Escaping Heart’s Barriers – Extended Epilogue

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Thea poured Vanessa another cup of tea. They were sitting on the porch of her father’s house, which had in some way become her house after she’d married Chester almost two years ago. 

“How are things going with you and Clay? Everyone in the church has something to say about it.” Thea leaned in, eager to hear confirmation of the rumors from Vanessa’s own mouth. 

“It’s true, I think we might actually be getting married soon. If I’m honest, I was a bit worried when you got married that I would be left behind forever and wouldn’t get my chance at love. Then Clay started being more serious, and he was always there when I needed a friend. We’ve been officially courting six months now, and I feel like it is going to happen soon. I couldn’t be more excited.” Vanessa gave a little squeal, reminding Thea of some of their past conversations. 

She was happy for her friend. Vanessa deserved a good man. While it had taken a while, Clay really had improved over the last couple of years. He had matured and grown into his character a bit. Thea smiled at the thought of Clay and Vanessa getting married. It would make both Vanessa and her parents overjoyed to see such a thing happen. 

“I’m very happy for you. I really am.” Thea leaned in and gave her friend a hug. Even though their lives were much more different now than back in the day when they’d planned their secret trip to Belmont, they were closer than ever. 

Thea had had those same fears when she’d gotten married. She was afraid she and Vanessa would no longer find time for one another. She was afraid that because things had changed so much for both of them, they would no longer understand each other’s jokes or problems. 

Quite the opposite had happened. They still spoke and visited all the time, and they enjoyed each other’s company just as they always had. Chester didn’t mind their friendship one little bit, and at the same time, it seemed Vanessa grew closer to Clay every single day. When they found time to do things together, they would have a day by the lake or go on a walk, the four of them. Thea and Chester didn’t mind being chaperones, and it had become quite a fun group tradition. 

Vanessa’s expression grew serious. “How have you been? I know it’s been hard since…” She trailed off, staring at Thea’s stomach. 

Thea placed a hand on her middle. She knew exactly what Vanessa was referring to. Despite trying since they’d married, they had still been unable to have a child. Thea’s father would often ask when there would be a grandchild on the way, but neither of them had an answer for him. 

Thea could tell that at first Chester was skeptical about having children, but the idea had slowly grown on him and they’d decided that they would indeed try for a baby. Month after month, when she didn’t find herself with child, she was visited with disappointment, and so was he. 

“It’s been all right. I keep imagining what it would be like to have our own little baby, a small Chester, or even a baby girl. I think I’m finally understanding what things were like for my mother, and why she wanted to have me so badly. When you want to be a mother but can’t be, it only makes you want it more.” 

Vanessa reached out and patted her hand. “I know it’s hard right now, but it could still happen. You’re young, and you still have so many years ahead of you. My parents didn’t have me until they were much older. You could still go on to have a large family.” 

Thea bit her lower lip. “Perhaps. I want to believe it’s possible, but I’m not sure anymore.” She sighed. Maybe God just thought she and Chester wouldn’t make a good family for a child. She prayed every night that he would grant her a baby, but she was starting to lose faith that it would happen. 

—*—

Chester pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the sheriff’s office. His father-in-law, Sheriff Davis, climbed down and landed on the street with a soft thud and a puff of dust. 

“Thank you for the ride, Chester. I’ll see both of you back up at the house.” Sheriff Davis sent a loving glance in Thea’s direction. 

Even though he seemed to trust his daughter and had given her space ever since the whole incident with Tobias and his gang, Chester could tell it was still hard for him. He just loved her too much. 

Chester could understand that sentiment. He loved her a bit much himself. 

“Of course, Sheriff Davis, we’ll see you for dinner.” After Sheriff Davis had disappeared inside, Chester turned to Thea. “Everything all right?” 

She was a bit more withdrawn and distant lately. When she thought he wasn’t watching, she would occasionally stare off at nothing and seemed to get lost in her thoughts. It made him worry about her. He knew their struggles to have a child hadn’t been easy on her. 

Sometimes, he thought it was for the best. He had seen how much Thea struggled growing up without a mother, and he didn’t want a child of their own to share that experience. Then, the next moment, he would be hoping just as badly as she was for a child. There was something about not being able to move on with that next step, no matter how much they wanted to. 

“I’m all right. I suppose I’ve just been thinking about a baby a lot lately. I had a visit with Vanessa the other day. Before I met you, we used to talk all the time about how our children would be friends. I know it’s silly, and one of the smallest, insignificant reasons why it’s sad we can’t seem to get pregnant, but sometimes I wonder if I will have any children to grow up alongside hers when she marries and has some.” Thea shook her head, her blue eyes full of devastating grief. 

Chester took her hand in his and ran his thumb across the back of it. “You know, no matter how much you think it affects things, this doesn’t. I love you and I love our life together. Whether we ever have a child or not, that won’t change anything. You will always be my family, and the number one person in my life.” 

A tiny smile pulled at the corner of Thea’s lips. “Thank you,” she whispered. 

“Now, let’s go get the things we need and send that letter you wanted to send.” Chester gave the reins a small jerk and the horses started toward the train station and post office. 

Thea’s father had managed to obtain the address of one of Thea’s mother’s long-lost cousins and she had prepared a letter to send, in an effort to get in contact with her extended family. Chester was all for it, and it had even made him consider looking up a few relatives of his own, though so far, he hadn’t been brave enough to do so for fear they turn out to be like his parents. 

Thea didn’t say much as they rode toward the post office. Chester didn’t know what to say to make her feel better other than what he already had, so he said nothing. When they got to the post office, Chester’s eyes wandered as Thea arranged the sending of her letter. He spotted a long line of children standing in front of the train. 

He immediately knew what they were doing there. They were orphans, just as he had once been—he could tell by there their hopeful looks and tattered clothes. They wanted someone to stand up and want them. They wanted to matter, and more than that, they wanted a place they could call home where they wouldn’t have to worry about food or anything else. 

“Please, you can’t take him!” a little voice called out, immediately catching Chester’s eye. 

A little girl, no older than six, was clutching the sleeve of an older boy. The boy had to be around eleven or twelve. His sad eyes reminded Chester of Clay at that age. He looked so hopeless and confused. The girl’s other hand was holding on to a toddler. The little boy was so small that Chester would guess he was around two years old, if not younger. 

“I’m sorry, Adeline, but he’s willing to take your brother. No family is going to take all three of you.” The woman handling the paperwork for the children was trying to get the girl to let go of the older boy’s shirt.

“But he can’t take him. He just can’t. Me and Edward need him.” Adeline’s lip trembled and her big blue eyes filled with tears. 

“What is going on?” Thea asked as she walked up beside him. “I finished with my…” She trailed off as her eyes landed on the scene unfolding in front of them. “Are those orphan children? What is happening?”

“They want to separate them.” Chester felt a tug in his chest. How would he have felt if he had been separated from Clay so young? They’d found him a home, back before he’d stolen him from the orphanage—a terrible one, most likely the sort of home this older boy would go to. The older boy was big enough to be a help on a ranch or a farm. The two younger ones were not. 

“We could… we could take them.” Thea’s voice was soft, barely audible. “I mean, it wouldn’t be the sort of family we were thinking of having, but it would be, I mean, could be something even better. They need us, just like you needed someone.”

Chester didn’t answer her. He had no words to say what was overflowing in his heart. He grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. They nearly stumbled in front of the woman. 

“We’ll take them, the lot of them.” Chester motioned to the three children, though he wished he could take the whole line of twelve. None of the others were standing together in a little group, crying or begging not to be separated, so while he hated to leave the others behind, they were making the right choice. 

“All three of them?” The woman looked startled, and the man who had requested the boy looked angry. 

“You can’t do that. I already said I’d take the boy. None of the other young’uns here could carry their weight.” The man spat the words out while glaring at the older boy. 

“Actually,” the woman said, looking between the children, “you haven’t signed any paperwork yet. John, Adeline, and Edward should make this decision.” 

Chester turned his attention to the three youngsters staring up at him. They likely didn’t trust him and thought he was wanting them for the same reason the other man did. 

“You wouldn’t separate us, mister?” John asked, looking up at him, then over a Thea. 

“No, we would not. We have a good amount of space on a little farm up in the mountains, and I think you and your siblings would quite like it there. I was an orphan once myself and I promise you, I will do my best to live up to be the kind of father you need.” 

John seemed to have heard all that he needed to. “We will go with him,” he said softly. 

Chester felt Thea’s hand tighten around his just a bit at John’s declaration. They had gone from not having a child, or a hope of having one, to having a family of five, all at once. Despite the suddenness of it all, he couldn’t have felt happier. 

—*—

“Chester! Children! It’s time to eat!” Thea’s cheerful voice came floating in from the kitchen into the parlor, where Chester was busy playing a game of checkers against John. 

“We’re coming.” Chester moved his piece across the board, finishing the game. He chuckled. He had been tiring of losing. “There we go. We should go in there before your mother comes out here to get us.” 

John shook his head. “You don’t want to play again because you’re afraid I’ll win my fourth game of the day.” 

Chester reached over and tousled his hair. “Maybe you’re right.” He stood and scooped up Edward, who had been busy playing with some wooden toys nearby. 

The kitchen was filled with delicious aromas and the sound of humming as Adeline helped Thea and Vanessa put the food on the table. Chester walked over and gave Adeline’s braid a gentle tug and kissed Thea on the cheek. 

“How are my beautiful ladies?” he asked. 

It had been four months since they’d gone to town and returned home with three children. Adjustments had been made, but now everyone loved the children, and they were a part of the family as if they always had been. 

“We’re doing wonderfully, just wondering when everyone would be here to enjoy the food we worked so tirelessly on.” Thea gave him a mischievous grin. 

As if Sheriff Davis and Clay heard her, they came barreling in through the kitchen door and headed to the table. Sheriff Davis patted Adeline on the head, then took Edward from Chester. 

“Goodness, at one point this kitchen felt so empty—now, it’s overflowing.” Sheriff Davis sat down and bounced a laughing Edward on his knee. “I would have it no other way.”

Once everyone was sitting down, they bowed their heads and Sheriff Davis said grace. Afterward, all the children dug into their food almost immediately. Chester looked around the table. Clay and John were discussing Chester’s lack of skill at checkers. Sheriff Davis was helping Edward cut up his food, and Thea was guiding Adeline as she sliced some bread. Vanessa was rubbing her large pregnant belly, eagerly eating for two.

Sheriff Davis was right about this kitchen once being empty, just as Chester’s life had once been similarly empty. He remembered all of the meals he shared with Clay. Some of them were joyful, and others were somber. However, it was always just the two of them. 

They had never dreamed they would once have a proper family. They never guessed they would have children, nephews, nieces, wives, and relatives. He thought God had abandoned them, but He had done something so wonderful in their lives that Chester could hardly wrap his head around it. 

At a certain point in his life, he’d believed that his mother had betrayed him and Clay when she’d chosen a lifestyle over them back in the city. Now he could see that she had actually done them a favor. If she had kept them, their lives might have not turned out the way they did, and he might have not felt so much compassion toward his three children when he saw them at that train stop. 

A single decision or conversation or change in the past might have changed his whole journey, and now, looking back, he couldn’t think of a single detail he would find worth changing. He stood up abruptly, catching everyone’s attention. 

“I-I just wanted to tell all of you how much you matter to me. Clay, you were there with me from the moment that we were on our own until this day, and Thea, you and your father came into my life in the most unexpected way. Then the three of you…” Chester paused. John, Adeline, and Edward had started to call him Papa a few weeks ago. It had made his eyes fill with tears and his heart ache with happiness. “You became our children in the most amazing way possible. I don’t deserve a single one of you, but I treasure you all the same.” 

Chester could tell everyone was a bit surprised by his little speech. Besides their adoring smiles and a few thank-yous, they didn’t say much before going back to their conversations and meal, but Chester didn’t need to hear them say anything. He knew that they loved him, too. They were all a family, there for one another no matter what. 

Who knew? Perhaps in the future, they would grow to be a larger family. Chester glanced at Sheriff Davis. His father-in-law had gone through this time in life wondering who was out there seeking revenge. As Chester had decided to become a deputy under the senior lawman’s guidance these past few months, he often worried he might have to face similar challenges in the future. However, he always kept himself from getting ahead of his thoughts by reminding himself of what he had in front of him. 

He had happiness, a reason to laugh, a reason to love, and a reason to be grateful for every single minute. He was going to become the best deputy, and then perhaps, one day, the best sheriff out there. He would always protect his family and appreciate every single moment they shared together because he didn’t know how many they would get in this world. He had to make every single one worthwhile. He couldn’t live any two moments twice, but he could enjoy each to the fullest. 

He had doubted himself so many times when raising Clay, during all of those decisions he had made for the two of them over the years. Only now did he see that he had done a proper job. He had led his brother to where he needed to be. They were both where they needed to be. 

God had been looking over them the whole time, and Chester was certain He would continue to do so for a long time to come. 

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