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"𝐃𝐑. 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍 has given me the go-ahead to travel home to Boston." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe said as she and Montana sat in the merchantile's restaurant eating lunch.

Montana smiled as she sipped her mint iced tea. "I'm very happy for you Mrs. Stafford-Smythe, but I am going to miss you."

"I'd like you to come with me, Montana." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe smiled

Montana smiled as she swallowed her salad she was chewing. "If you're worried about the traveling, Mr..."

"No, I'm not looking for a traveling companion. I'd like you to come back to Boston and live with me. Take me to that orphanage you were telling me about in which your aunt and uncle have visited, I would like to meet those children." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe smiled

Montana chuckled as she wiped her mouth. "You don't need me to take you there, I just have aunt Yasmine and uncle Demetri get you the name of the orphanage..."

Mrs. Stafford-Smythe set her tea cup down. "Oh, well, Montana, there's more. I would like to pay your way through medical school." she said

Montana looked at the older woman with wide eyes. It was a much too generous offer, and yes she had always dreamed of becoming a doctor, but she couldn't accept it.

"You shouldn't have to settle for small dreams, dare to go for the big ones. You'll make a wonderful doctor, Montana." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe smiled

"That's a much to generous offer, Mrs. Stafford-Smythe. I'm afraid I can't accept it." Montana said

Mrs. Stafford-Smythe leaned back in her chair. "And why on earth not, young lady?"

"Because it would take me years and years to pay you back." Montana said

"It's not a loan, it's a gift. I'm a very wealthy woman I can afford to do this for you." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe said. "I know that if my Brooklyn Bea had lived, she would have grown up to be just like you, Montana."

"Even if I could accept your offer, what if they don't accept a girl from a small town?" Montana asked

Mrs. Stafford-Smythe just shook her head. "Oh, posh! I'll just give my friend Karen Antman a call and..."

"Dr. Karen Antman? The Dr. Karen Antman who's a recognized expert on breast cancer, mesotheliomas, sarcomas, and the Dean of Boston University School of Medicine?" Montana asked, rather excitedly

Mrs. Stafford-Smythe smiled as well. "Yes, one in the same."

"I don't know what to say." Montana smiled

"Well, say yes!" Mrs. Stafford-Smythe smiled

"Thank you, Mrs. Stafford-Smythe." Montana smiled. "Oh, thank you a million times, thank you. I'll never forget this."

Mrs. Stafford-Smythe reached for her tea cup with her left arm as she spoke again. "Well, I know that you'll need to talk this over with your family. But, when I leave next week, I hope you'll be with me."

Mrs. Stafford-Smythe sipped her tea then set the tea cup back down on the table. Montana smiled as she sipped her mint tea as well.

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"I think it's the oportunity of a lifetime, Montana." Stella said as she and her daughter sat in the company of Kellie, Nicki, Makayl, Jenny, Sam, Hailey, Lori, Kara, Amy, and Lydia in Kellie's home cutting up Granny Smith apples for an apple pie

"But Boston is far away, and we would certainly miss you darlin'." Lydia said as she peeled the apple

"And I'm gonna miss all of you, and daddy, and grandpa, and my uncles and Maverick, and Robby. I can't leave Robby." Montana said

"Robby will be just fine sweetheart. Your father and I will take good care of him, so will Hailey." Stella reassured. "Besides we all knew you would have to leave Austin one day if you were going to get a good education."

"It scares me about thinking of leaving everyone." Montana said

"When I first moved out to California from back east, I was scared too." Jenny said

"So was I, when your uncle August and I first moved to the valley after your grandma Ava died, we had no idea what lay ahead. The only thing we knew, was that we were leaving the only home we had ever known." Stella said

"How'd you guys do it?" Montana asked

"When you face the unknown, you have to gather every ounce of courage you possess and then tell yourself that if it's the right thing to do everything will work out fine." Kellie said as she peeled and cored a Granny Smith apple

"And if it doesn't you can always come home." Lori smiled.

"So, you think I should go?" Montana smiled

"I think you should do what your mom and I both did...pray about it. Long and hard. Then decide." Jenny smiled

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Nathan and Jack laid flooring down in the living room of newly remodeled ranch home. As Jack laid down a piece of flooring, Nathan noticed his quiet demeanor

"You've been awful quiet." Nathan said. "Everything okay?"

Jack heaved a sigh as he set his hammer down beside him and looked at Nathan. "When did you realize you were in love with Mrs. Walker?"

Nathan smiled fondly as he thought of his beautiful Ava. "That's easy. When I thought I'd never see her again. I felt a terrible emptiness inside of me. I knew that if I didn't get her back, nothing would ever fill that emptiness again."

Jack smiled. "That's a pretty clear sign."

"Yeah, I thought so." Nathan said. "Not a day goes by that I don't miss that beautiful soul. I guess that's why I love Montana so much. She reminds me so much of her. What about you though? Have you found someone?"

Jack smiled fondly as he thought of the beautiful Montana. "Yeah. I have. She's given my life a real meaning and purpose too. Montana's just so confusing at times. She's strong willed, passionate about what she wants, compassionate, kind."

"That doesn't sound like a problem son, that sounds like the oportunity of a lifetime." Nathan smiled

Jack smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

"Anyway, have you thought about the buyer you want for the place?" Nathan asked

"Actually I know Mr. and Mrs. Walsh are new in town, and they don't really like living in the city, so I was going to ask if they wanted to take the place off my hands." Jack said

"I think they'd like it." Nathan said

Jack smiled and nodded as he returned to fixing the flooring. All the while, his thoughts were on the beautiful blonde he had fallen completely head over heels for.