Epilogue

Fluffy snow ushered in a beautiful Christmas morning. Torey looked out of her bedroom window and smiled at the winter wonderland.

With a contented sigh, she turned, walked to her wardrobe, and picked out her gown for the day. A lovely red, shirtwaist gown with a flowing skirt.

She sat at the vanity and pinned up her hair. Finally, she felt ready to join the festivities.

“Watch out!”

“Who left the front door open?”

Torey threw open her bedroom door and hurried to the steps. She looked down just in time to see Abe slipping and sliding on the foyer floor. He made a beeline for the living room.

“Get him before he knocks over the tree!” she called.

Crash!

“Oh, no, Abe!” The children’s groans filled the room as Torey got there and found the tree knocked over, covering the presents. The dog had landed with a flop on the sofa, his muddy paws making new prints.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Crawford,” Robert said. Despite the confusion, Torey noted how good it was to see him filling out and looking much more rested. It was a rare occasion for him to spend the day with his nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Crawford glared at the animal.

Katherine shook her head, clearly enraged. “That dog is a menace.”

“He’s pwetty.” Sarah sat next to the massive St. Bernard and placed her arm protectively around him. She received a wet lick for her effort. The animal sat, tongue hanging from his mouth, a huge red bow tied around his neck.

Mrs. Crawford’s lips twitched. “Well, maybe not a menace exactly. And no harm was really done. See? The boys already have the tree back in place.”

Minus a few ornaments, which Mrs. Crawford apparently opted not to mention.

“Well, he should be taken outside.”

“I’m sure Frank will be here anytime to collect him.”

Simon walked in wearing a sheepish grin. “Actually, Frank won’t be coming to get ol’ Abe. Merry Christmas, children. That animal is all yours.”

Torey’s heart nearly burst for love of this wonderful man.

A whoop went up from the children. “You mean it?” Mike asked. His newly found faith had made such a difference in his attitude that it was difficult to remember the angry boy he’d been only a few weeks ago.

Simon beamed, clearly as pleased at giving the dog to the children as they were to receive him. He nodded at Mike. “I mean it, Son.”

“What’s he doin’ wearing a bow?” Toby demanded.

“Yeah,” Tommy supported. “He ain’t a girl.”

Toby scowled and reached for the ribbon.

Sarah jumped in front of the dog. “No! He wooks pwetty.”

“Boy dogs do not need to look pretty, Sarah!” Toby gave an exasperated sigh. “Mike, tell her! My dog ain’t wearin’ no bow!”

A smile lit Mike’s face. “I think a Christmas present needs a bow. Leave her alone for now. Ol’ Abe’ll take it off when he’s sick of it.”

The twins wore identical expressions of disdain.

“Aw! Okay,” Tommy said. “But this is the last one he’s ever going to wear.”

“Excuse me.” Everyone turned at the sound of a timid voice at the doorway. “Th–the door was open.”

“Ma!” The children scrambled to the slight woman. Tears spilled over as she tried to gather them into her arms all at once. “Oh, my darlings. How I’ve missed you.”

“Miriam!” Robert jumped to his feet. Pure joy shone on his face. “You truly are alive.”

Tears filled Torey’s eyes, and she stared in amazement. The look on Simon’s face revealed that Abe hadn’t been his only present to the children. She went to him.

He smiled and slipped his arm about Torey’s waist, pulling her against his side. “Merry Christmas,” he murmured, his gaze flickering to her lips as though he’d very much like to kiss her.

Torey smiled. “How did you accomplish this?”

“I’ve had a detective on it since I discovered their mother wasn’t dead after all. Robert truly thought she was dead. That’s what his brother told him. The children just thought he was covering up for their father.”

“Where has she been?”

“New York. That’s where they lived before coming to Chicago. What the children never knew was that she didn’t leave them. She ended up in the hospital after a beating by her husband. When she got out, her husband had taken the children and moved them here to be with Robert.”

“However did they find her in New York?”

“I had a hunch, so I had the investigator check hospital records in New York. She had moved from the tenement building they had lived in, but he was able to track her through former neighbors she’d kept in contact with.”

“You’re wonderful, Simon Crawford.” Torey beamed up at him.

“Come on.” He grabbed her by the hand and glanced around. The reunion between mother and children was still going on in the doorway. With a scowl, he gave a frustrated breath and perused the room once more until his gaze finally lit on the slightly askew Christmas tree. He grinned and pulled her along until they were hidden behind its branches.

“Now,” he said, pulling her into the circle of his arms. His head descended. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.” Her words were smothered as his lips covered hers in a heart-melting kiss. Torey molded against him, wrapping her arms tightly about his neck. When he finally broke the kiss, he kept her firmly grasped in his embrace. “I’ve been waiting until today to ask you this.” He released her and dropped to one knee.

Torey’s heart nearly beat from her chest, and tears filled her eyes as he presented her with a beautiful diamond ring.

“Oh, Simon.”

He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Will you marry me?”

“Abe! No!” Tommy’s panicked voice ripped through the moment.

Torey screamed as the tree crashed away from them, leaving the entire room witness to Simon’s proposal.

“Oh, praise the Lord,” Mrs. Crawford breathed. Her eyes misted.

“What are you doin’ on the floor?” Toby asked, his face etched in puzzlement.

“Don’t you know nothin’?” Mike elbowed him.

“I know you’re ugly!”

“Boys.” Their mother’s soft voice silenced them immediately.

“Sorry,” they mumbled simultaneously.

Torey glanced down at Simon, who still held her hand. Exasperation clouded his face as he looked around the room.

“Yes,” she said.

He looked back to her. “What?”

She pressed her palm against his cheek. “I said yes.”

His eyes widened, and a slow grin spread across his lips. He slipped the lovely token onto her ring finger and stood. Despite their audience, he pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace, lifting her off of her feet.

“What’s going on?” Toby demanded.

“They’re getting married,” Melissa answered dreamily.

The twins groaned.

“Does this mean she ain’t the maid no more?”

Torey smiled as Simon threw caution to the wind and drew her close once more.

She knew her days of cooking and cleaning were far from over, but from now on, she’d be doing those chores for her own family. And no life had ever looked more grand.