down the road back to town. To a day that was bright and sunny, just like this one. When letters had rained from the sky and her promise took flight. She had lived up to it, right? Made a life for herself using the gift she had received. Now, she had not only come to understand love, but it felt like the missing puzzle piece in her heart had been filled. Not so much because of what she felt for Amy, though that was certainly a part of it. No, it was the love that she received in turn that truly completed Violet. That filled her with warmth and a contentment she couldn’t ever remember having. Made all the sweeter by those who were waiting for the trio back in Leiden. A family all Violet’s own, no doubt ready to receive the one she held in her hands.