Epilogue
Miles stretched his aching back and put down the scientific journal he’d been reading since arriving home.
It was easy to get consumed by the work involved in running the Cedar Point laboratory.
He loved heading up all the research programs. But now it was past time he put it aside for the day so he could join his family in enjoying a warm summer evening.
At the back door of the modest house several blocks from the lakeshore in Sandusky, Miles paused, leaning against the doorframe to watch his family.
Sylvie was in the yard with their oldest, four-year-old Cora.
Nearby, three-year-old Oliver—named after Miles’s brother—used a stick to draw designs in the dirt that might be his attempt at letters.
It was all so perfect that Miles almost couldn’t believe it was real.
Sylvie rubbed at her back, her expanded belly no doubt putting pressure on it. While his wife was healthy and strong, he would be glad when the baby arrived safely and Sylvie didn’t have to handle as much physical discomfort.
“Now raise your elbow. Yes, just like that.” Sylvie’s voice drifted over to where he stood.
She leaned over little Cora, correcting the way their daughter held a miniature bow Mr. Bryce had given her at Christmas.
Sylvie had held off teaching Cora to use it, not wanting to push her own passions on their children unless they were also interested.
But Cora had begged every day for a month until Sylvie finally relented.
And as the new archery instructor at Cedar Point during the summer seasons, there was no better person than Sylvie to teach her.
Scuffling drew his attention to Oliver, who had noticed his presence and was half running, half skipping over. “Papa!”
Miles reached down to swing his son up high in the air before settling the boy on his hip. Oliver squealed in delight, drawing a glance and a smile from Cora. Sylvie, however, called over her shoulder without turning, “Dinner will be a bit late. We got distracted by this fine weather.”
Turning to Oliver, Miles lowered his voice. “Should we hurry Mama and Cora along?”
Eyes glowing with mischief, Oliver nodded, a single chubby finger going into his mouth, which was his current favorite habit.
Miles grinned, put the boy down, and demonstrated an exaggerated tiptoe.
Oliver hilariously attempted to do the same, but his little feet thumped the ground with each step, removing any element of surprise from their approach.
Cora, who usually acted the part of a little mother to her brother, held still while he failed at sneaking up. She even dropped her bow to let him tickle her, giggles from both children filling the air.
Sylvie looked over her shoulder at Miles, raising an eyebrow. “You’re not intending a tickle attack, too, are you? Because I’m ready to defend myself.”
She might be teasing, but Miles had a plan. He leaned down to plant a kiss on her waiting lips, then, when she was thoroughly distracted, slid his hands around her waist, tickling up and down her sides. She twisted in his arms and swatted his shoulder, laughing at the same time. “That was unfair.”
He offered her a grin as he pulled back to look into her face. “But not unpleasant.” Her eyes sparkled, proving she agreed. Miles ran a hand over her protruding belly. “A letter came from Mother today. She wants to visit when the baby is born to help you with the older two. What do you think?”
Sylvie’s lips parted. “Oh, that would be lovely. She was so helpful the last time she was here.”
Miles was thankful every day that his mother had so completely recovered that she was able to not only run the estate along with Mr. Brown again, but that she’d been able to make the journey to see them three times already.
Not long after their wedding, Miles had taken Sylvie to show her the estate.
They’d had a lovely visit but agreed they didn’t desire to live there.
He’d begun to wonder if they should go back more often, to let the children experience that side of their heritage.
If he wanted to, Oliver would be the next to take over the estate, after all.
That was a decision for another day. For now, with the impending birth, it was best to let his mother come visit them. “I’ll write and let her know we’d be glad to have her, then.”
As they turned arm in arm to follow Cora and Oliver into the house, the fullness of their life struck him anew.
Watching Sylvie give the best of herself to their children every day was something Miles felt quite privileged to be part of.
God had blessed him with the opportunity to run the research laboratory for the last several years, and he and Sylvie had built the kind of marriage and family they could be proud of.
The road to get there hadn’t been easy. But in the end, all the secrets, disguises, and hidden desires had given way to the beautiful truth that God faithfully guided His children through life’s unexpected challenges into His perfect plans.
The End