Epilogue

Four Months Later

Meredith stood as the priest raised the baby out of the font. Holding the soft, white sheet, she gathered it around the baby, Ana Meri Dychenko—Ana for her grandmother, and Meri for her godmother. Larissa and Bohdan beamed when Kostya and Meredith returned with the infant dressed in her long christening gown. Kostya held his niece proudly as he led the small children around the font three times, and then, he returned the infant into her mother’s waiting arms.

Larissa and Bohdan glowed with pride sitting with their growing family—Daria, almost nine years old, Kostyantin, an active five-year-old, and now the baby, Ana Meri. Bohdan gazed at his wife, whispered softly to her, then kissed her lightly.

Kostya, taking his place next to Meredith, set his hand on her growing belly, smiling with pride. “Dushen’ka, do you think we’ll still be that in love after having three children?”

Meredith placed her left hand over his. A gold band shone on her finger, placed there the day after the bomb exploded in November, during a small ceremony in Kiev.

“Our love survived a nuclear bomb. What’s a few kids?”

As if in response to his mother’s comments, the baby kicked their hands.

“Did you feel that?” Kostya asked in wonder.

“He’s got his father’s strength.” Meredith smiled.

“You’re my strength, Meri.” Kostya wrapped his arm around his wife.

He kissed her softly and turned toward the service with his hand still protecting the life they made together.