by Lila Munro
“What do you think it is?” He sat near her feet and rubbed her calves.
“Are these your retirement papers?”
“Yes.”
“But, Rafe, what about the promotion? What about moving and doing what you love?”
“Madi, I found out something. I love you and that baby inside you more than anything else in the world. Putting you through the stress of deployments and moving, dragging our kids through one school after another for ten more years—it isn’t worth it to me. You are more important, your happiness is more important.” He then pulled another envelope out of his pocket and gave it to her. “This is the rest.”
She ripped the envelope open and pulled out yet another official document—the deed to the property in Montana.
“The house and barns will be done by the end of the summer. By that time you and the baby should be feeling well enough to go home.”
Home, she liked the sound of that.
Epilogue
Nine months later
Madi had stayed on the couch and in her bed just as she had been directed for the required five months and on May fifth she delivered a healthy and beautiful baby girl. They named her Colleen Mary McCarthy. Completely enamored of her, Rafe was the most perfect father a woman could have wished for her child.
By August the new house in Montana was finished. By Labor Day they were packed up and moving with a convoy of horse trailers and cars full of friends and family behind them. For an entire week, it was like a collective family reunion between Madi’s family and Rafe’s, with everyone helping them and cooing over the newest addition to the family. Then before her family had to leave to go back to Missouri, the last piece of their new life arrived.
With their new daughter secured in her arms and her husband holding her back against his chest, Madi watched as the tiny white and pink casket disappeared beneath the ground that would soon freeze, then be covered with snow, then renew itself with the incredible pallet of wildflowers in the spring.
All of Rafe’s family, joined by all of Madi’s family, stood with them in the pasture under an alder tree, that the two had chosen for her new resting place behind their newly erected log home. True to his word, Rafe had taken care of everything regarding Shannon. Madi could rest now. Her family was home, bound by trust.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lila Munro is a native born Missourian, but has lived many places to include Okinawa, Japan, Virginia, and most recently the coast of North Carolina. Always an avid reader, she discovered her knack for writing in the sixth grade when her creative writing teacher recognized her ability to maintain a story line and encouraged her to pursue her talent. A lifelong learner, she holds degrees in psychology, sociology, and English and holds certificates in children’s literature and pharmacy technology. She enjoys cooking, reading, spending time on the beach and hearing from her readers.
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