Epilogue
“It may be well to consider that the flood, with all its train of horrors, is behind us, and that we have henceforth to do with the future alone.”
The day dawned warm and bright. Unlike that fateful day three years before when the South Fork dam collapsed and the waters raged down the mountain. The day everything had changed. Not only for the residents of Johnstown but for Monty.
Silence fell over the Grandview Cemetery in anticipation of the unveiling of the Monument to the Unknown Dead.
The Pennsylvania Flood Commission had purchased a plot of twenty-thousand square feet and sunk seven hundred and seventy-seven marble grave markers into the ground.
Thousands of people attended the ceremony, all to honor the victims of the great disaster.
Faces old and new surrounded them. Gertrude Quinn, tall and slender for a girl of nine, stood ten feet away, gripping her father’s hand.
When she recognized Monty, she started to wave but caught Mr. Quinn’s silent reprimand and lowered her arm.
Monty winked to acknowledge her gesture, and she smiled.
Robert Pitcairn, Tom L. Johnson, John Fulton, and many other pillars of Johnstown were in attendance.
Sadly, not one of the other club members had come.
As the months passed, the newspapers mentioned less of their involvement and started reporting other news.
In a decade, Johnstown would be forgotten.
Annamae entwined her fingers in his, looking up at him.
Her large brown eyes radiated empathy. Though she hadn’t experienced the flood personally, she’d lain with him many a night while he voiced the horrors he’d stuffed deep inside.
Many in the community had shared their experiences with her as well while she ministered alongside him.
Her many talents complemented his, and together they’d made a wonderful life and a wonderful church family.
The sun reflected off her hair, giving it an almost reddish hue.
The long procession from town to the cemetery had put pink into her cheeks.
A small mound peeked beneath the waistline of her skirt.
The one only he was privy to for now. Pregnancy had filled out her thin figure, making her even more desirable.
She was a wonderful mother to Joanna, and he couldn’t wait to see the life they’d created together swaddled in her arms.
Even amid disaster, time marched on. The day he’d stood on his rooftop and watched life after life pass by, he never would have believed God had set the bigger plan of his future into motion.
At the foot of the covered statue stood their former governor, James Beaver, and their current governor, Robert Pattison.
In perfect synchronization, they tugged on the ripcords, revealing the twenty-one-foot sarcophagus topped with three life-sized figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Heads bowed. The band began playing a melancholy tune, drawing out the sobs of the women.
The men who’d lost wives and children let their grief fall down their faces.
Monty wrapped his arm around his wife and pulled her close.
To his dying day, he would hear the echoes of their screaming, see the sheer terror on their faces.
Smell the stench of burning flesh, oil, and contaminated water.
But he would also remember the joy of reunited loved ones, the relief of lost items found, and, most of all, the knowledge that God always keeps His promises.
The choir began singing “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” Boy, did God ever.
With one palm against her stomach, Annamae rested her head on Monty’s shoulder. At the end of the song, Governor Pattison raised his voice to be heard among the crowd.
“We who have to do with the concentrated forces of nature, the powers of air, electricity, water, steam, by careful forethought must leave nothing undone for the preservation and protection of the lives of our brother men.
“To God, to country, and to Johnstown.”
Dismissed, the mass dispersed down the curvy road that led back to town. Some lingered at the monument, working through their farewells. Joanna ran up to them. “Thank you for letting me stand with the Murphys. They’ve invited me to their house for dinner. May I go? Please?”
Petite for fourteen, the horrors she’d gone through caused her to think and act like a girl much younger. Annamae was the epitome of patience and kindness to the girl, and she was blossoming beneath Annamae’s care.
Annamae smiled her approval at him.
“All right. Mind your manners, and be home by eight.”
“Thank you, thank you.” In a flash, she was gone again, leaving them alone and laughing.
Holding on to his wife’s hand, Monty led her behind the group, down the hill toward home. It had been a long, emotional day, and a lazy afternoon nap in a quiet house would do them both good.
“I remember when you first brought me up here,” Annamae said.
“Me too. I’d heard it was the best place around to spark a woman, but I’d never visited before you.”
Her eyes grew wide, and she glanced around then swatted his arm.
He chuckled. “No one is close enough to hear. They walk faster than we do. In fact, we’d better pick up the pace if we want to make it home before Joanna does.”
She rolled her eyes at his teasing. “I’m tired. I think I could sleep for weeks.”
As if on cue, she yawned.
He pulled her closer to his side and kissed her temple. “I’ll tuck you in as soon as we get home.”
Annamae grinned. “After I make us dinner.”
“No need. You rest, and I’ll grab us something at the café.”
“Meat loaf sounds wonderful. With mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, and yeast rolls with a large dollop of butter.”
“Is that all?”
“And cherry pie. Ooh, and fried chicken.”
He stopped and faced her. “Darling, I don’t think that tiny babe can handle that much food.”
She clasped her bottom lip between her teeth. “But two of them can.”
“What?”
“Doctor Thayer said he hears two heartbeats besides my own.”
Monty’s pulse kicked up its pace. “Twins?”
She laughed. “Yes, that’s what that means.”
A long breath escaped him. Bringing one babe into the world scared him enough, but two?
Annamae looped her arm through his and tugged them closer to home. “God is good, Monty. He’ll provide.”
He couldn’t argue with that.