"Oh, the iron fist of John Little," Elaine said with a soft laugh, which soon turned into a sigh. After a minute, she said, "But tomorrow you'll be Little John, when you see your friends again."
She did not resent him wanting to see the Merry Men again, not one bit. Many times she had felt guilt over keeping him apart from them for so long. It was just... this time they'd had had been so perfect. She felt like she was being dragged relentlessly towards a precipice, even though John could come back and visit. It just wouldn't be the same again. And one by one, her babies would leave her... oh her heart ached at the thought.