1920s: Anna returns home to Willow Creek

 

As Anna returns to her childhood home, the first time in many years, she finds it just as it was - and quite different. At home, she is greeted by her happy parents and younger brother William, and is soon caught up with all the latest gossip of the family, some of which she knew (such as Frank's arrest, conviction and return home) and some things that had not yet reached her in Japan before she left. 

Frank's eldest, John, has returned from university a doctor and married one of the Rowley girls. Melanie has left for college. There had been more birthdays than Anna thinks she can keep track of as her mother rattles them all of. Frank's Beatrice and Ida's Madison are both about to age up to a young women soon and might go off to college, as will William and Edward who also have their birthdays just around the corner, and Harold has turned 15 and the twins (who were not even born when Anna left) are apparently adorable toddlers. As her mother finish rattling of everything Anna feels more confused than enlightened, but figures she'll sort everything out eventually. (You'll get an updated family tree at the end of this post)

She starts figuring things out already the next day, when Josephine hosts another birthday party, this time for Thomas, her eldest, who is about to come to the age where he is starting school! It's another one of Josephine's children, that Anna has never met, but he takes an instant liking to his aunt and treats her to a song right before it's time to blow out the candles.

Josephine is so proud of her young boy, and her home, and she is happy to show it off to the sister who rather travels the world than settles down like she ought to. But it is when the guests leaves that she takes the time to be alone with her son, gifting him the one thing she got such joy from as a girl. A violin.

The next day, Anna takes the opportunity to visit friends she has not seen in too long, Elizabeth and George. Last time she was at their home they lived in an apartment with their twin toddlers. Now the girls are children, they have moved to a house in Willow Creek and have two more children, a little toddler and an infant. All four of them girls. It's a happy reunion of the friends, and the girls seem to take to their mother's friend right away. Anna is starting to realise that for whatever reason, children just seem to like her. "It's a shame you have none of your own." Elizabeth tells her. "You'd be an excellent mother." Anna shakes her head.
"You can't climb mountains as a mother." Of course if Maurice had lived... but she does not say that.

Alice arrives later that same evening, and as always the sisters are happy to see each other, even if it was only a few days ago last time. Alice talks about her role in the movie, about the difference of making a movie with sound and song, and hopes they will go to see it when it comes out. William seem more impressed than their parents, and Abigail most want to know if none of those handsome men that Alice has been seen with in the papers are serious, potential husbands. "They're just friends, mum." Alice says to Abigail's great disappointment.

The sisters do not need to listen to their mother's worry about them being unmarried for long, however, as Abigail and Dolly are quite busy the following day preparing for the big party. They rush around the house cleaning and cooking.
"Mum, when did you get glasses?" Alice suddenly asks.
"Oh, just a little while back. Do you like them."
Alice lies and says they're very nice. It rattles her a bit, to see her parents look so old. But old or not, there is nothing wrong with Abigail's energy, and as the party starts the rooms are filled with family members that Alice has not seen for years. 

It's a good night, with talking and laughing and fantastic food, but as the night wanes and people leave, Abigail and Joseph is a bit glad to be by themselves. Retiring to their bed chamber they take a moment to be grateful for the life they have made for themselves and the family they've raised together.

The updated family tree: