When Beth opened her eyes her first thought was that she had died and gone to heaven. Then she decided she was still dreaming because Mother was standing over her, smiling and calling her name. "No, it can’t be real," Beth said to herself. "Mother is with Father. She can’t be here with me."
"Hello, my darling girl," Mother said, stroking her cheek.
Beth tried to speak but didn’t have the strength to move her lips, so instead she made a tiny sound in her throat.
"I’m here, Beth," Mother said, "and so is Jo. She’s never left your bedside."
Seeing Jo’s weary face, Beth knew she was no longer dreaming. Holding out a weak hand to Jo, Beth parted her lips and whispered her sister’s name. Grasping her hand, Jo fell to her knees and cried tears of joy and relief.
News of Beth’s recovery certainly brightened everyone’s day. Jo, in particular, found herself smiling for no reason and doing out-of-the-ordinary things like singing aloud.
"When should we get Amy?" Meg asked as she and Jo helped Hannah prepare dinner that evening.
Meg seemed to be in an unusually cheerful mood herself, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes that gave her face a glow.
"I’ll go tomorrow morning. Maybe I’ll ask Laurie to come with me," said Jo, chopping some carrots and throwing them into the large pot where a special soup was boiling for Beth. Meg nodded dreamily as she crushed some peppers and added them to the soup.
"You’re awfully merry today," teased Jo.
Meg turned away but replied, "I’m happy that Beth is better."
"We all are, but there’s something else. Come, Meg, what are you hiding?" Jo persisted.
Meg looked over her shoulder to make sure that Hannah was out of earshot, then, pulling Jo to a corner, she pulled out a note from her apron pocket.
"What’s this?" whispered Jo, opening the note.
"Just read it, but promise me you won’t say a word to Mother or anyone else. It’s for your eyes only," said Meg in a hushed voice.
As Jo read the short message, her head began to spin and she felt a hot wave of anger rising up. It was from John Brookes, and the man was confessing his love for Meg.
"You’re too young!" were Jo’s first words, practically throwing the note back to Meg.
"I’m almost 18," Meg replied in a huff.
"You just turned 17!" Jo argued.
"It doesn’t matter. He loves me, Jo," Meg said, brushing aside Jo’s concerns.
"I think it’s scandalous! He’s too old for you and besides, why is he sending you a note like that at a time like this?" Jo nearly yelled.
"I think it’s romantic, and I thought you’d be more supportive and happier for me," Meg said in a hurt voice. Then she added, "He’s only 24."
"I’m disgusted with Brookes and with you!" Jo growled at her sister. With that, Jo yanked off her apron, stormed out of the house, and bumped into an incoming visitor.
"Do you think we might have telepathic powers, because I was just coming to see you," Laurie said when he realized who had just bumped into him.
"This is no time to joke, Laurie," said Jo, cracking her knuckles loudly.
"All right, then," said Laurie. "How’s our girl doing?"
"Thank you for asking, Beth is much better. Now, my question is: Are you available to help me get Amy tomorrow?" Jo asked in a very businesslike manner.
"I’m at your service anytime, anywhere," Laurie replied, bowing like a servant.
"Good. We’ll leave at 9 a.m. sharp," said Jo, turning around to go back inside.
"Wait! How’s your other sister doing?" Laurie asked slyly.
"She’s fine. Why?" suddenly Jo noticed something in Laurie’s mischievous eyes. "Theodore Laurence," she said sternly, "is there something you want to tell me?"
Laurie covered his mouth and let out a muffled shout, then he said in a low whisper, "Did she get a note from Brookes?"
Jo narrowed her eyes and answered, "What if she did? What do you know about it?"
Laurie slapped his knee and threw back his head, laughing loudly. "It was me! I wrote it! Brookes knows nothing about it!" the prankster admitted.
Jo could not believe her ears but worse yet, she could not believe that Laurie would play such a cruel joke on Meg.
"You . . . you . . . ," Jo stuttered. She was so angry that she could not even speak. Instead she kicked him in the shins with all her might.
"Ow! Why did you do that?" Laurie rubbed his sore leg, hopping on the other foot.
"What happens when Meg discovers that this was all a big joke? How will this affect her self-esteem and pride?" Jo spat at him.
"Brookes is in love with her, like I told you," Laurie said, massaging his leg. "I’m just helping the progress of this relationship."
"You march in there right now," Jo said, pointing toward her house, "and apologize to Meg for what you did before it’s too late!"
"Why are you really upset, Jo? Are you afraid that John is going to take away your precious sister?" Laurie asked. That question got him another hard kick in the other leg.
"Ow! You’re going to cripple me, Josephine March!" wailed Laurie.
"Apologize to my sister, though I won’t be surprised if she never speaks to you again. You’d better do it this instant, or else . . . ," Jo paused to form her words carefully, ". . . or else our friendship ends tonight." Jo turned her back on Laurie, who was rubbing both shins but staring up at her with a worried expression.
"Do you mean that, Jo?" he asked quietly.
Without looking at him, Jo simply replied, "Yes."
Frightened that Jo would carry out her threat, Laurie immediately went to see Meg and told her of his cruel joke. Meg, being so sweet and ladylike, forgave Laurie and told him that it was not important. In her heart, however, she was crushed.
Mother sensed right away how heartbroken Meg was. "It’s going to be fine, darling," Mother comforted Meg as she lovingly stroked her head.
"I thought he loved me. I . . . was so happy," sobbed Meg.
Mother thought for a moment before she spoke. "Meg, darling, I don’t know if I should say this, but both your father and I have grown very fond of John. He is a wonderful, kind, intelligent man. One day I’m sure he will make a fine husband."
"But not for me," wailed Meg.
"I wouldn’t say that," Mother said hesitantly. "I know for a fact that he thinks highly of you. He speaks with you in the warmest, most respectful way. I wonder if perhaps Laurie’s joke, bad as it was, may have some truth in it."
Meg sniffed but lifted her head and asked, "Do you think John likes me?"
Mother smiled and replied, "How could he not?"