Epilogue #2
“Really and truly,” she confirmed. “What do ye think about that?”
He launched himself at her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I think it’s the best thing ever!
I’ve always wanted a siblin’! Someone to play with and teach things to and.
.. and...” He pulled back, his face suddenly serious.
“I’ll take care of them, I promise. I’ll be the best big brother in all of Scotland. ”
“I ken ye will, sweetheart.” She ruffled his hair. “But that’s still months away. For now, we just need to be patient and let the baby grow.”
“Can I tell Henry? And Aliana? And Cook?” Codie was practically vibrating with excitement. “Can I tell everyone?”
“Aye, ye can tell everyone,” Elijah said, his voice warm with amusement. “But maybe wait until we get back to the castle? Give yer maither and me a bit more time to enjoy the news ourselves first?”
“All right. But as soon as we get back, I’m tellin’ everyone!” He grabbed his stone and took off running again, this time toward the path that led back to the castle. “Come on! Let’s go now, so I can tell people!”
“So much for our peaceful picnic,” Iris said, watching him go with a mixture of exasperation and fondness.
“We can have peaceful picnics later. After he’s run himself ragged spreadin’ the news.” Elijah began gathering up their things, folding the blanket with practiced ease. “Though I suspect by the time we reach the castle, half the clan will already ken. That boy has never kept a secret in his life.”
“Good thing it’s nae a secret we wanted kept.” She helped him pack the basket, her movements careful and deliberate. Already, she was thinking about the changes to come—her body changing, preparing a nursery, teaching Codie how to be gentle with an infant.
“What are ye thinkin’ about?” Elijah asked as they started walking back toward the castle, following Codie’s excited form in the distance.
“The future. How different everythin’ is now compared to a year ago.” She glanced up at him. “A year ago, I was still betrothed to Malcolm. Still convinced I was nae good enough for anyone. Still believin’ all the terrible things me parents said about me.”
“And now?”
“Now, I’m married to a man who actually loves me. I’m a mother to a wonderful boy who needs me. I’m expectin’ a baby that I already love more than I thought possible.” She stopped walking, turning to face him fully. “Now, I ken I was never the problem. I was just with the wrong people.”
“Ye were always enough, Iris. More than enough.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I’m just glad ye finally see it.”
“I’m gettin’ there. Some days are easier than others.” She smiled. “But havin’ ye and Codie helps. Kennin’ that I’m valued here, that I’m needed and wanted, it makes all the difference.”
“Ye’ll always be needed here. Always be wanted.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Ye’re the heart of this family, Iris. The heart of this clan. Everyone loves ye, from the servants to the guards to the village folk. Ye’ve made this place feel like a home instead of just a fortress.”
“That’s because it is home. Our home.” She took his hand, lacing their fingers together. “And it’s only goin’ to get better. With our new baby, with Codie growin’ up happy and healthy, with us learnin’ how to be better partners to each other.”
“Is that what we are? Partners?”
“Arenae we?” She tilted her head. “We make decisions together, we support each other, we’re raisin’ our children as a team. That’s what partnership looks like.”
“I suppose it is.” He smiled. “Though I’ll admit, it’s still takin’ some gettin’ used to. Sharin’ decisions, askin’ yer opinion before actin’, considerin’ how me choices affect ye and Codie.”
“But ye are doing it. That’s what matters.” She squeezed his hand. “Ye’re tryin’, Elijah. And that means everythin’.”
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the castle growing larger as they approached. Ahead of them, Codie had stopped to examine something on the ground, probably another rock or interesting stick. The sight made Iris smile.
“Do ye think he’ll be disappointed if it’s a girl?” she asked suddenly. “I ken he’s probably imaginin’ a little brother to roughhouse with.”
“If it’s a girl, I’ll teach her to roughhouse too,” Elijah said firmly. “Just like I’ll teach her to throw knives and ride horses and defend herself. Nay daughter of mine will grow up helpless.”
“Ye want a daughter?”
“I want whatever we’re havin’. Son or daughter as long as they’re healthy and ye come through the birth safely, I’ll be happy.
” His arm came around her shoulders. “Though I’ll admit, the thought of havin’ a little girl who looks like ye is appealin’.
Maybe she’ll have yer fire, yer courage, yer refusal to back down from anythin’. ”
“Or maybe she’ll have yer stubbornness, yer broodin’ nature, and yer tendency to push people away when ye’re frightened,” Iris teased.
“Let’s hope nae. One of me is quite enough for this family.” But he was smiling. “Though if she does inherit me worst traits, at least she’ll have ye to teach her how to be better. Just like ye’ve taught me.”
“I havenae taught ye anythin’. Ye’ve learned it on yer own.”
“With yer help. With yer patience and yer refusal to let me hide behind me walls.” He stopped walking, turning her to face him.
“I ken I daenae say it enough, but thank ye. For nae givin’ up on me.
For seein’ past the beast everyone else sees to the man underneath. For lovin’ me despite all me flaws.”
“Ye’re welcome. Though I could say the same to ye.” She reached up, touching his face. “Thank ye for findin’ me when I ran. For standin’ up to me parents. For givin’ me a home where I’m valued instead of criticized. For lovin’ me exactly as I am.”
“Always.” He kissed her softly. “I’ll always love ye exactly as ye are.”
“Maither! Faither! Come on!” Codie was waving at them from further up the path. “Ye’re so slow! At this rate, we’ll nae get back until supper!”
“We’re comin’, ye impatient lad!” Elijah called back, but he was laughing. “Come on. Before he decides to run ahead and tell everyone without us.”
They picked up their pace, catching up to Codie, who immediately began chattering about all the people he was going to tell first, in what order, and exactly what he was going to say.
Iris listened with half an ear, content to just walk between her husband and her son, heading back toward the castle that had become home.
"Actually," Iris said, an idea forming, "why daenae we stop by the practice yard on our way back? I promised Codie I'd teach him knife throwin', and now seems like a good time."
Codie's eyes went wide. "Really? Now? Can I really learn?"
"If yer faither agrees." Iris looked at Elijah, who was watching her with amusement.
"Aye, why nae? Let's see if the lad has his stepmaither's aim."
At the practice yard, Iris pulled out her throwing knife and demonstrated the proper stance. "Feet shoulder-width apart, weight balanced. Ye want to throw with yer whole body, nae just yer arm."
The knife flew from her hand, striking the target dead center.
"Now ye try." She handed Codie a smaller practice knife. "Just like I showed ye."
Codie's first throw went wide, clattering against the stone wall. His second was better, hitting the outer edge of the target. But his third—his third embedded itself just inches from center.
"I did it!" He jumped up and down. "Did ye see, Faither? I hit it!"
"Aye, lad. Ye did." Elijah's voice was warm with pride. "Yer maither's taught ye well."
Cecilia, watching from Lydia's arms, gurgled and reached toward the knives with chubby hands.
"Oh no, wee one," Lydia laughed. "Ye'll have to wait a few more years before ye start throwin' sharp objects."
"She'll be throwin' knives before she can properly walk, at this rate," Elijah observed dryly. "Between her mother and her brother, the lass will nae have a choice."
"Good," Iris said firmly, a smile forming on her lips. "Every child of mine will ken how to defend themselves."
A year ago, she’d been miserable. Trapped in a betrothal to a man who’d never valued her, living with parents who’d spent her entire life making her feel inadequate. She’d thought that was all she deserved, that being tolerated was the best she could hope for.
Now, walking through the Highland landscape with autumn colors blazing around her, her husband’s arm around her shoulders and her son’s excited chatter filling the air, she knew better.
She deserved to be loved. To be valued. To be treated as if she mattered. And finally, wonderfully, she had all of that and more. She had a home, a family, a future worth looking forward to.
And as Castle McMurphy came into view, its gray stone towers looking warm and welcoming in the afternoon sun, Iris felt something settle deep in her chest.
Contentment. Joy. Peace. This was where she belonged, this was her happy ending, and it was only just beginning.
The End?