Five Years Later

Children were a handful. Isabella had always known that in the back of her head. She’d been told it many times over by her own mother who never missed a moment to say how much of a troublemaker Isabella had been in her childhood. But living it was an entirely different ordeal to hearing about it.

She could do nothing but stand and watch as her rambunctious four year old toddler attempted to climb the mantle yet again. He would be unsuccessful, she knew, which was why she didn’t bother to to move. She’d taken him away from the hearth four times already and he’d only gotten up and waddled back over there. She had to admire his determination.

“Theresa,” Bella called wearily. “Please make sure that Henry does not hurt himself. And I think Kate needs to be changed.”

“Yes, my lady.” Theresa, the governess, surged to her feet. Isabella watched as the homely women scooped Henry into her arms and try to shush the toddler as he wailed in protest. Kate, the ever gentle two year old toddled who idolized her older brother, quietly accepted Theresa’s hand.

“The dinner party is still underway,” Bella said as the governess approached. “But I will come by later to tuck them in for bed.”

Theresa smiled. “Yes, my lady. I shall make sure that they are ready.”

Bella nodded. She looked at her rebellious son and her kind daughter and said, “Do not give Mrs. Jones any trouble, all right?”

“I want to climb!” Henry wailed.

“I want to climb too!” Kate echoed.

Bella sighed. “Would you like for me to come with you?” she asked Theresa.

The governess quickly shook her head. “No! No need, my lady. I can handle them on my own.”

“Very well.” Bella turned to the door, then went back to kiss both her children on their foreheads. “Be good, all right?” she said to them.

They stayed quiet until she was out the door. Then the wailing began.

Bella sighed. She was tempted to go back in. She’d left her dinner party in the first place because her motherly instinct had told her that something was amiss. And she’d found her children racing through the hallways, giving their governess a difficult time.

Bella had stayed with them for nearly an hour, reading to them, playing with them, and then watching them play by themselves. Now that she was gone, they were mourning her absence in the way only children could. By crying.

It took much of her strength to walk away and head back to the dining room. The moment she did, she felt her trepidation melt.

The room was alive. Her father and father-in-law sat by the sideboard with full decanters, glasses heavy with brandy, and cards in their hands. She didn’t have to guess to know if they were already inebriated.

Her sister-in-law, Amelia, and her husband, Luke, were engaged in a hearty discussion with Matilda and Graham. Which was really Amelia and Matilda going at it while the men stood by and shook their heads at their ladies.

Gertrude was playing the pianoforte and Mr. Whiskers—the darned cat had snuck in again—ran her feet with a surprising bout of energy. Rosalind stood by, swaying along.

And then there was Edward…and Catherine.

Bella didn’t know why she’d allowed her to come. She hadn’t forgiven her for what she’d done. Years later she was yet to receive an apology. Catherine had simply acted as if she’d done nothing wrong, even while she was ostracized by nearly everyone in the family.

So when Edward said that she’d reached out to him recenty, Bella didn’t care to wonder why. It didn’t cross her mind for a second that Catherine was ready to mend her wrongs.

Yet as she looked at them speak, she wondered if she might have been wrong about that.

As she approached, Edward noticed her and said, “Here she is. Say it yourself.”

“Say what?” Bella asked.

Catherine actually looked…uncomfortable. Bella couldn’t believe her eyes. “It is long overdue,” Catherine said, a little meekly. “I can hardly look you in the eye as I say it.”

“Are you going to apologise?” Bella couldn’t help but ask, incredulous.

Catherine’s eyes shot to the floor. “Yes. These past few years have showed me how wrong I was and…nothing I say can change the past. But I would also like to say that I am…grateful for your graciousness in allowing me to attend this evening in the first place.”

It looked as if every word she spoke was akin to swallowing nails, Bella observed, humored by the fact.

“I cannot deny that it may take a while to accept your apology, Catherine,” Bella confessed. “But…you are willing and that is what matters now.”

“That is all I need.” Catherine lifted hopeful eyes to the room. “I only hope that the others see it the same way.”

They had all ignored her all evening so Bella doubted it would be that easy. “I’m sure they will soon enough,” she said instead. She noticed a fluffy tail drawing closer and smiled. “At least one of them are willing at least.”

Mr. Whiskers bumped his head into Catherine’s leg. The older woman recoiled. “Shoo!” she hissed. “Go away!”

Mr. Whisker’s meowed and the devilish genius showed her more affection rather than his usual crankiness. Catherine raced away and Mr. Whiskers took after her.

Bella laughed, stepping closer to Edward. “An unusual sight, isn’t it? Catherine and Mr. Whiskers being nice.”

“The times are changing, my love,” Edward agreed with a grin.

Bella took his hand. “Follow me into the gardens,” she suggested.

He didn’t hesitate to do just that. Everyone was so caught up in what they were doing that they didn’t notice when she left the room a second time, with Edward in tow. Quietly, they made their way to the gardens, awashed with moon and starlight.

They headed down a cobbled path hand in hand, silently admiring the stars above.

“Is there something on your mind, my love?” Edward asked at last.

“Yes,” she confessed. “I am considering the best ways to tell it to you.”

“Just say it straight,” he suggested. “That is what usually works best for me.”

“Very well.” Bella could no longer fight her grin. She had been keeping this secret for days, waiting for the right time. “Do you remember the list of names you had when we were naming Kate?”

Edward nodded, bemused. “Yes, I had them for both boy and girl—” He broke off, eyes growing wide at her knowing grin. “Don’t tell me…?”

“I am with child, my love. We have been blessed once more.”

She hardly finished her sentence before he picked her up with a shout of excitement, twirling her around. Bella laughed as he set her back down.

“What shall we name her, Edward?” she asked.

“Her?” he echoed breathlessly. “How do you know it will be a her?”

“Mother’s intuition?”

Both their laughter was cut short by his lips on hers. It was a while before they came up for air.

“Have I told you I love you?” Edward whispered to her.

“Almost every day. And it isn’t nearly enough.”

“I love you, Isabella.”

“And I love you, Edward.”

They kissed again, with the stars watching. A perfect moment that she never wanted to end.

The End