MARCH 30, 1920
Seven weeks after Julia and Quinn’s wedding, everyone gathered in Holy Trinity Church once again for another happy union—the marriage of Reverend Geoffrey Burke and Harriet Chamberlain.
The audience—a far larger one than had attended Quinn and Julia’s ceremony—applauded as Rev. and Mrs. Burke headed down the main aisle of the church. Dressed in a cream-colored suit with a matching netted hat, Mrs. C. beamed at her new husband as they passed their guests.
Quinn put his arm around Julia and gave her a light squeeze. She looked up from the baby in her arms to bestow him with a brilliant smile, and he couldn’t resist kissing her. His heart thudded with joy as it did every time they embraced.
Little Evelyn waved her plump fists. Coming up on four months old, her bright eyes taking in everything, she was the second greatest joy in his life, next only to her mother.
Seated beside them in the pew, Jonathan and Emmaline wore matching grins. They had traveled all the way from England to attend the ceremony, a fact that had touched Mrs. Chamberlain deeply.
“Mrs. C. looks so beautiful in that outfit,” Emma whispered. “And so incredibly happy.”
Jonathan raised a brow at his fiancée. “Reverend Burke took long enough to declare his intentions. But better late than never, I always say.”
Emma laughed. “That seems to be your motto in life, Jon. One I’m determined to change, by the way. I don’t plan on waiting much longer for our own wedding ceremony.”
“I have to agree with you there, Miss Moore.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips as they rose to exit the aisle.
Quinn chuckled, scarcely able to contain the happiness that swelled in his chest. In a matter of days, he, Julia, and the baby would be sailing back to England, in the company of Jonathan and Emma. Of the group of friends that had met nearly a year ago on the ship, only Grace had chosen to remain in Toronto. Quinn glanced across the aisle at Grace and her husband. Andrew held Christian on his lap, trying to thwart the lad’s attempt to escape. Grace glowed with good health, her belly now round with the baby they expected in another few months.
Looking back, Quinn had to admire how far they had all come in a relatively short space of time. He, Grace, and Emma had come to Canada, each with their own hopes and dreams for the future. And after enduring hardship and loss, they had all found their path.
Surely the hand of God had been on their lives every step of the way.
Even Mrs. Chamberlain and the good reverend had found joy of their own. Quinn marveled once again how God had used him and his siblings not only to heal Mrs. C.’s childhood wounds but to bring about a positive change to Dr. Barnardo’s organization. She and Rev. Burke now had a team of clergy in place to supervise the children more closely and ensure they would no longer fall victim to abuse.
To Quinn’s surprise and delight, Julia had told him she wanted to do something similar to help the Barnardo children back in England and had asked Quinn to work with her on this new mission. Upon hearing this, his heart had swelled with admiration for his bride. Julia’s dedication to helping others was one of the reasons he’d fallen in love with her in the first place, and he’d been only too happy to agree to help her with this cause, one near and dear to his family. He suspected his mother would be eager to join in her crusade as well.
Now, as Quinn and Julia followed the congregation outside to greet the newly married couple, he stopped to pull his wife and daughter into a warm embrace. “Are you happy, Julia?”
She smiled up at him. “I’ve never been happier. I can’t wait to start our new life in England.”
He still couldn’t get over the fact that she was willing to come with him. “You realize the farmhouse is a far cry from the luxury you were used to at Brentwood. It will take time to fix it up the way you’d like.”
“We have the rest of our lives to work on it.” She paused to give him a mischievous look. “Though you may want to get started on that extra room for the children.”
“Why? Evelyn won’t need her own room for . . .” He paused as her words registered. “Did you say children?”
“I did.” Her lips tipped up in a secret smile. “If my suspicions are correct, we’ll be adding to our family much sooner than we anticipated.”
Quinn’s throat grew tight. Tears stung the back of his eyes. Too moved for words, he simply kissed her. “I love you, Julia. You have made me the happiest man in the world.”
She reached one hand up to caress his cheek. “Let’s keep this news to ourselves for now. After all, it’s Mrs. C.’s day to shine.”
“Right you are. Though it’s Mrs. Burke now.” He paused, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to calling her that.”
Julia laughed and shifted Evelyn onto her other hip. Quinn put his arm around his wife. “Let’s go and celebrate with our friends.”
As they walked toward the stairs, Quinn whispered a prayer of gratitude for the abundance of blessings they had received. He knew with absolute certainty that by keeping God at the forefront of their lives, all things were truly possible.
And no matter what the future might hold for his family, they would weather it together, with love.