Twenty years later, Elizabeth comes out of the large clinic that she now owns in the busy town in Cork, Ireland as she breathes in the salty sea air. The young woman tucked a small strand of reddish brown hair behind her left ear as she started to make her way over to the car that Nathan, her husband of two years, just bought her a month prior for their family as well as to help Elizabeth get to her beloved patients faster. Soon, Elizabeth is at the station as she waits anxiously for the incoming train. Ten minutes later, at the station Nathan steps over the train tracks as he helps his six year old daughter, Norah Rose Williams-Holden as she unsuccessfully tries to hop over the tracks. Elizabeth smiles softly as Norah runs ahead of her father into her warm embrace a moment later. Not soon enough for the small family, the train finally pulls into the station. Once the train comes to a complete stop, a gentleman with greying hair steps off the platform after a middle aged cou
Elizabeth starts to pace when she notices that the sea of loved ones begin to clear from the station as she wonders to herself quietly where could they be? Why aren’t they here? Did they miss the train? Nathan gently squeezes his wife’s hand with his free hand when he starts to sense that his love is beginning to get nervous. Soon, the young woman stops her pacing and looks at the few people still getting off the train before her face lights up as she says “mama, papa! You're finally here! We have so much to show and tell you.” Sadie runs to her now grown daughter as soon as she’s safely on the ground and hugs her before saying “ oh, my dear Lizzie. It has been far too long.” Norah Rose lets out a high pitched squeal as her grandfather, Paul picks her up after hugging Elizabeth and swings the little girl high above his head as her father puts the luggage in the truck.
A few moments later, an olderwoman sneaks over to the family before tapping Elizabeth on the shoulder. Nathan picks up Norah Rose as Elizabeth turns around and exclaims “auntie Sylvia!” Sadie smiles as she hugs her old friend as Sylvia turns back to the platform as an older gentleman waves to her before joining the family at Sylvia’s side. Paul shakes the man’s hand as he puts his free hand around his wife’s waist once more. The man kisses Sylvia’s forehead as she says “ Elizabeth, this is Phillip. We’re getting married. “ Everyone congratulates the couple while Elizabeth gives a quick kiss to her godmother’s now wrinkled cheek.
Elizabeth braids her long, curly reddish brown hair as Nathan comes into their bedroom after putting Norah Rose to bed. The house is quiet after a long and eventful day as Nathan closes the door and brings his lips to his wife’s neck which earns him a playful swat on his arm and a soft laugh before Elizabeth brings her hand down to her husband’s lap and cups him. In the first guest room, Paul watches his wife of 35 years change out of her traveling clothes into a sheer blue nightgown as her hand goes instinctively to her growing belly where their child moves within her. A child that came as a surprise to both of them, but nonetheless welcome. In the second guest room, Sylvia watches Phillip read as she lays next to him with her head on his chest. Phillip brushes his free hand through his fiancée’s greying hair as he says “ my love, I think that we should tell Elizabeth. We can’t keep hiding it. I want to be able to be a father and a grandfather. Please, I’ve missed out on tw
In the coming weeks, Sadie and Elizabeth help Sylvia plan her wedding as the men pack up the home in order to move the young couple to Colorado. Nathan smiles at his wife while she goes over patient notes as she prepares to uproot her practice. In two weeks time, the couple have a surprise for their family and Elizabeth is starting to get nervous. Sylvia watches Norah Rose with her mother and longs to tell Elizabeth the truth, but she knows that now is not the right time.Two days later the men unload the boxes in the car to take to the station while Sadie and the rest of the family board the train to make the journey west. Elizabeth holds her daughter close to her chest as she whimpers. Two weeks later, Elizabeth and Nathan get to the new house and reveal to their extended family that the contractors took Nathan’s plans for the home and built their new home, so that it will be big enough for all of them to live in the same house. Sadie squeals with delight as they all agree
Two weeks later on May 20th, 1940, it is the day that everyone is waiting for, the wedding. The women are at the newly built home in Colorado while the men head over the church to get ready. Patricia, Sylvia’s younger sister brings the freshly picked bouquet inside to put in water while Sadie tries to pin Norah Rose’s hair as the young girl wiggles in her seat. In Sylvia’s bedroom Elizabeth is helping her put the veil on as Sylvia brushes a strand of hair from her goddaughter’s eyes before the older woman says “Lizzie, dear I have to tell you something.”
A moment later, Sylvia takes Elizabeth’s hands in both of hers as she says “ there’s no easy way to tell you this, but Lizzie you need to know. I want to talk to you about your mother.” Elizabeth laughs softly before she says “my mother is in the parlor right now with Norah Rose.” Sylvia’s breath begins to shake as she says “darling, your mother is sitting right in front of you.” Elizabeth'seyes widen in confusion before silently pleading for her to go on. Sylvia stands up and moves to the window before she says “ your father, Phillip and I were in love, engaged to be married. Phillip and I were both twenty nine years old and we thought that it wouldn’t cause any harm to consummate the marriage the day before we were to be married. Mixed marriages were extremely rare, so we didn’t see the harm in our actions. Little did I know what was right around the corner. I found out five years ago that Phillip was told later that evening that he had to choose between h
A few minutes later, Sadie comes into the dressing room after Elizabeth takes Norah Rose outside to the waiting car. Sadie quietly closes the door as she sees Sylviawith her head on her vanity and silently sobs.Soon the elder woman grasps her best friend's shoulder before taking her free hand and gently forcing Sylvia to look at her as she asks " you told her, didn't you? " Sylvia tearfully nods as Sadie bends down next to her before saying " sweetheart, give her time. Our daughter will eventually understand and come around. Now come on, we have a wedding to get to."
Later that evening after Sylvia and Phillip were married, the adults were all gathered in the sitting room after Norah Rose had fallen asleep and was carried to bed by her father. Nathan has a protective arm around his wife's waist as she asks the questions that have been on her mind since the talk with Sylvia "why did you give me up? Did you not want me? Did you love me? Phillip, when did you find out? Why did you tell me after all this time? What do you want me to call you two now? Phillip, did you want me?"