Aldric looked the same. Taller, obviously. His shoulders had widened and his nose had become broader. But he had the same icy blue eyes. The same towheaded hair. The same smug look plastered on his face.

He was driving the cart that pulled up just after they had finished cleaning up breakfast. Once the horses stopped, Aldric stepped from his seat and walked to the back to help his wife get down from the cart. She was holding a wrapped bundle of blankets.

"Oh, let me see that baby!" Trea ran and greeted her younger sister. "Oh, look at that bald head! And what enormous eyes! Hello little Alderson!"

Ann gave an exhausted smile and handed the bundle over to the waiting arms of her big sister.

"Fine weather we are having this spring," Aldric boomed as he strode forward and grasped Hobson's hand.

"Yes. I hope your planting is going well," Hobson seemed to lower the tenor of his voice to match Aldric's.

"So, I hear you have some guests from the big city, eh?" Aldric swept his eyes over Milo, Mathilda, and Margaret's heads until they landed on Marin.

Under Aldric's gaze, Marin wanted to wither away into the dirt and disappear.

"Yes, you remember my brother, Marin the medic." Hobson said with an even keel.

Marin imagined what Aldric might say to embarrass him in front of his nieces and nephew. Maybe something like, "Little Marina, all grown up. Became a nurse so you wouldn't have to marry a man and become someone's wife."

Instead, Aldric just laughed. A hearty, dismissive laugh, but that was all. He said nothing to Marin, but just turned his head to Tilly. "And who is this?"

"This is Tilly," Hobson introduced her. "She is a nutrix from The Order."

"Tilly?" came Ann's voice, thin and wispy.

"Hello Ann," said Tilly.

She seemed to lean away from Marin as she acknowledged her old sweetheart. He imagined her being pulled back into another lifetime. And he looked between the two young women. Tilly, vibrant and strong. Ann, pale and mouse-like. They seemed so unmatched. Uneven. And he wondered if it had always been this way, or if being married to Aldric had seeped the color out of Ann's skin, the joy out of her bones. What was Tilly thinking right now? Did she feel sorry for her old friend? Pity? Longing? Marin wished he knew. And he hoped that she would tell him later that night. To confide in him. Trust in him.

"Let's go inside and have some tea. Mathilda, can you grab that tray of biscuits we made?" Trea gestured for everyone to follow her as she held the baby in her other arm. Milo scooped up Margaret and everyone made their way towards the cottage.

The first part of the visit was as bland as weak tea. After a few biscuits, Mathilda and Milo got bored and left the cottage to go run around outside. Margaret bounced on Ann's knee and babbled at her baby cousin, who just stared at her from where he nestled in his aunt's arms. The two farmers discussed crops, and Marin and Tilly listened.

Marin learned that although Aldric and Ann only lived about a mile and a half down the road, the sisters only saw each other about once a month. Sometimes less. It was tiring, both having young babies. Plus, since the snows had thawed, planting had dominated much of their time. He also learned that there seemed to be more crows in the area than in previous years. That there had been less rain. That Aldric's cat had had kittens, but his cow had not had a calf this spring.

Then, at some point, the minutia of daily life stopped being the focus of conversation and all eyes fell on Marin and Tilly.

"So, are you back for good, Marina?" Aldric seemed to snarl.

"It's Marin."

"Did they run you out? You leave your father behind?"

"Aldric, don't," Ann pleaded softly.

"I'm just asking. No harm in asking? I feel bad talking just about local news when we have guests from the city. Isn't including guests in the conversation the polite thing to do?" Aldric held his palms up.

"You can call my brother by his name." Hobson adjusted how he was sitting, spreading his legs further apart and puffing out his barreled chest.

"Okay, okay. Marin, yes? How long are you back for?"

"Just a visit." And as he said it, he knew it was true. Hobson would protect him, but at what cost? Aldric was just one of many people from Addersfield who knew Marin's origin story and didn't approve. If he and Tilly moved back here, what would they do? Never leave the farm? Never go into the village square? They'd be more imprisoned here than they were in the compound on top of the hill overlooking Curander. At least in The Order they had the freedom to move about.

"And, what about you Tilly?" Ann ventured, her voice never seeming to rise much above a whisper.

"Probably just here another night. I have patients back in Curander who need me."

Ann looked away and back at the two babies. Tilly's lips curled slightly upward, but there was sadness in her eyes.

The silence that settled over the table was uncomfortable. Only Margaret seemed unaffected. Hobson was still staring down Aldric, and Trea blew out her cheeks and let out a slow exhale. Marin felt bad for his sister-in-law. This was not the joyous surprise she had intended.

"I should probably go check on the goats. I think I forgot to give them fresh water this morning," Marin said as he stood up. "It was nice seeing you again after all these years. Your son is beautiful, by the way. Congratulations to you both." He gave Aldric and Ann a slight nod and retreated to the barn.

Marin heard Tilly give a similar excuse behind him, but he waited until he was at the barn before he turned around. He saw Tilly walk out of the cottage, but Ann was following her, and then the two women disappeared around a corner and out of sight. A jolt of jealously struck him in the gut, and he inhaled sharply, turning back to the goats. He really had forgotten to fetch them fresh water.

He tried to ignore this fresh pain, and busied himself inside the barn. Replacing soiled straw with fresh bedding. Making sure all the animals had fresh hay to eat. Sweeping away the mouse droppings. Filling the basin with fresh water from the well. He kept at it until he heard Tilly's voice, "They left. It was time for Alderson to eat and take a nap."

Marin looked at her. His face stayed blank for a beat before melting into concern. "How was it seeing Ann?" He asked, his jealousy evaporated.

"Strange. It was like seeing the husk of the girl I knew."

"What did you two talk about when she followed you outside?" He couldn't help himself.

"I just... I just told her why I left when I did. That's all."

Marin wasn't sure that was all, but he trusted that Tilly would tell him when it was time. "So, tonight is your last night here?" he asked.

"I think that will be for the best."

He couldn't read her expression. He didn't know how to ask if he was invited to come with her. They had spent two nights in each other's arms, embracing and kissing. He felt seen by a woman for the first time in his life, and he didn't want to lose that or give that up. Staring at her now, he felt so young and helpless.

"I guess we won't be building a cottage on the other side of the field." He said without meeting her eyes.

"And you will not build one for just yourself, either." She stepped closer to him. "You can't stay here any more than I can. Your brother is an angel. His family is amazing. But this town? It's too full of ghosts for either of us. Don't you agree?"

"I do." He finally looked up into her face.

"Do you remember why you and your father joined The Order?" she asked.

"So I could be myself."

"Exactly. Same reason I joined. We both have gifts of healing, yes, but more important, we needed an escape from... from society. From our pasts. That's what we needed to be ourselves. And even though we both came from here, we need to be there to be ourselves."

"But... Jocelyn." He held his arms out. He was still helpless.

"Like I said two days ago: you need to fight for your innocence. Don't let her take that away from you."

"But, what if I no longer want to be innocent?" He said, closing the gap left between them, kissing her.

Tilly put her hands on his chest and steadied him. "We will need to find a way." Then she leaned forward, their foreheads touching, their noses nuzzled. "And we will find a way."