A Blissful Encounter of Two Hearts – Extended Epilogue

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“Darling…are you ready to go?” 

Clara heard Wyatt call from the front porch. “I’ll be right down.” She grabbed her new hat, an anniversary gift from her husband, from the box and pinned it on. Was it her nerves that caused her to feel so apprehensive?

Here, she’d been in Crandall as Wyatt’s wife for five years, the happiest of her life. Their union had proven to be a successful arrangement. They enjoyed so many of the same things and they had both wanted to have a large family.

Little Alice and little Rachel were the apples of Clara’s eyes and it was a never-ending wonder to her how happy she was.

But then, Jeanette, formerly Mrs. Bliss and lately Mrs. Powers, had taken sick and died just a month earlier. It had been quite a blow not only to Clara but to everyone in their extended family. Clara had continued to work at The Gold Finch even though she had the girls.

Wyatt understood Clara’s need to work outside of the big ranch house and had told her so. As a result, they’d been able to come to a good schedule of activity in and out of the house, and Alice was more than happy to tend to the little ones on the three days of the week that Clara was at the restaurant.

When Jeanette had taken ill, Clara had taken over and run the business, reporting to Jeanette twice a week for the two weeks of her sudden illness. Then, in the middle of the night, as John Powers sat in the chair by the bed, dozing, Jeanette had taken her leave of the world.

Clara worried about John. The man had been inconsolable and gone into a deep depression which worried all who cared about him. Clara and Wyatt had a meeting with him to talk about the future of The Gold Finch.

John Powers had money. He didn’t need the restaurant, yet, he knew how much it had meant to Jeanette. Clara imagined that the man was going to ask her advice about trying to keep it going or not.

What was she to say? She also knew how much the place had meant to her friend. It meant a lot to her as well. Maybe she was too attached to it to give good and solid advice to John.

She’d expressed as much to Wyatt, who’d said that she was getting ahead of herself. He’d suggested that she wait and actually hear what John wanted to talk about before making decisions about what he might want to say.

Of course, Wyatt was right, and Clara knew it. She left the bedroom and checked in on the girls in their room. They were sound asleep with Alice seated in the rocking chair, sewing. She smiled at Clara and Clara waved back at her.

Then she dashed downstairs just as Wyatt called for her again.

“I’m sorry, dear. I’m just a little nervous about our meeting with John. I fear he’s going to want to close down The Gold Finch. He told me the memories are getting to him.” 

Wyatt’s hand on her lower back guided Clara outside. “Yes, John fell in love later in life. He told me at Jeanette’s funeral that he’d never loved a woman before and when he’d met her he’d given up hope.

“It was love at first sight, he said. Much the same as that first day when I saw you step off the train from Philadelphia.”

“Which was much the same as when I first laid eyes on you. I thought you were my intended, and it turns out you were!”

He helped her into the buggy and they sat and smiled at each other for a moment. 

“I hope you know you’ve made me the happiest man alive, Clara O’Reilly.”

“The feeling is more than mutual. Mrs. Bliss, I mean, Jeanette, was right. She said if it was meant to be it would be. I just wish she and John had had more time together.”

“I’ve been waiting to tell you this, Clara, but John is talking about going back to Kentucky. His people are there and he told me if he’s not going to have a family here in Crandall, then he was going to go back to the family farm. Apparently, it’s a big place that his sister and her husband run. In fact, they’d wanted Jeanette and him to move back together, but you know Jeanette and that restaurant.”

“I do Wyatt. That’s why I don’t understand why John would close the place down. I mean I guess I understand…”

“You wouldn’t want to be alone in the place your love died, would you?” Wyatt interjected.

“No. No, I wouldn’t. Let’s go, Wyatt. I don’t want to keep John waiting and we might as well get talk of shutting the restaurant down for good out of the way. I’m not looking forward to it, but I’m going to need to find something else to occupy my time.”

“Two babies aren’t enough? I could take care of that, you know.” Wyatt winked at her and she giggled. 

She was madly in love with her husband and planned to tell him that evening at supper that he had already taken care of things and she had another little being growing inside of her. She couldn’t wait to tell the whole family.

The rest of the ride was spent looking at the sights. Clara remembered her first ride from the train station in town out to the ranch and how enamored she’d been of all the wildlife on the prairie.

Oh, how she loved it here. She belonged here and she’d put deep roots down into the earth she walked upon each day. 

“Well, here we are, darling.” Wyatt pulled the buggy up to the restaurant and they got out and went inside.

“Good morning, Mrs. O’Reilly. Good morning, Mr. O’Reilly.” The new breakfast shift girl was there early and smiled at them. “Will you be having breakfast?”

“No, honey, we have a meeting with Mr. Powers.”

“Ah, yes, ma’am. He’s in the new private supper room across the hall from the main dining room.”

“What a shame we’ve never used it for a party or some fun occasion,” Clara said. Unbidden thoughts of the funeral luncheon when Jeanette was laid to rest came to her. “I know where it is. You can go back to what you’re doing, honey. Thank you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

~~~~~~~~        ~~~~~~~~        ~~~~~~~~        ~~~~~~~~

Wyatt knocked softly on the door to the private room.

“Come in.”

He opened it and Clara walked in before him.

“Clara, Wyatt.” John stood and embraced Clara as if he hadn’t seen her at work the day before, and heartily shook Wyatt’s hand. “Have a seat.” He gestured toward the table that was laden with platters of food.

“My word, John, do you think we’re meeting with an army?” Clara laughed.

“Well, you need to keep your strength up, my dear, you know that.”

She was aware of Wyatt’s eyes boring into her as she took in the offerings for breakfast. There was French toast, scrambled eggs, ham, steak, gravy, fried potatoes, biscuits, bread, and butter. To drink there was coffee, tea, whiskey, and lemonade.

She knew John was going to offer Wyatt whiskey to go in his coffee. It was something John Powers had done every day of his life for as far back as he could remember. For herself, she was surprised that he pushed a tall glass of cool lemonade her way. Usually, she had tea.

“How are you feeling, dear?” John looked serious and again, Clara could feel Wyatt looking at her as if he could see into her very soul. 

They loaded up their plates and then John said, “I suppose you’re wondering why I wanted to meet with you both, so I’ll get to the point. Obviously, it’s about the restaurant.”

Clara couldn’t hold back. “Oh, John. There’s got to be some way to avoid shutting down. I know Jeanette owned the building, so now you do. But you could get people to run the place for you. There’s so much else you can do here.” She took a sip of her lemonade. “Jeanette told me she was considering a saloon in the double space next door when the notions store closes down. Mrs. Finnegan wants to retire and is giving up the lease. Of course, I understand entirely if you just want to let it all go, but it just seems, well…it was Jeanette’s dream…”

John was quiet for a moment.

“I see her everywhere I go, Clara. There are too many reminders. The house, this place. I sleep on the sofa in the parlor as I can’t bear to be in our bedroom. I don’t expect anyone to understand but I need to look at a different landscape. I know I’ll never marry again. I can’t stay here. Please understand.”

“I do, John. We do.” She took Wyatt’s hand as he nodded.

“So that brings us here today.”

“Well, you certainly don’t need to give us a reason why you want to close down, sell the building, and leave.”

“That’s just it, though, Clara. I do want to sell the building. Oh, I don’t need the money, so I’ll make it a very fair price.”

“I see, so you’re looking for us to find potential buyers, is that it?” Wyatt asked.

“Well, if the buyers would be yourselves…”

“Wait. I don’t understand.” Clara looked from one man to the other. “What are you both talking about?”

“I want to sell the building, and give The Gold Finch to you Clara. I can’t close this place down. This was Jeanette’s dream. And she trained you. She often talked about when she would retire and give the restaurant to you. 

“I’ll sell the building cheap, as I said, and then I’m leaving town. Oh, and the house…that’s included in the deal. I don’t expect you to answer right away. Take a few days, consider your condition.”

“Okay, what’s this about Clara’s condition? This is the second time you’ve mentioned it.” Wyatt was smiling, but his eyes were unsure.

“You mean she hasn’t told you?”

Simultaneously Wyatt and Clara cried out, “Told me what?” “Told him what?”

John laughed. “Well, I’ll be. This little lady is with child, Wyatt. What kind of dolt are you that you couldn’t see that in your own wife, and it being the third one?”

“Clara, is it true?”

“Yes, it is. But, but John, how did you know?”

“Let’s just say my mama had six sisters and I myself have four. There are things you learn to sense after a while I reckon.”

“Clara.” Wyatt put his arm about her shoulders and pulled her to him. “When were you going to tell me?”

“Actually, I was going to tell the family tonight. Since John already figured out my secret, I think he should be the one to announce it. John, will you join us for supper tonight?”

“Yes, thank you, I will. We have much to celebrate. You will take over The Gold Finch, won’t you, Clara.”

“Oh, yes, John. I will. And I’ll make Jeanette proud.”

“You’ve already done that. You were a good friend to her. She loved you very much.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “I miss her so much. I’ll do everything I can to honor her.”

“All right, then. Let’s talk money and then we’ll eat.” John smiled and nodded at Wyatt. “Sorry I let the cat out of the bag, Wyatt!”

“Oh, that’s quite all right. I’m thinking, since I found out this way, if this one’s a girl too, I’d like to name her Jeanette. Clara? What do you say, dear?”

“I say that’s a wonderful idea.” She looked from her husband to John and back again. Then she looked around the private room they sat in. Oh, she had so many ideas for the restaurant; things she’d discussed with Jeanette a year ago already. 

Clara was an actual business owner and her husband supported her decision. They discussed the running of the business for a bit longer while they finished eating the decadent breakfast.

“I’m so happy you trust me to carry on your wife’s legacy, John.” 

He cleared his throat and stood. “I’ll meet you in front. I just have to talk to Glenda about a few items the place needs for supper tonight.”

John left the room and Clara gazed at Wyatt. “Thank you, darling. Thank you for allowing me to do this even as you’ve just found out about my condition.”

“Your happiness is my most fervent wish, Clara. You can do both. I’ll help you.”

She leaned into his shoulder wondering what she’d done in her life to deserve such a wonderful husband and family as she now had. Her life had far surpassed any dreams she ever could have had for it.

She looked at Wyatt. “I love you, Wyatt. I’m the happiest, luckiest woman in the world and it’s all due to you.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say all of it,” he chuckled, “but I’ll take a little credit.” 

They both laughed and walked out into the dining room of Clara’s new business looking forward to the birth of their new baby.

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Grab my new series, "Courageous Hearts of the West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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