Epilogue

5 Years Later

Contentment filled Reed’s heart as he followed Annie up the short flight of steps to the nursery. A long, satisfying day of seeing off their Christmas guests and spending family time in front of the warm hearth in the parlor ended with the children falling asleep while their grandmother read to them.

Annie caught hold of the railing. Two-year-old Amity rubbed her nose deeper into her mother’s shoulder, her little legs resting on Annie’s protruding stomach. Four-year old Field lay over Reed’s shoulder as spent as his little sister. Annie paused as she reached the landing.

“Did ye see them today when Amity’s giraffe broke?” she whispered while slowly rocking the sleeping child.

“The one from the Ark that ye were worried wouldn’t make it?”

She nodded.

He shook his head.

“It was so sweet. She saw me, so I put out my hand. She swung away. ‘Field fix.’”

Reed’s heart filled.

“She walked right on over to him and handed it over. ‘Fix.’”

“And did he?”

Annie leaned forward, a sure indication she’d done enough.

“Let’s put them down,” he whispered.

She had months left to go before this little one came yet he or she seemed to be tapping her every resource. A twinkle returned to her eyes again once they’d tucked their children under warm down quilts.

Where had the time gone? It seemed like yesterday they’d made their vows before Vicar Carson. Field was born, and then Amity. Now a new little one. Thankfulness welled in his heart. Only God’s grace could have brought him to this great abundance.

Annie rested against the doorjamb to gaze at the babies in their beds.

Reed interrupted her thoughts by placing a kiss on her forehead. “Did Field fix the giraffe?”

She took his hand and slipped into the hallway. “He took it to his little workbench and banged on it with his hammer two or three times,” she whispered. “Then he handed the big piece back to her. She grinned and went back to the Ark.”

He placed a tender hand on her swelling belly. “He’ll be such a good big brother.”

Ann placed her hand over his. “He’ll be such a good man. Just like his father.”