Ten Years Later...
Setting her cup down, MaryAnn smiled over at Adam. “More coffee, dear?”
“No,” Adam said while wiping his mouth. “If I have any more, I will be running backwards.”
MaryAnn reached for the last piece of fruit. “I have seen you do more difficult things, my love,” she joked, and popped it in her mouth.
His eyes rested on her, his smile bright. “I do believe so.” He stood and reached over for her hand. “Dance with me?”
Laughing, MaryAnn took his hand and, with some difficulty and laughter, rounded the table without letting it go. Then, Adam guided her to a window and took her hands in his. They twirled in each other’s arms about the room, humming tunelessly between giggles, as they had done many times in the last ten years.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are this morning?” Adam asked as they turned about the room.
MaryAnn smiled. “You might have mentioned it once or twice.”
“I’ll say it once more, then,” Adam said. “You are stunning. The most beautiful woman in England.”
“You are an incurable flatterer, husband, but so very handsome,” she returned, kissing his lips lightly as she revolved in his arms. “What say you to a stroll in the garden later on?” she asked. “You, me, and the children—we could take a picnic basket and make an evening of it.”
“I would love to, but are we not expecting your mother this evening?” Adam asked, just as two giggling children ran into the room. Adam and MaryAnn laughed to see them and ceased their dance. Their little son, Benjamin, ran to Adam and hugged his leg, shouting, “Dance some more, Mama, Papa!”
Laughing, Adam broke from his wife’s arms and swept his son up into his arms. “Dancing, is it?” he cried, “what about some … tickling instead?” He tickling the boy until Ben squealed for mercy. “Stop, stop, Papa, Julianne was tickling me too!”
“I was not,” Julianne pouted. “I was only teasing him.”
MaryAnn smiled and wrapped a hand around her daughter’s shoulder. At eight, Julianne was thin, with long, dark-brown hair the same color as Adam’s. Benjamin, at six, had her mother’s fair coloring and hair. Their births had not been easy, and MaryAnn thanked God every day that, even though they could not have more, they were blessed with two wonderful, happy, healthy children.
“Why don’t we take that stroll now?” Adam asked. “The garden is blooming. It is spring, after all.”
MaryAnn came up to them and dropped a kiss on Ben’s head from behind, whisking him into the air and making him squeal. “I’ve got you now,” she cried, laughing joyously.
Eventually, she called for a maid to carry some of cook’s ices to them out in the garden before Adam hustled the two children out of the French doors, across a wide terrace, and into the garden. They sank down side by side onto the lush, green lawn, Adam placing Ben on his lap and MaryAnn pulling Julianne into her side, kissing her daughter’s head.
It did not take long for the children to start playing, giggling, and running about. Every time they passed, Adam made a lunge to grab and tickle them, making them scream with laughter.
Leaving the children to their own devices for a few minutes, Adam pulled MaryAnn into his side. “Let’s leave for Bath early and get out of London. I’m tired of the Season and all its social obligations. Our country home is waiting for us, and with summer not far away, maybe we could even take the children boating.”
MaryAnn smiled. “We’ll leave tomorrow, after my mother’s visit, shall we? You know she never likes to be separated from the children for long. She adores them so.”
“I do not mind. I just need to be away from the hustle and bustle for a while.” He leaned into her ear and whispered, “Thank you for ten years of happiness. Thank you for being my light and my strength when I had none, and my faith, when it was gone. Thank you for loving me and for giving me the family I needed to feel whole again.”
MaryAnn kissed his cheek. “And if I had to choose, I would do it all over again. I love you so, Adam.”
“I love you too,” Adam replied. “With my whole life. Forever and a day.”
