Winter was hard for most people. Astrid became very sick and she was overcome one night in late spring.

Lewis mourned her passing, even if it meant now he was free to marry Delilah he was not sure she would she would marry him.

She had been working for Todd singing in his public house on Friday and Saturday nights while he accompanied her on the piano.

He went to see her one fine spring days, he was so nervous he did not notice how quiet it was.

"Delilah you know that Astrid died, and now I am a free man will you marry me," Lewis pleaded.

"No do not be silly I can not marry you," Delilah laughed.

"Not right now my wife has only been gone a month but . . ." Lewis started.

"No never, now get up you silly man," Delilah laughed.

"I am not sure I can," he moaned, his hip was bothering him again.

She helped him up and said, "I can't because I am moving to Boston, to sing at Mr. Hammonds theater."

Lewis was baffled he had not expected her to react this way.

He stood there staring at her for a moment, wondering if he had really known her at all.

"What about the children?" Lewis asked thinking about his sons Ian and Nathaniel.

"Oh I had my other lover take them to my parents, I should have never had them," Delilah sighed.

He knew who the other lover was that damned Frenchman, here he was single and old and no one to turn too. He was alone, he had given up all his lovers for Delilah.

He did not know what to do, Justin wanted his mothers house, he should let him have it.

Lewis had never been so depressed in his life, his two boys he would never see them they would never know him as their father. Jamie and Octavia would raise them.

He thought about getting Nathaniel he was older maybe he and Richard could move here and live and raise Nathaniel. No that was crazy he couldn't live here.

As he approached the house he had spent the past 27 years of his life he thought they had been the best years of his life.

But this was not his house. It was too big for just he and Richard now that Maurisa was married, Justin needed this house.

Richard was practicing his violin, his youngest child, and the one most like him.

"Hello son, I thought you would be calling on some girl," Lewis said.

"No, I really want to go out with Ava Maria but she says I am to young," Richard sighed.

"What would you think of leaving and going to Calico Springs," Lewis suggested.

"Well that would be like a fresh start for us, what would you do?" Richard asked.

"Well I think we could live at Jamie's new inn and work for him, it would be like the old days, only now I have a good son at my side, you don't really want to go to the acadamy do you?" Lewis asked.

"No father, I want to learn to run a public room and play music," Richard said smiling.

"Then tomorrow we she pack our wagon and take our horses and tell Justin goodbye," Lewis said hoping Jamie would take them in.

Six months ago Jamie had came home from talking to Alexander, he had a great idea now all he had to convince his wife.

"Octavia, how would you like to have a new house?" Jamie asked.

"What?" Octavia asked.

"Your own room to paint in, and a room for the boys, smaller and more modern salt box design," Jamie started.

"There is nothing wrong with this house," she sighed.

You know Valerie is expanding, they are so crowded here, the two of us and the boys move out and they have three

"Jamie we had ten children in this house," she said but now she was smiling slightly.

"Our son in law has a very good offer and I think we should take it," Jamie said, "Lucas and Tristen can handle things here."

"Which son in law and how far do we have to move?" Octavia asked.

"Alexander, a new inn in Calico Springs to the North of Arcadia, we would be closer to Quentin, the tribe has moved, and Calico Springs is a booming town," Jamie said.

Octavia nodded, she knew she would say yes to what ever it was she had not seen such excitement in Jamies eyes for over a decade. She knew he hated retirement and he was bored they had talked about building a new cottage for sometime he had even purchased land for it. But now Joseph or Nicholas could have that land.

So the inn was built of Arcadia's brick and named the Warwick Inn, inside was the freight and ticket office for Swensen and son as well, because Alexander wanted a small office in the new town. He and Monique were thinking about moving to Calico Springs and starting a school there as well.

That spring they moved into their new house, and Octavia loved it, she thought Valerie would be quite happy having her own house as well.

But the bliss and quiet of their new house with their two maturing sons was short lived as one afternoon parsons DuBiose arrived with their grandchildren.

"I am sorry I have bad news. Delilah has left to go to Boston and has asked me to bring the children here." DuBiose said looking most distraught.

"When is she coming back?" Octavia asked.

"She has no intention of ever coming back," the man said, and Jamie thought he looked as if he would weep.

"Well what if we had said no to keeping the children?" Jamie asked seeing that Nicholas and Joseph taking them inside and talking to them.

"I knew you wouldn't, and so did she, but in that case I was to drive them to the orphans asylum in Rivers Edge." the man explained.

"Why is she going to Boston?" Octavia said angrily. They would take the children and if Delilah ever thought she would get them back she was sadly mistaken.

DuBiose handed them Delilah's letter, and sighed, "I asked her to be my wife and she laughed at me, I think Lewis asked her as well."

"My daughter is insane," Jamie said, "Her name will never be mentioned again in this house, he threw down the letter."

"Stay at the inn tonight, rest and go back to Amberly tomorrow," Octavia said as Jamie walked off to the house, she picked up the letter and put it in her apron pocket.

He thanked her for the kindness and hurried away so she would not see the tears.

Octavia knew something was not right, the man seemed so emotional, and Octavia wondered why Delilah had chosen him and not Todd or someone else to do her dirty work.

For a long time Octavia stood and stared after him. Now not only did they have a new inn to worry about but their grandchidren, Ross, Rochelle, Rosalee, Nathanian, and Ian

"Are you all right?" Jamie asked seeing Joseph chase the girls by with Drum running along.

"Yes I think we are going to have a harder time with this then the children," Octavia sighed.

"You are right," Jamie said, "I am so angry at her."

"Your anger is wasted on her, I am convinced she has no heart we failed as parents some how," Octavia said, "We will give them love and teach them right, I don't think she could do that."

"I suppose Lewis will want his sons at some point," Jamie sighed.

I don't know about that, Lewis is older then we are, and I think he will be happy . . ." Octavia started, watching Ross play with Candy not a care in the world.

"Octavia, we are not that young, what if we were to die, and can you really handle a baby?" Jamie asked.

"Maylissa would take them, she wants another son or two but does not like being pregnant," Octavia said, "Everyone dies, we just have to do the best we can, and yes I can handle a baby."

They went inside Joseph and Nicholas had everything in control, they had the baby tucked away asleep upstairs and Nathanial was playing with a toy, Rochelle was playing the piano oh if Julius could hear her, she was marvelous.

Joseph and Rosalee were talking about going fishing, something she loved to do as did he.

There are our sons to help, you forget, I just have to find another bar man and a cook for the pub and our life will be simple.

Octavia nodded, she stared at Nicholas he had grown up and was such a fine young man, she couldn't believe he had quietly said he would give up going to the academy to help out.

She may have failed with Delilah but she had succeeded with the others.

Maylissa was very upset when she heard about what happened with her sister dumping her five children on her parents.

"Philip I want to go to Calico Springs," Maylissa said.

"Sure we can go, maybe next weekend if I can . . ." he started.

"No I mean move there," Maylissa said.

"Well Tristen is . . ." Philip started.

"Tristen has Randal Chastain, he can spare you, my parents need us there, my sister Delilah dumped her children with my parents, did not even have the guts to do it herself sent poor DuBiose there with them." Maylissa said trying not to let anger seep into her voice Jake and Jesse weren't really old enough to understand the words but they got tone of voice really well.

"Where would we live?" Philip asked, thinking he did not want to live with his father in law or at the inn.

"That is the thing my parents are building a bigger house so we can take their old house." Maylissa said.

"All right, it doesn't matter where I work," he shrugged, "It just means we have to build another stable."

"You know I have been thinking about that, we made a lot of mistakes in this stable the new one will be even better." Maylissa said smiling.

She looked at Jake, and wondered how in the world her sister could give up her children and just walk away.

She loved hers so much, she wondered how she could let go, when the day came they were ready to go out on their own.

That night se decided to talk to Rafe, Angelique, and Rebeccah, they should be thought of in this move as well.

"So mum we will live next to Nicholas and Joseph again?" Rafe asked, he talked like one much older then twelve thinking everything out carefully. "Yes, and also Ross, Roselee, and Rochelle as well as the little ones," Maylissa said looking at her first born not without pride.

"Well I suppose that would be good, Ross is a pest at times but I have such a good time with Joseph, why mum are aunt Delilah's children with grandfather and grandmother?" Rafe asked.

"That is a good question," Maylissa said, "I think she thought grandfather and grandmother needed them around."

"Grandmother needs us too then," Rebecca said.

"If we move who is going to go over and help Valerie bake?" Angelique asked.

"I think she will find someone sissy," Rebecca said, she had missed Joseph so much as well as she really liked Rochelle and Rosalee, even if their mums didn't get on, Rebecca enjoyed the other girls company.

Maylissa was surprised how well her children took to the idea.

"What about our pets?" Rebecca asked.

"Of course, we would take them they are part of the family," Maylissa said smiling at her daughters.

"The horses too?" Rafe asked.

"Of course silly how will we get there?" Rebecca teased.

"We might have to leave some of them here, but eventually all will be there with us," Maylissa said.

She wondered if she would like Calico Springs, but she wanted to be close to her parents, and even though she thought Monique would be there, she would be busy with the new school.