Dancing into the Arms of Destiny – Extended Epilogue

Ellie looked out into the garden party with delight. She had always dreamed of a peaceful summer day like this, with all of her family close together, and it seemed that with each passing year, her dreams were coming true.

The garden party at Susanna’s was the event of the season. Susanna’s estate was so large that it seemed that the whole extended family could move in and they wouldn’t be able to find each other within the walls of the house. The family was all together and, although the main focus of the garden party was not supposed to be the children, it was clear that everyone’s eyes were on them. There were so many of them, and Ellie was proud that several were her own. With Alexander, she had three children. The twins were the oldest and then there was a young girl, and finally, what she hoped was a boy that she was carrying in her belly. Fiona and Jacob had five children and then Thomas and Susanna had four. All of the children looked alike so much that people mistook them for siblings. Ellie didn’t mind at all. She and Fiona had been pregnant at the same time, and Susanna not too long after them. Everything had turned out perfectly.

Today, she was sitting with her father in the shade of the marquee, and she was finishing a glass of lemonade she had got for herself, and for him. The other men were talking at the edge of the garden and Fiona and Susanna were watching the children, who were running around.

“What a perfect day,” she said to her father, who smiled.

“Indeed, it is perfect,” she replied. “What do you think you will do tomorrow?”

“There is talk of going down to the river,” Ellie said. “And I think that it will be lovely. There is some shade there, so even if it is too hot, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“The same river you all used to play?” he asked, and Ellie smiled.

“I wasn’t sure if you remembered that,” she said. “I am glad you did. That is really how Alexander and I met. It was such a brief memory, but it obviously changed the rest of my life.”

“I did not know that,” he said. “I didn’t know that you had spent much time together as children.”

‘Well, he was mainly Thomas’s friend,” she said. “But I suppose that it was meant to be.”

“You know, I really did not know that Susanna’s family had so much money,” he said. “Why did she keep it a secret so long?”

Ellie laughed.

“She didn’t really keep it a secret,” she said. “After all, she did go off to France for a while, and she always had the highest amount of luxury”

“Well, if I knew that, I would have given Thomas permission to marry her right away,” Kenneth said, and Ellie laughed.

“Father,” she said. “You are just like me. You would not have given Thomas permission to marry quickly. You would have interrogated him, as you did with all of us, and tried to persuade him differently.”

Kenneth laughed.

“Perhaps I would,” he replied. “Perhaps I would. You know me better than I know myself, daughter.”

Ellie blushed.

“I only know because I am like you,” she said. “And I am so proud of the way you raised me, and I am glad that I turned out like you.”

“That is a compliment if I’ve ever heard one,” he said. “And now that I know Alexander a little better, I admit, I don’t think I could ever have Peter as a son-in-law. Compared to Alexander, he was such…”

“I know,” Ellie said. “I know. And I am glad that you saw that sooner rather than later.”

“And Violet is all right?” he asked. The two had become quite close friends. “I know that he showed up again…”

“How do you know that?” she asked.

“You think that men do not gossip as much as women?” he asked, with a smile. “It was all the talk of the gentleman’s clubs.”

“Is Peter not liked in those circles either?”

“Not once word got around,” he said. Ellie raised her eyebrows at her father.

“How did word get around?” she asked. Kenneth looked away.

“I am not at liberty to say,” he replied. “But I may have started that rumour.”

“Father!” she cried. “Didn’t you always teach me to rise above?”

“I am still above,” he said. “It is not hard to be above a man like that.”

“ I am certainly glad to hear that. He should stay out in the country, where he only had the animals to bother.”

“Ellie,” he scolded his daughter gently, “That is not exactly kind to the animals, is it?”

Ellie laughed. She and her father understood each other, not just as parent and child, but as adults now. Ellie felt like the moment she became a mother, she understood exactly why her father had always tried to protect her and want the best for her.

“Now about my…eleven grandchildren?” he started, and Ellie raised her eyebrows.

“Eleven?” she asked. Her furrowed his brow.

“Isn’t it eleven?”

“No,” she said. with a chuckle. “Look, they are all out there now. You should count them,”

Kenneth laughed.

“You cannot blame me,” he said. “A grandparent’s job is simply to spoil them.”

“Well, you certainly do a good job of that,” Ellie replied, with a smile. She placed her hand on her stomach and her father looked at her in concern.

“You are not in any pain now, are you?” he asked. “Should I call Alexander?”

“I am fine,” she said. “Sometimes he kicks.”

“Are you fairly certain that it’s a he?” he asked. “Are you certain it’s only one?”

“Oh my,” she replied. “I am sure that Alexander would not mind if it was another set of twins…but I think I would be happy with just one.”

“A boy?” he asked, and Ellie smiled.

“I think so,” she replied. “And we were thinking about names, if he was a boy.”

“Oh?” Kenneth asked. “And? Will you name him after Alexander’s father?”

“Well, we already did that,” she said. “So I was thinking that this baby could be named Kenneth Thomas.”

Her father smiled.

“For me?” he asked.

‘Yes, for you,” she said. “And for my darling brother, who came through in the end and is really the one responsible for all of this.”

“Oh my,” Kenneth replied. “I am touched. Really I am.”

“I thought that would make you happy,” Ellie said. “Of course, I do not want to get your hopes up, if it is not a boy.”

“I am certain it will be a boy now,” he said. “With such a strong name as that.”

‘So, you approve?” Ellie asked, and Kenneth nodded with a smile.

“Oh yes,” he replied. “I do approve, of course. But you have to bring him around most often, for he will be my favourite.”

“Father!” she cried. “You are not supposed to say that.”

“Of course I can,” he said. “I tell everyone that. You just can’t tell anyone else or word will get around.”

She smiled.

“So if I were to ask Thomas and Fiona now…”

“Don’t,” he said, with a smirk. “Or everyone will know.”

“What clever tricks you play, Father. But as long as you are happy, that is all that matters.”

“And you, my delightful daughter?” he asked. “You are happy?”

“Oh yes,” she replied. “Did you think I wouldn’t be?”

“I’ll admit,” he replied. “There were times that I thought you would never be happy.”

“Why did you think that?” Ellie asked. “I thought that I was happy.”

“You were happy,” he said. “But you don’t live for yourself, Ellie. You always wanted other people to be happy before yourself. I was starting to wonder if you had any dreams of your own.”

‘Of course I had dreams of my own,’ Ellie replied. “I just thought that they weren’t as important as the others.”

“I am sorry you felt that way,” he said. “I always tried to raise you and your siblings to know that you could at least tell me your hop4es. Which may be controversial, I know, but I’m tired.”

“You did a marvellous job,” Ellie said. “And I wish that Mother was here to see it.”

“Your mother would be quite proud of you,” he said, as he looked out at all the children. “She really would.”

“There were only three of us,” Ellie said. “Did you and Mother ever want to have more?”

“We did,” Kenneth said. “But sometimes God decides other things.”

“Don’t I know it,” Ellie replied. “Who would have thought that I would be married to someone I first met when I was three.”

“That is one way to look at it,” he said. “Although you know, that is quite common.”

“Well, normally, they grow up together,” she said. “Such as Thomas and Susanna have.”

“Oh yes, and what a wonderful story that would be,” Ellie replied. “I wish they had told me sooner. Susanna said she felt as if she wasted so many years.”

“I think they have done all right for themselves,” he said. He looked up then as one of the children came running towards them. It was one of the twins, Luke, and he had a smile on his face.

“Grandfather,” he said. “Grandfather, come and play with me.”

“Go,” Ellie said. “You have no choice in the matter.”

Kenneth laughed and got up to go and play, as directed. Ellie finished her lemonade and watched. Her son Luke was probably the one of all the children who looked the most like her father. They had the same colouring and the same eyes, and Ellie was certain that he would grow up to look exactly like his grandfather.

“Are you all right?” Alexander asked, sitting in Kenneth’s vacant seat.

“Oh yes,” Ellie replied, reaching out to hold his hand. “I was just thinking of how happy I was.”

“You have that look on your face,” Alexander said to her. “That look that said you were the happiest girl in the world, and I could say anything to you, and it wouldn’t bother you.”

“What?” Ellie asked. “I’m sure there are a few things that you could say…”

Alexander chuckled and shook his head. He was about to say more when Thomas came over to them.

“There you are,” he said. However, Ellie quickly noticed that he wasn’t smiling.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, concerned

“It’s Fiona,” Thomas said. “I think that you need to go inside and check on her.”

‘What?” Ellie asked, confused. “Fiona was just here.”

“She was,” Thomas said. “But she said that she felt like she had taken too much sun, and she went to lie down. Susanna went inside with her, but maybe you want to go?”

“Yes,” she said, and got up. She was worried about her sister. “Did she say it was anything more than the sun?”

“No,” Thomas said, but it was clear that he was worried.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“I’ll come with you,” Alexander said, and Ellie shook her head.

“I am sure Fiona is all right,” she said. “But if she is feeling ill, she will just want Susanna and me there.”

“All right,” Alexander said. “If you are sure.”

Ellie was worried because Fiona had not been well for the past few days. She thought it was just something she had eaten, and she had assured her sisters that she would be fine. However, Fiona was also never one to leave parties early, so Ellie practically ran up the stairs. She knew that Alexander would be upset with her if he saw her running, but as far as she was concerned, she was stable and her sister came first.

When she found the bedroom that Fiona had gone to, Susanna was sitting beside her with a cold cloth.

‘I’m all right,” Fiona tried to say, as soon as Ellie walked in. “Really, I’m all right. I knew someone would tell you and you would panic.”

“Panic about what?” Ellie asked. “My little sister isn’t well, why would I panic?”

Susanna smiled, and patted Fiona’s brow with the cloth.

“Are you sure that you don’t want something to eat?” she asked. “I can have the cook make you anything you like.”

‘No, I suppose I should tell you both,” Fiona said, with a sigh. “Before I worry you anymore.”

Ellie felt her heart leap in her throat.

“Tell us what?” she asked. She was instantly worried that Fiona was gravely ill and had been keeping it a secret. Fiona was always one to suffer in silence, and Ellie feared the worse. She came to her sister’s bedside and crouched by it.

“Fiona if it is dreadful, do not spare me any pain,” she said.

“It’s not dreadful,” Fiona said. “I just wanted to wait a little longer.”

Ellie turned to Susanna, confused.

“You wanted to wait a little longer for what?” she asked. Fiona smiled, and put a hand on her stomach.

“Well, it’s just that I haven’t told Jacob yet,” she said. “So I wanted him to be the first to know. But I suppose I will be showing soon enough.”

Ellie’s eyes lit up.

‘Fiona, are you with child again?” she asked. Fiona nodded and Ellie shrieked with joy.

“Oh, that is fantastic,” she said. “Congratulations.”

“I am glad that it is not more serious,” Susanna said. “You looked so pale.”

“You know how the first few weeks of pregnancy can be,” Fiona said. “It is just that. I tried to wait until I was showing a bit…but I suppose since you are my sisters, it is all right that you know.”

“We won’t tell a soul,” Susanna swore. “Not until you are ready for us to tell, anyway.”

“Thank you,” Fiona said. “I appreciate it.”

“I am so glad that we are with child again at the same time,” Ellie said. “You know that has always been my greatest dream.”

‘Aye,” Fiona said. “Although I am a little further back from giving birth than you. You look as if you could give birth any moment.”

‘Oh,” Ellie said, with a smile. “I hope so. I cannot wait to meet him.”

“I wonder if I am going to have a boy too?” Fiona contemplated. “Wouldn’t that be lovely?”

“I am sorry that I am going to ruin your news,” Susanna said and both of them turned to her. “Or rather…take some of the moment away from you. But I suppose I should tell you both now as well.”

“Tell us…” Ellie said and Susanna put her hand on her own stomach.

“I am with child too,” she said. Ellie leapt up to give her a hug. She could not believe that both her sisters were with child at the same time as her.

“Oh, this is perfect,” she said. “This is absolutely perfect.”

“I hope you don’t mind?” Susanna asked. “I wanted you to have the moment, Fiona, but it just seemed right.”

“Oh no, of course I don’t mind,” Fiona said. “This is absolutely delightful.”

“When will you tell your husbands?” Ellie asked. “You must tell them soon.”

“Shall we do it on the same day?” Susanna asked Fiona with a wicked grin. Fiona nodded.

‘Perhaps in the same place?”

“Now it is I who is envious,” Ellie said. “If only we could all do it at the exact same time.”

“Next time,” Fiona said, and Ellie smiled.

“Yes,” she said. “We’ll have to plan this better next time.”

She was overjoyed as the three sat to chat, while they waited for Fiona to regain her strength. She really didn’t think that this day couldn’t get any better. Normally, she did not feel perfect during her pregnancy, but this one had been perfect. She felt as though she were glowing with each passing day. She couldn’t wait to start all over again.

Through the window she could still see their children playing together. Kenneth was in the centre and it appeared they were all climbing on him. He didn’t seem to need any rescuing, though, but the three fathers were waiting, just in case. The three men had become great friends, and they were rarely apart. Ellie thought that their friendship was absolutely delightful to watch. Thomas, Alexander and Jacob seemed to be as much a match made in heaven as the three girls were, and Ellie knew that she was incredibly lucky to have a family that got on so well with each other.

“What a perfect day,” Ellie said, with a sigh, as she looked out of the window.

“What a perfect day indeed,” the other two echoed.

Ellie knew that they would have many more adventures to come. She knew that the future would bring trials and tribulations, but she also knew that it would bring happiness beyond her imagination. If this was her first few years of marriage, with her beautiful family by her side, she could not wait for the rest of her life.

THE END

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