A Time To Love

Chapter 27: "The End Of The Road"

Audrey ran into the living room, where Daniel sat reading the morning paper in the recliner, for she had just received a letter from Katherine.
"Honey, guess what?" She announced excitedly, making him drop the paper, and ask, "What?"
"Irene and David are getting married!"
"That's wonderful! When will the wedding be?" Daniel peppered.
"It won't be for another year. They're going to take their time." Audrey explained and continued, "And, that's not it! Mark was hired as head chef at that fancy restaurant in Glenley. The one with the amazing bread they brought back home for us to try when they first got married. I guess they'll move back there now. Poor Katherine. She'll probably get so lonely that she'll beg us all to move back."
Daniel chuckled at her remark and couldn't help but smile at his dear wife, who lit up as she talked about the most important people in her life; her sisters.
"Oh, also," She started again with enthusiasm, making Daniel laugh once more, "Rachel and Caleb are courting!"
"Are you serious?" Daniel blurted out. "I feel like it was so obvious that they'd fall in love one day, but yet I never saw it coming."
"Me neither." She admitted. "I'm so happy for everyone. And, I'm happy for us too."
"So am I." Daniel agreed and added, "You know,...if I could change anything about this moment,...I wouldn't. Everything's just so perfect. I'm truly the happiest man in the world, and it's all because of you, my wonderful wife."
She began to blush, but she didn't hide it this time because she couldn't, no matter how hard she tried, for he already knew of the effect he had on her and how he made her heart flutter with every sentiment. Even if she tried to hide it, he'd still manage to uncover the truth of her heart, for he knew it too well.
He stood up and approached her, wrapping his arms around her gently, pulling her into him. He hugged her tightly before telling her, "I don't know what I'd dowithout you. You make me feel at ease, like everything's going to be okay."
"Daniel, I feel the same way." She said and continued, "Any worries for today, or fears for tomorrow, melt away when I look in your eyes."
"How is it that I seem to fall more and more in love with you each day?" He asked, to which she replied, "I'm still trying to figure that out when it comes to you too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a blizzard outside that cool November night, and the wind shook the house as it howled outside, as the two lit candles to remedy the darkness that engulfed the room.
"What a storm, huh?" Daniel broke the silence as he lit the last candle and blew out the match.
"It is." Audrey agreed, before adding with a chuckle, "And, here I almost thought we were going to have a brown Christmas."
"Would you prefer that?"
She thought about it, "Hmm...of course not. I like the snow."
"Oh, I know you do. I like it too." He concurred, as he casually undressed, getting ready for a night's rest.
She watched him as he did, unable to look away, for even after being married for seven months, she still burned with the same passion for him as she did the very first time. He had gotten to know his wife well, knowing what made her tick. He was not naive, by any means. He almost did it on purpose at times. He burned with passion just the same, perhaps, even more than she.
Audrey slid into bed, pretending as though she hadn't just been studying him carefully. He followed suit, laying down next to her. It didn't take long for her to turn to her side and face him. The sound of the snow whirling outside became quieter and quieter as she became lost in his brown eyes.
He didn't say a word, as his eager hand found her thigh from under the covers. His hand eased its way up her leg slowly, making sure she felt his touch every step of the way there before finding a resting place upon her back. He pulled her closer to him with that same eager hand. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her deeply.
The passion between them burned brighter than the candles that lit the room, as the two made love, not stopping until the snow did that cool November night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It seemed as though Audrey had closed her eyes for just a moment, but somehow, when she opened her eyes again, so much had changed. It was now May, 1911, and Audrey and Daniel, along with their dear friends and family, had just watched the
wedding of Irene and David Clark. Audrey couldn't be happier for her little sister. They all joked that it was now Rachel's turn, for she was now the only one left unmarried.
"Well, it was a beautiful ceremony, wasn't it?" Katherine said as she entered the room, carrying her newborn baby, Gloria, in one arm, while holding Charlie's hand with
the other.
"It sure was, but certainly not as beautiful as this little one!" Audrey exclaimed as she stroked her niece's face. "She's perfect, Katherine."
"Thank you, Audrey." Katherine beamed before adding, "I can't wait till I get to hold your little one in my arms!"
Audrey chuckled while Emily piped up, "I want to be the first sister to hold the baby, though. Remember that, Audrey!"
"I can't make any promises, Em!"
They all laughed together as Daniel, Henry, and Mark entered the room as well, now joining their wives.
"What's so funny?" Henry spoke first, with Mark adding in, "Normally, I'd think they were laughing at you, Henry!"
Henry shook a finger at him, "Hey! Watch it, squirt."
"Oh, Henry, you wouldn't get it anyway." Katherine teased her husband before giving him an affectionate kiss on the cheek and handing Gloria to him. He took
her gladly, and rocked her back and forth.
Daniel placed his hand on Audrey's ever-growing belly and asked, "Are you doing well? Do you need to sit down?"
Audrey laughed, "I'm fine. Don't worry, dear."
"I'm glad."
It wasn't long before the happy couple entered the room to bid their goodbye's, before heading off to their honeymoon destination next.
"Everyone! We're heading off now." Irene announced, grabbing everyone's attention.
"So soon?" Katherine peppered, with Emily adding in a teasing manner, "Very eager couple, huh?"
"No, no! We have a long way to travel." David explained and continued, "We figured we'd head out while it was still light out."
Irene looked around the room before asking, "Where's Rachel?"
Everyone searched the room with their eyes and shrugged their shoulders.
"Last time I saw her, she had gone to talk with Caleb." Audrey piped up.
"Found them!" Mark's voice rang out, making everyone run over to where he stood.
They looked out the window and watched as Rachel and Caleb came down the lane.
"What are they doing?" Irene asked no one in particular.
They continued to watch, and the moment that Caleb stopped to face Rachel and took her hands in his, they all began to hold their breath, eager to see what would follow. But, the second Rachel nodded her head in a silent 'yes', accompanied by a fervent kiss upon Caleb's lips, the whole room burst out in a happy celebration, for
they knew exactly what had happened. There was no explanation needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 28th, 1911. The day everything changed, and the day that Audrey and Daniel experienced the purest form of love anyone could ever encounter. The day their baby girl was born.
Eloise, they named her. Eloise Barbara-Anne Bouchard. For both of their late mothers, for it only seemed right to honour them in such a way.
It had been over a month since their precious one was born, and not a day went by that they didn't thank God that they had her. They were completely and utterly enamored by her. They could hardly believe that they had made something so perfect as she. She was Audrey's light and Daniel's angel, and they promised to give her the world, for she deserved nothing less than that.
Daniel peeked into the baby carriage to glance at her sleeping face. He smiled to himself, "Isn't she lovely?"
Audrey added in a chuckle, "You say that every day."
"And, I mean it every day."
"I know you do." She smiled back at him as she pushed the carriage along, with Daniel following beside her.
"Audrey?"
"Yes, Daniel?"
"Nothing."
She looked at him funny but didn't say anything right away. She waited a moment before piping up again, "Daniel?"
"Yes?"
"Nothing."
"What?" He asked in a chuckle and added, "Tell me."
She paused before telling him with a grin upon her face, "I think I'm going to stay with you forever, okay?"
He smiled to himself. The same smile she brought out time and time again. Perhaps, it had never really left his face to begin with, for it had been present since the moment he met her.
He looked over at her and gladly said,
"Okay."

The End

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Author's Note:
Well, that's a wrap! Thanks so much to everyone who has read this little story of mine. It means the world to me! God bless you all! :)