I heard the sound of horses’ hooves. ’Tis the carriage. I rushed to the door with Daniel, opened it and saw Betty. It was good that the carriage stopped outside my house. It must have been as a favour to Betty. I saw why. She had a lot of luggage. I saw she had a new dress and she appeared comely again. Daniel took the baggage inside as I waved goodbye to the coachman.

I took Betty in my arms and squeezed her tight.

‘You should have stayed in Virginia till the winter was over here.’

‘But Father, I was worried about you. Besides, the winter will soon be over and spring will be here.’

‘Welcome back, Betty,’ said Daniel.

Betty sat down and I brought her a hot drink.

‘Father, in Virginia I found Tituba.’

‘Did you, Betty? How is she?’

‘She is quite well but she is very lonely.’

I looked down at my feet.

‘And I wanted Abigail to meet Tituba to apologise to her. She was most reluctant at first but finally she agreed. We all met and prayed together; it was a beautiful moment.’

I took Betty in my arms again. ‘For what you have achieved, I am proud of you.’

I looked at all the parcels. ‘What do have in these parcels?’

‘Pies, Father, for tonight we sup on Tituba’s pies. John Indian can light the fire now for they must be warmed.’

Praise be to God. We will eat these pies.

‘Those pies can last us for three days.’

‘Yes Father, but I think we will finish the pies by tomorrow.’

‘What’s in the other parcels?’

I sat on the floor, excited as a child, trying to open all the parcels at once.

‘Virginian papers, books, and Abigail gave me a present for you, a waistcoat. It was her husband’s but he has grown out of it. And for you, Daniel, a waistcoat. Try it on.’

Daniel put the waistcoat to his cheek, then smelt the cloth and fondled it before he put it on.

I opened the parcel and examined my waistcoat. It was of fine quality. ‘It is a handsome waistcoat but where will I wear it?’

‘Wear it indoors here. Please both of you should wear your waistcoats today for dinner.’

‘It is so good to have you back, Betty.’

‘It is good to have you back, Betty,’ said Daniel.

We hugged.

John Indian lit the fire so the pies were warmed. He brought Betty vegetables to cook with the meat pie. Betty put a linen tablecloth on and brought out the best plates. Mary, the Indian girl brought out the candlesticks. The smell was delicious. Betty served me and Daniel with pie and vegetables. She sat down with her own plate.

Silence. Except for our munching.

‘It’s pork.’

‘Pork.’

Silence once more.

‘Now for the fruit pie.’

‘What’s in it, Betty?’

‘Apples and oranges.’

‘Isn’t it strange that New England apples go down to Virginia and then come back up to us?’ I started to laugh louder and louder.

Betty and Daniel looked at me in bewilderment.

I laughed louder and longer. The laugher bounced to the walls and back again.

‘Father.’

I looked at Betty, still laughing.

‘Father, I’ll make some tea.’

‘That’s good, Betty.’ My laughter subsided.

It stopped.