"What do you mean, your wallet is gone?" he asked, his voice accidentally hitting louder with his lack of control over it. I would have let it slide, honestly. But it seriously irks me how he suddenly shouts without clear reasoning.

"I mean. It's gone." I spoke through gritted teeth as I stare right his way.

Without saying anything, he put the box down and place it on the sidewalk. "Very well. It's time for me to go back to my store then." He was about to retreat when Jo decided to call him back.

"Dear me. You really think missing one wallet is going to be the end of Henry?" she spoke, in an exaggerated tone. "The man is a fine lad. Can't you see?"

Then he spun around, shamelessly back to my side. Trudging with his eyes eyeing me instinctively. "So, he can still pay me?"

"Yes, he can," she said, nodding as she turns my way. A bright smile on her lips. "Can't you, Henry?"

"Of course, I can." I laughed.

The man parted his lips, almost seeming overjoyed. Before he could say anything, I interrupted him, by talking again, directly to Jo.

"Though I'm very sure you can ask some of your kids to work for me instead, Jo," I said, smiling. "Tell them that whoever would walk around with me, carrying my loads, would be given two quid per hour. And mark my word, I might be out long."

"Oh dear, what has the day come? Seeing you outside was already a miracle, Henry. But staying out for long? What is going on?"

At her questions, I feel the need to answer. Besides, she might know what happens for the past ten years when I've been absent. I cast a gaze on the pebbled path along our way. Even that path had seem to age from all the walking everyone's done on it. Time sure has a toll on everyone.

"Eline," I finally answered, keeping my eyes on the long stone path.

"Eline?"

"She sends me a letter, Jo. Telling me to visit her. For old-time sake." I walked to her porch with her following me from behind and sat on the steps. "But when I got there, I was shaken by how much everything had changed in that area. Our schools and orphanage, along with her house. It's gone."

"It has been that way in a while, Henry." she nodded.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" I feel like I was the only one who didn't know. I was alone in my dilemma. Everyone seems to have already moved on. Even George never showed me a flicker of his concern over matters that happened outside of my office, while he was around me.

"Henry. You do know it was you that didn't want to hear about the outside world. You pushed us away. Did you forget?" Jo's voice was soft and gentle as she sat herself down beside me.

She was right. It was my fault in some way or another.

"Lighten up, Henry. I'll tell you where to find her." Her offer made me lift up my head and turned to look at her. I was not desperate to meet Evangeline. But a part of me tells me that I have to be quick. Warning me that I'll regret not taking the chances. And because of that, right now, Jo works well as my angel.

"Please do tell me where to find her, Jo."

She was about to speak when a voice from inside her house calls out for her. "Mother Jo, can we still go have a picnic today?" A small child's voice spoke from between the door gap.

Jo turned to look at the boy and waves her hand, calling him to come over. The boy obeyed, letting himself come out of the door and walking straight to her. He then stood timidly in front of her and she pulls him to sit on her lap as she laughed.

"I really don't get why you have to be so intimidated by me, Judas," she said, shaking her head at the boy. "We can have a picnic. But you and the others have to help me clean the house. It has to be spotless. And I also want Owen to come back. Send your brother after him."

The little boy nodded and swiftly went back inside. Almost seem like he wanted to run away from her. Jo kept her eyes on the door a little longer. Somehow, after ten years, Jo matured and even gave out a mother aura when she was around kids.

Watching the whole exchange bring a smile to my face. A smile that even I find rare on me. "And you're asking him why he's so intimidated."

At my remark, she finally looked away from the door and turned to me with her mouth gaping open. "What? I was a very loving mother to the boys." she defended.

"And a strict one too. Do you really think they would have the energy for a picnic after cleaning the house that you exaggerated was a lot of mess? Not to mention, you send some of them to find the young thief. You really think they could find him?"

She merely shrugged. "They'll do whatever it takes to get it done. The boys have lots of energy––too much of it. I'm very sure that even after cleaning the messy house, they'd still have enough energy to fly up to the moon."

"Kids are always going to be kids." I nodded. "You did seem like a good mother, Jo." The mother we'd dreamed to have when we were younger––that's how she is now.

"Thank you, Henry." A soft smile graces her lips once more as she looks into my eyes and maintains contact.

"Oh. I almost forgot," she suddenly spoke, after clearing her throat, with a sheepish grin. "Evangeline. You might be able to find her in Bloomsdale. I only know that Bloomsdale is in Edinburg. But that's just about it that I know from her."

I can feel my mind closing in on me at the new intel. Bloomsdale? That name sure does sound familiar. Very familiar.