First at Last (Updated Version)

Epilogue

I unfolded the note once more and read it over again, the writing smudged and creased and nearly illegible from the number of times I'd folded and unfolded it since I had received it in the mail some weeks ago. I checked the address at the bottom once more, which was accompanied by a description of the house before looking up to make sure we were in the right place.

The house was a pale pink color with a blue roof and yellow flowers in the window boxes. All of the houses on the island seemed to be brightly colored, which contrasted greatly with the plain brown and gray houses of Belhaven.

There was a light tug on my gown and I looked down to find my five-year-old son, Isaac, reaching up to grasp my hand in his smaller one. The small gesture of reassurance was enough to make my heart melt. He was such a sweet boy.

I looked behind me, where William stood, holding our three-year-old, Charlotte. He offered me an encouraging smile and I turned back to the door.

With a trembling hand, I reached up, picked up the knocker, and dropped it. The ensuing clash of brass-on-brass was far louder than I expected.

There was a short beat of silence and then muffled footsteps. The door opened and I faltered, surprised. I stared down at a little boy who seemed to be about Isaac's age, with a missing tooth and tousled brown hair. He blinked up at me before offering me a timid smile.

"Erm, I'm sorry," I said slowly. "I was looking for Alice Thorel—"

"Antony, who's at the door?" A familiar voice called from somewhere inside the house.

My breath left me in a rush as Alice appeared in the doorway. She looked exactly as I remembered her, with bright, pale eyes, and delicate features. She wore a pale lavender gown and her blond hair was tied back in a loose knot.

"Oh, dear," she said, looking troubled. "You weren't supposed to arrive for days yet. I haven't finished cleaning."

I threw my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug, tears already spilling down my cheeks. "Oh, Alice," I said on a breath. "It's been so long."

She hugged me just as tightly, pressing her head against my shoulder. "Far too long."

We stood like that for several minutes before we pulled away. I smiled, wiping at my eyes. Alice's eyes slid past me to land on Isaac who stood just behind me and then up to Charlotte who was struggling in William's arms, eager to get down and explore. I introduced my two children to Alice and Charlotte hurried forward on chubby legs to offer her a clumsy curtsy, though Isaac stayed half-hidden behind my skirts, far less eager to meet new people than his sister. He always preferred his own company and a book to being around people—a sentiment that I could appreciate.

Another three children, two boys and a girl ran down the hall, interrupting our tearful hello before disappearing out the front door.

I stared after them, surprised, before turning back to Alice. "Alice, what—"

She smiled wryly. "I probably should have mentioned it in the letter I sent you, but this is an orphanage. Poppy and I are the caretakers of thirteen children right now."

"Thirteen?" William said, voicing the question before I had the chance to.

She nodded, grinning. "It is quite a full house at the moment. Though, do not worry, there is still room for the four of you." She stepped back, allowing us in, and shut the door behind us. "I shall go get Poppy and then we have much catching up to do."

We followed Alice through the house to a sitting room with large windows that looked out over the ocean. It was quite lovely. I walked over and looked out the window to the beach, where several children were kicking a ball around in the sand.