Traveling far from home could potentially hold the adventure of a lifetime, filled with family, friends, purpose, and even love...

Nancy Corrigan hurried down the corridor of Nonnatus House, her correspondence direct from Kentucky in the United States gripped tightly in her hand. She was first on call that morning, as arranged by Phyllis the evening before, due to the fact that she had filled in for Trixie earlier in the week. She slowed down just outside the breakfast room before she composed herself and stepped inside slowly, feeling all eyes drifting upon her as she made her way towards her seat and sat down.

"...which is why it is beneficial and essential that we send off some Space Hoppers to Sister Winifred for the children as a late Christmas gift," Sister Monica Joan was saying, from her place at the foot of the table. "They've just debuted, and I saw them myself upon the television just last evening. They are the most wonderful shade of orange, according to the gentleman selling them on the commercial, and appear to have the most precious kangaroo painted upon its body—"

"Thank you, Sister, that definitely bears some review," Sister Julienne said gently from her place at the head of the table, her silvery eyes turning her attention to her youngest midwife. "Nurse Corrigan, I see your eyes hastily reading that letter of yours, and the stamp appears to be reminiscent of the soon-to-be President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson. Am I to assume that this is an answer to your correspondence from your cousin?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sister Julienne," Nancy replied quickly, looking up as her face flushed slightly, and Nurses Crane and Franklin from across the table chuckled slightly at her nerves. "Yes, it's from my dear cousin from Virginia, Rebecca. She's just informed me that, in addition to Midwifery and Nursing, as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate in both, she has officially completed her Doctorate in Nursing and Midwifery," she said quickly.

Sister Julienne raised her eyebrows. "I was unaware that there were any Corrigan's in the United States who were midwives," she said, clearly amazed.

"Oh, she's not a Corrigan, Sister," Nancy informed her superior patiently. "Cousin Rebecca is on my maternal side, and bears the surname Knightley."

"Oh, from the wealthy side of your family," Trixie replied from across the table. "She was the one who wrote about how she refused to wear fur, and caused quite the scene at what was considered to be the social gathering last Christmas."

Nancy smiled; she had always favored Rebecca's bold approach. "That's right," she replied. "I mean, she isn't all liberal when it comes to all that," she said quickly. "She's very religious and still eats meat, she just won't wear it. Although, Phyllis, she deeply respects those who are of the opinion that a vegetarian diet is suitable."

Phyllis raised her eyebrows. "Does she have a reason for consuming meat, other than the likelihood of enjoyment?" she asked.

"She is, unfortunately, chronically anemic, meaning that she must eat a high amount of protein which is best given into the body by red meat," Nancy responded. "Nothing the doctors can do about it but monitor it, but she will likely need to have that diet for the rest of her life."

Phyllis immediately nodded her head. "Poor child," she replied.

Sister Julienne leaned forward. "Is she your age, then, dear?"

"She turned twenty-eight on the thirty-first of last month," Nancy reported, turning back to Sister Julienne with a smile. "She, plus her two older brothers, two younger sisters, and younger brother were all delivered by midwives, just as my mother and her mother were. They were separated in their orphanages, and her mother, my aunt, Helen, was taken in to a family who moved to America, where she was adopted—the Hepburn's, they were named—and she subsequently became a secretary, and ultimately married her boss, Robert Knightley."

"Quite a romantic tale indeed!" Sister Monica Joan all but cheered. "Does her adoptive family bear any relation to Katharine or Audrey Hepburn?"

"Not that I'm aware of, Sister Monica Joan, no," Nancy told her patiently, and felt a bit guilty when the older woman appeared disappointed by that fact.

Sister Julienne proceeded to spread some butter on her morning toast. "From what you've told me, Nancy, your Knightley relatives are very conservative and traditional," she said softly. "I suppose that they merely permitted Rebecca to participate in such medical university programs out of love for her..."

"Rebecca can be a bit stubborn, especially when it comes to what she perceives to be an injustice," Nancy replied, lowering her eyes towards her letter. "She was initially only going to take Nursing and Midwifery courses and get qualified, and, perhaps, go into it as a private vocation, if it was allowed..."

"Rich people always seem to flock together," Trixie remarked. "I remember that photograph you got of her, Nancy, upon her graduation of Nursing and Midwifery, and she was quite lovely. I'll bet she has quite a line of suitors knocking at her door," she added with a smile.

"There was only one that I was aware of, Frederick Crawford, an attorney who attended William & Mary Law School, alongside her older brothers, Robert and Nicholas," Nancy explained. "The two were engaged just two years into her training, and when Mr. Crawford set up practice with Robert and Nicholas," she continued. "However, it was turning into quite a long engagement due to various court cases, which was when... Well," Nancy said, attempting to read the room as best she could, and certainly not wishing to offend Sister Julienne or Sister Monica Joan, "suffice it to say it was broken off when Rebecca discovered that there was another relationship between Mr. Crawford and her former best friend, Miss Diana Bennet," she concluded, remembering the rather scathing words that Rebecca had written to her, in the wake of Diana's betrayal.

"Oh, dear!" Trixie cried out, gasping.

Nancy, at Sister Julienne's expression, quickly loaded some food onto her plate, and began cutting up her sausages. "Sorry," she said softly.

"So, the further education was a means of distraction, then?" Sister Julienne asked.

Nancy nodded, chewing her bite of sausage and swallowing. "Yes," she confirmed, "although she did finish all the programs first in her class, and has been practicing midwifery constantly since obtaining her degree."

"Imagine that, an American, doing so excellently," Phyllis said, but, beneath the praise, Nancy heard the skepticism.

"So, now that she's obtained quite a few accolades, what does she plan to do now?" Sister Julienne wanted to know. "I know she has been studying in Kentucky, but, perhaps, she will be called back home to Virginia?"

"According to her letter, she doesn't wish to go home, and she..." Nancy nearly dropped the letter in the blackberry jam. "Oh, goodness. She says that she's finalizing things in Kentucky, and then she is taking her savings, returning to Virginia to gather everything from home, and then coming to Poplar to see me!"

Sister Julienne looked amazed. "Have you ever met her?"

"Years ago; she came the summer in between her graduation from boarding school, and before she started university," Nancy said, scanning the letter further. "She begged her parents to take me with them, out of the orphanage in Ireland, but they... They said they had enough mouths to feed, despite the business Mr. Knightley had doing so well."

"What sort of business?" Trixie asked, cocking her head to one side.

"Uncle Robert is an engineer," Nancy said, "who works in the technological field. Rebecca has told me that she doesn't really understand it, so we haven't discussed it much."

"Perhaps, when your cousin arrives, we can have an interview for her," Sister Julienne said with a smile, and immediately turned to Phyllis, who appeared as if she was about to protest. "I know all too well your reservations about Americans, Phyllis. However, this young woman clearly has the experience, both vocational and educational, needed to join us here at Nonnatus House. I see no reason why we shouldn't at least meet her, at the very least."

Phyllis sighed. "Oh, very well, then," she replied, grumbling ever so slightly.

Nancy beamed over at Sister Julienne. "Oh, thank you, Sister!" she cried, but was on her feet immediately thereafter, once the telephone rang. Hurrying from her spot at the table, she went back out into the hallway and lifted up the phone itself, speaking directly into the receiver, and attempted to sound as professional as possible. "Nonnatus House, midwife speaking."

~*~

With the combination of her savings, plus some financial assistance from Bertie and Cole, it was quite a relief when Nurse Rebecca Knightley lifted off from the airport in Richmond, Virginia. It had been the second time she was traveling overseas, although the first time, she and her family had gone by sea. This time, as she stared out the window from her first-class seat, she wished that she could open the window, to literally taste her freedom that likely made the air taste ever so sweet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good morning," said the voice of the pilot from the flight deck. "It is a surprisingly warm for this January evening, a lovely sixty-two degrees. Our flight time is nine hours, and we should be touching down at London Heathrow just after eight o'clock tomorrow morning. We will be having meal services, as well as a snack, at two o'clock this morning, and five o'clock this morning respectively. For further updates, we will keep you informed. Thank you very much for choosing American, and we hope this flight is successful for you."

Rebecca leaned back in her chair, surprised at how comfortable it was, and felt relieved that the solo seat beside her remained unoccupied. She smoothed her skirt suit, which was an understated green shade which bought out her hazel-colored eyes, and tossed her long, dark hair over her other shoulder to keep cool. Biting her lip ever so slightly, she leaned forward to pull her small, carry-on bag towards her, and peeked through the folds to find her pocket mirror. As she pulled it out, however, the latest letter from Frederick fell out of her bag as well, leading her to grimace ever so slightly, knowing quite well that Bertie or Cole had likely slipped it in there.

Darling, it wasn't what it looked like...

Rebecca tore her eyes away from the letter, but she could still hear the words within her mind, as if Frederick was actually saying them to her.

...really need to consider my feelings...

Diana means nothing to me!

...the fact that our engagement was several years too long...

It's the fact that you won't even speak to me that is irritating me the most!

...know damn well how much Grandmother Elizabeth's ring meant to me, and how callously you threw it into my face was nothing short of—!

"Miss?"

Rebecca gasped, turning her head towards the stewardess, and plastered a smile onto her lips, kicking the letter out of sight beneath her bag. "Yes? Sorry," she said, feeling herself flushing ever so slightly in embarrassment.

"Hot towel for you, miss?" the stewardess asked cordially.

Rebecca let out a nervous laugh. "Yes, thank you," she responded, taking it, and gripping it tightly, watching as the stewardess asked the next flyer if they, too wanted a towel. Rebecca permitted the warmth of the towel to ground her, shutting her eyes as she gently wiped at her forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck, doing her best not to smudge her eyeliner or lipstick. Her mother had taught her, plus her two younger sisters, all about makeup once they'd all reached the age of thirteen...

"Rebecca Katherine, Dorothy Charlotte, and Josephine Victoria, all my girls, will look perfectly pristine when you make your debuts in society," Helen Knightley had said, her dark blue eyes flashing with pride, and her blonde hair not an inch out of place. "Such a shame you didn't inherit the Hepburn looks, my dear Becca Kathy..."

Rebecca readily grimaced at the childhood nickname that had stuck, and one that she decidedly disliked. Once she'd gotten into high school, Diana had spread it around, which was yet another reason to dislike her former best friend. University had been so much better, and her roommate had called her Riva for short, and she'd taken that name to heart. Thankfully, Bertie, Cole, Thea, Joanie, and Theo had all respected her choice, calling her that in their letters, phone calls, or occasional visits home. Her parents, however, had never accepted it, and Becca Kathy had stuck until midwifery had taken her permanently to Kentucky.

As the flight drifted by, Rebecca requested a medium-rare steak with potatoes, plus a basket of fruit and apple juice, as well as water. She had gotten raised eyebrows over the years with her refusal to drink alcohol, as the mere smell of it made her ill. Nevertheless, she was primed and ready to politely refuse a toast to a new baby, and, after explaining that alcoholism ran in her family, which it did, her clients always gave her water or juice to toast the new arrival with. It soon got around that she didn't drink even when not on the job, so she was considered doubly responsible by her superiors as a direct result.

Rebecca faded in and out of sleep throughout the rest of the flight, only awakening when the bag of trail mix arrived, alongside another serving of apple juice and water. The next time she woke up was to the pilot informing the other passengers that they were beginning their landing into Heathrow, and Rebecca felt her heart pounding with excitement. Again, she took out her pocket mirror, made sure her hair and makeup were in place, and spritzed some breath freshener into her mouth, her nose and tongue protesting against the mint, which she despised, but also knew that it definitely did the trick.

She reminded herself, once she had gathered her things and was given permission to disembark the plane, that Nancy had told her that she would be meeting a Mr. Fred Buckle at the airport, who would take her to Nonnatus House in Poplar. The drive would be a little over an hour, but Nancy had informed her that Fred was a total gentleman, although he did have a sense of humor, which his wife, Violet, attempted to keep in check. Smiling, Rebecca made her way to baggage claim and retrieved her luggage set, before heading outside into the cool January morning, thankful for the jacket which matched her suit perfectly.

Turning and looking about, she caught sight of a man, who was taller than she was, who boasted white facial hair, and was holding up a sign with Nurse Rebecca Knightley written on it. She felt herself smiling automatically then as she raised her arm and rushed forward, not wishing to keep Mr. Fred Buckle waiting in the bitterly cold winter day. "Mr. Buckle?" she asked.

"Ah, yer Nurse Corrigan's cousin, then?" asked the man, immediately grinning down at her, his eyes sparkling with kindness. "I can see the family resemblance—same dark hair!" he went on, and took her heavier baggage, which he placed into the back portion of his car, which Rebecca knew by now was called the boot. "Come along then, love," he continued, and opened one side of the car, which Rebecca had to remind herself was the correct side, and slipped in. "There, now, all in?" he asked, and, at Rebecca's nod, shut the door behind her, and crossed around the car and got in himself. "I trust the flight was to yer liking?" he asked.

Rebecca nodded. "It was, yes, Mr. Buckle, thank you. They served a steak dinner which was quite lovely."

"Oh, call me 'Fred', love, everyone does," Fred told her, moving into the line of traffic and making his way towards the exit of the airport property. "The Sisters at Nonnatus are all anxious to see you, as well as Nurses Crane, Franklin, and yer cousin."

"Oh, I do hope I haven't inconvenienced anyone," Rebecca said quickly.

"Nonsense, Sister Monica Joan loves a good bash," Fred assured her.

Rebecca remembered Nancy telling her about that particular nun. "She's the one who loves to read and speaks so flowery, as if she would wish to compose a poem with her words," she said, and found herself smiling.

"A lovely way to describe Sister Monica Joan, to be sure," Fred replied. "Sister Julienne is the one you'll be interviewing with, and she's always saying the more the merrier."

"Nancy says she's calm and soft-spoken, but it's Nurse Crane that I've got to worry about, being American and all," Rebecca said quietly.

"Now, don't you worry," Fred said with a smile. "Yer cousin told me all about yer qualifications, and they're nothing to sniff at, my girl."

Rebecca smiled at that. "That's what they say about your education," she said. "No one can take it away from you."

Fred nodded. "I don't think they can, no," he agreed. "My wife, Violet, is all a twitter about you coming to Poplar, loves meeting new people, she does... Then there's Reggie, our boy, who's lovely..."

Rebecca caught sight of Fred's uneasy expression and flashed him a smile. "I've worked with many people over the years who have Down Syndrome, Fred," she told him gently. "They are some of the loveliest, kindest people I've ever met. Nancy speaks very highly of Reggie, and I can't wait to meet him."

Fred immediately looked relieved at that. "Reggie will like you," he said quickly. "He was very excited when we told him that you were coming. He's even got Nancy to put a plant in your room at Nonnatus as a welcome gift."

Rebecca blinked. "A plant?" she asked.

Fred nodded again. "Yeah, a rose. Nancy said they were your favorite," he replied.

Rebecca smiled, completely touched. "They are," she replied, wanting more than ever to meet Reggie and thank him personally. "Of course, it's not my room, not yet. Not on an official basis, anyway, as Sister Julienne has to offer me a position."

"She'll take you on," Fred answered, "you mark my words."

Rebecca happily chattered to Fred for the rest of the drive, and, when they drove up to the quite admittedly impressive building of Nonnatus House, Rebecca nearly gasped. The front door opened as they pulled up, and Nancy, along with two nuns, as well as a smartly-dressed young woman and another dressed more conservatively, hurried out onto the porch. Rebecca gripped tightly onto her small bag, worrying that they wouldn't like her.

"Don't fret, my girl, they'll love you," Fred replied. "That's Nurse Crane's car there," he went on, nodding to the Morris Minor parked on one side of the house, and it was then that Rebecca noticed that a Vauxhall Victor parked just beside that. "And that, I believe, is a present from your brothers, which was sent over as a surprise."

Rebecca's jaw dropped. "What? For me?" she whispered as Fred parked.

"Well, we knew from Nancy that riding bike was a phobia of yours, from your childhood of falling off one too many times," Fred said.

Rebecca flushed. "Well, there is that," she said, squirming slightly in her seat.

"You do have your entry visa, don't you?" Fred asked.

Rebecca nodded. "I do."

"Well, if Sister Julienne lets you have the job," Fred said, waving in a friendly manner to the ladies on the front porch, "you have a year to get a valid driving license here."

"Right," Rebecca said, watching as Fred got out of the car, and moved to do the same. She felt herself grinning all over again when, after shutting the door behind her, Nancy hurried towards her and the two embraced one another. "Nan," she breathed, hugging her cousin tightly.

"It's been too long, Riva," Nancy whispered back, holding her close. "How are you feeling? I hope the flight went well..."

Rebecca grinned and slowly pulled backwards. "Yes, it was fine, thank you," she assured her, not wanting to get off on the wrong foot with anyone. She glimpsed the rest of the ladies on the porch behind Nancy, just as she was becoming aware of Fred unloading the boot of his car. "I think that introductions should be made..."

"Oh, of course!" Nancy cried, and took Rebecca by the arm, pulling her towards her superior and other coworkers. "Everyone, this is Nurse Rebecca Knightley, my cousin from Virginia," she said, quite clearly happy.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet everyone," Rebecca said.

Sister Julienne stepped forward, and Nancy propelled Rebecca up the staircase. "You are welcomed to Nannotus House, Nurse Knightley," she said gently, and Rebecca immediately deduced who it was.

"Thank you, Sister Julienne," Rebecca replied, beaming up at her. "It is an honor to be here, and to meet you, at last."

"Let me see the young one," said Sister Monica Joan, moving forward as quickly as she could, and quickly proceeded to cup Rebecca's face.

Sister Julienne appeared concerned. "Sister, perhaps you shouldn't..."

"Oh, you are lovely, simply lovely," Sister Monica Joan said, cutting off Sister Julienne. "Your eyes captivate everyone to your face, causing the very flowers to bloom whenever you bestow your look upon them..."

Rebecca found herself smiling at the words. "It is wonderful to finally meet you as well, Sister Monica Joan," she replied, watching as the old nun seemed to come alive at the notion that she already knew her name.

"Got your certification on you, lass?" came a firm voice.

Sister Monica Joan dropped her hands from Rebecca's face, and rounded upon the woman who had spoken. "Nurse Knightley will need refreshment before business practices are observed, Nurse Crane," she said, her voice brokering no argument.

The woman who stood beside Nurse Crane, who only had to be Nurse Franklin, stepped forward with a charming demeanor. "Come on in, sweetie," she said, her tone loving, as she took Rebecca's other arm. "We've planned a tea for your arrival, and it won't do going to waste. I'm Nurse Franklin, but please, call me Trixie."

"It's lovely to meet you, Trixie," Rebecca replied, before she turned to Nurse Crane as they walked by, and dug into her bag, whereupon she drew out a folder with all her degrees, certifications, and past vocational information. "I believe you'll find that everything is accounted for, and in chronological order, Nurse Crane," she said, flashing a smile at her as she was guided inside by Nancy and Trixie.

Once inside the lovely building, Rebecca noticed that a "tea" seemed to be quite a formal occasion, and that a small party was going on as well. She was immediately introduced around to the guests by Nancy, much to her relief. First, it was to Dr. Patrick Turner, his wife Shelagh, their son Timothy, home briefly from university, their daughters Angela and May, and their younger son, Teddy. Next came Violet Buckle, Fred's wife, and their surrogate son, Reggie, who was just as lovely as Rebecca imagined.

"I brought you the plant," Reggie told Rebecca.

"Reggie, love, Nurse Knightley hasn't been upstairs to her room yet," Violet told him gently, although her eyes were kind.

"Sorry, Mum," Reggie replied. "Sorry, Nurse Knightley."

Rebecca reached outwards and squeezed Reggie's shoulder gently. "You, young sir, may address me as Riva, for all my friends do," she told him.

Reggie smiled. "I'll do that, Riva!" he replied, clearly pleased.

"It was so kind of you to remember that roses are my favorite," Rebecca said, continuing to smile at him, and Reggie looked quite pleased.

"Roses are beautiful, just like you," Reggie said.

Sister Julienne took over the rest of the introductions, mercifully, so that Nancy would have the opportunity to socialize. "Nurse Knightley..."

"Oh, Rebecca please, when it's informal, Sister Julienne," Rebecca told her gently.

Sister Julienne smiled. "Whatever you're comfortable with, my dear," she responded. "Would you mind telling me at what age you qualified as a midwife?"

"I was twenty-one," Rebecca replied. "I'm sure Nancy gave you some version or other about my reasoning for higher education..."

"Yes, she did mention your falling out with Mr. Crawford," Sister Julienne said. "I am very sorry to hear that, but I am not completely sorry, for it has brought you to us. I managed to track down a contact I have in Kentucky, who sang your praises when it came to both nursing and midwifery, Rebecca. Once I get a look at your certificates, degrees, and vocational history, which I doubt will hold any issues, I believe there will be a place for you here."

Rebecca smiled. "My parents didn't approve of me working at all," she admitted. "And, if I wanted to go to university, I suppose they hoped it would be in something to better my education for being a good wife."

"And do you see yourself getting married, Rebecca, despite your past with Mr. Crawford?" came Sister Julienne's reply.

"Perhaps, Sister, if I ever met the right gentleman, I would," Rebecca said. "While midwifery is certainly rewarding, I long for the day when I can hold my own child in my arms."

Sister Julienne smiled at Rebecca. "I am sure that, when the time comes, you will make an excellent mother."

Rebecca smiled back at her. "I'm sorry, Sister, but how can you know that? You've only just met me, after all..."

"Oh, but I think I'm a fairly good judge of character," Sister Julienne said gently, just as the doorbell sounded from far away down the hallway. "Not to mention the fact that Nancy frequently informs us all of the highlights of your letters."

"Tom!" came Trixie's voice from down the hallway. "You're back!"

"Oh, that will be our curate, Tom Hereward," Sister Julienne said, straightening her uniform. "I had better go and greet him. Please excuse me, Rebecca."

"Of course," Rebecca responded, stepping aside. She turned to survey the room again, and was relieved when Nancy came to stand beside her again. "Tom Hereward?"

"I've never met him myself, but Trixie, Sister Julienne, and Sister Monica Joan mention him from time to time," she replied. "Phyllis most of all, however."

"Was he curate here for long, then?" Rebecca wanted to know.

"Four years," Nancy whispered back. "He was married to a former midwife here, and Phyllis's best friend, Barbara Gilbert-Hereward."

"You mentioned that she passed away in your letters when she was twenty-six," Rebecca said softly, and shook her head, watching as Tom stepped into the room and immediately ventured towards Phyllis, who was stood in the kitchen, and the two immediately embraced. "I thought he was in Papua New Guinea with his father-in-law..."

"Well, he was, but he only just wrote Sister Julienne and told her that the parish priest called him back here to Poplar," Nancy said.

Rebecca continued watching Tom, who was, admittedly, quite handsome, and currently speaking to Phyllis, although her folder was suddenly shown to Tom, and he looked up, his eyes meeting hers from across the room. "Oh, my," she whispered.

"Don't even think about it," Nancy said, drawing her attention away, and pulled her in another direction, towards where Timothy, Angela, May, and Teddy were. "I want you to meet Colette."

Rebecca met her first cousin once removed at long last, as well as her foster parents, Uncle Terry and Aunt Vera, who were very pleased to meet her. Rebecca accepted their invitation to come for tea the next time Nancy was to come, and was pleased to already have a social calendar. Shelagh Turner had invited her to a local café as well, and Violet Buckle had volunteered to give her a tour of her shop.

"I just need the bathroom," Rebecca said after a while.

"Oh, it's just up the stairs," Trixie told her. "Need me to show you the way?"

"No, thank you. Nancy was very detailed in her descriptions on where everything was located," said Rebecca with a smile.

Rebecca excused herself, making her way out of the reception room and back up the set of stairs, down the hallway, and towards the staircase itself. Making her way up them, and just as she got to the landing, a door opened from upstairs, presumably the bathroom, especially when Tom Hereward himself stepped out of there. Rebecca paused then, and Tom came to the top of the stairs, staring down at her.

"Hello," Rebecca said, and Tom seemed taken aback by her accent. "I'm Rebecca Knightley, and you must be Tom," she said, holding out her hand. "It's so nice to meet you."

Tom came down the staircase, barely glancing at her as he did so. "How do you do?" he asked, and brushed past her, not even bothering to shake her hand.

Rebecca blinked, wondering what she had done to deserve the less-than-warm welcoming, but shook herself out of it. "Come on, focus. It's not going to be like Hyden, it can't be," she whispered to herself, as she continued climbing the staircase. "None of them can know your secret, none of them can," she continued, before making her way across the landing and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

Life, at times, can be full of secrets, ones which can lead to both a positive and negative outcome. But, if we have people around us, people who have the capability to love, and to show it, perhaps, in the end, secrets can be told, in a community filled with love, as well as trust.