She's at the orphanage for an abortion, and, after a brief stay, she is ready to go home. Homer chooses this moment to hitch a ride with them out of St. Clouds so he can see the world and establish a life for himself. That life eventually includes picking apples at a remote orchard and falling in love with Candy while her beau is off flying missions against Japan. Meanwhile, back at the orphanage, Dr. Larch finds his hopes continually dimming that Homer will one day return. The Cider House Rules does everything right - there are no obvious missteps.
Character development is strong.
The plot moves at a perfect pace - not so slow that audiences will lose interest, but not so fast that the narrative begins to break down. There are a few unexpected turns, but nothing catastrophic or difficult to swallow, and the movie steers clear of overt manipulation. The ending is satisfying without being too sentimental. And Oliver Stapleton's cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking. The impetus behind The Cider House Rules is Homer's search to find himself.