Her Ray of Sunshine – Extended Epilogue

Humming, Viola made her way back into the kitchen.

“There you are!” Tommie grinned at her from where he sat on the table. Before she could scold him, he lifted a newly constructed ball of yarn. “Look at this. I finally untangled it!”

She chuckled as she reached over to ruffle his hair. “Congratulations. It only took you, say, three years?”

“Almost,” he said with an unrepentant smile.

It had been a mess of yarn she had found in the attic just a few days after her wedding to Benedick. Part of a larger mess, Viola remembered how she had grown frustrated time and time again with the countless knots. The color was brilliant, and the yarn so soft, but it had been such a mess that she couldn’t seem to untangle it.

Although Benedick had promised to buy her any other yarn––which he had promptly done that same week––Tommie had enthusiastically offered to finish her job.

However, the boy was easily distracted and rarely interested in yarn. He worked dedicatedly on the string until he grew bored. Every now and then, it would pop up around the house. Sometimes, she was ready to just throw it away. Every time, however, Tommie argued otherwise.

Because of him, she now had the yarn ready to use just three years later.

“I am very grateful,” she promised him. “Thank you, Tommie. That took a lot of concentration from you.”

“It sure did. I just thought it might be nice to do in time for your anniversary this year,” he said while hopping off the table. “Oh, and I cleaned the kitchen up, too.”

She glanced around to find that he was right. The young boy had even wiped the floors down. Resting her hands on her hips, she looked around and shook her head. “How did you do that so quickly?”

The question prompted him to raise an eyebrow. “It took me an hour, Viola.”

“I wasn’t gone that long,” she objected. “I just needed some fresh air, that’s all.”

It happened more often than not these days, Viola feared, that her stomach grew queasy. Whether it was the smell of manure or something odd like bacon, her stomach would churn. Or it could be anything. She hadn’t ridden in the wagon for a month now because she couldn’t stand the constant movements. Meredith had come by twice, worried when she hadn’t turned up in church.

When she felt this queasy, Viola had found that taking a slow walk near the road helped her to breathe easily again. She moved at a snail’s pace that had garnered amusement from Martin until Benedick elbowed him. It was silly, she supposed, but it still helped.

“I’m sorry,” she relented.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” he responded cheerfully. Then he tilted his head, looking older than she liked. “You know, I’m really glad you came here all those years ago.”

Her heart warmed at the kind words. “As am I, Tommie. I’m very glad to be a part of your family.”

He nodded. “We all are. I’m just glad to keep it growing. Well, I just need to get to school, I guess. Unless you want me to stay?”

Viola hesitated. He’d stayed twice in the last month when she felt like she wouldn’t be able to move for a few hours. Having his help in the kitchen canning goods and preparing supper had been heavenly.

Now, she shook her head. “No, I can manage. Go on, you. Or do you want me to take you to school? I could walk you.”

“At that rate, we’d just be getting there to turn around and come home,” he pointed out with a cheeky smile. When she swatted at him, he dodged the hand and leaned forward to give her forehead a kiss. “Off I go. Be good, Viola!”

“And you,” she called as he ran down the hall. “And invite Peter to join us for supper, would you? I haven’t seen him all week.”

“Sure!” 

Alone again, Viola sighed before taking a seat. She could tell the stomach trouble was lessening, but it could always return at any time of day. Benedick had woken up when she was sick late one night and wanted to call the doctor. Not wanting that, she had reassured him she would be fine by morning––and she had been.

“So ridiculous,” she huffed to herself. “Maybe it’s the milk.”

She sat there in the quiet while she fiddled with the large ball of yarn. It was nearly the size of her head and a lovely soft blue shade. 

Benedick hadn’t been certain what its purpose had been. When she brought it to him, he had shrugged and suggested, “A blanket, perhaps? That seems like a lot of yarn. I don’t know. It would have come from my mother sometime before she passed.”

Although she knew he had to be right that it came from his mother, she wasn’t sure about it being a blanket. She’d knitted a few in the past, and they required several skeins in order to cover a bed.

“I should probably make lunch,” Viola mumbled after a while. She heaved a sigh and climbed up to her feet.

She made a quick assessment of their goods, marking a note about needing more salt soon, and then started to chop the carrots. She sliced a few and popped some pieces in her mouth. As she worked, she recalled what Tommie had said and paused.

“Anniversary,” she echoed. Turning toward the window that faced the ranch, Viola felt her heart warm.

When he mentioned that, she had thought about the anniversary of her arrival to meet the family. They had passed that anniversary last month. Nor was it one that anyone celebrated.

However, they did celebrate her wedding anniversary. A giggle escaped her lips. How could she forget? 

For the past two years, Benedick had stolen her away for half the day to get her lost near the river where they would dip their feet in, have a picnic, and spend hours alone in each other’s company. When the sun began to set, they’d make their way home to find the brothers––and her mother––with a grand feast laid out for a whole family celebration.

The memories warmed her heart. Viola smiled as she worked, thinking about how much happiness had settled into her life here since marrying Benedick.

As he had hoped, they rarely argued. There was little shouting unless they were being playful or talking over Tommie trying to learn the violin. She had moved her belongings into Benedick’s room, and they spent most nights curled up in each other’s arms, whispering until one of them fell asleep. It was usually her, of course, but he never seemed to mind.

“I just feel silly,” Viola had mentioned one morning afterward. “We were in the middle of discussing our plans with Meredith and her fiancé. I don’t even remember where we left off.”

Benedick had just chuckled, coming over to kiss her neck. He laughed more every day. “We were planning on having their wedding in the grove like you and she had wanted, that’s all.”

“Yes, but what were the details?” she pressed.

He had to think about it. “I think there were flowers mentioned?”

Tutting, she had rolled her eyes. “Yes, flowers. And lace, I’m sure, and food. We’ll need to buy a lemon tree at this rate in order to have enough lemonade. As for flowers, I can’t recall what was said. I don’t know where my head is at.”

When she started to walk away from him, Benedick had reached back out and pulled her close. She had squirmed as he kissed her from chin to forehead. Just when she was going to ask him to stop so she could write a note to Meredith, he had said, “Carnations. You wanted carnations.”

“I did? Oh, I did!” Viola had squealed in delight, turning to capture his lips on hers. “I knew there was a reason I married you.”

“Only one?”

The two of them had laughed while they prepared for the day, wearing smiles even when they parted.

There were countless memories like those. Viola recalled many of them while she set the carrots aside and pulled out the potatoes. Nearly three years had passed, which meant many things had happened.

Her mother had stayed with them for the first year before she surprised them by getting a small home in town. It was close, but it allowed Laura to have her own space and be closer to the boarding house where she worked alongside the widowed Mr. Lambark. Even though her mother said there was nothing between them, Viola wasn’t quite convinced.

Then there was Meredith, who had married the blacksmith’s cousin. Frederick had meant to only pass through town for a week before moving on to California. Meredith had convinced him otherwise, and they were happily settled, taking over the general store in town.

As Tommie continued his studies, Martin now spent two days a week working with the blacksmith. They’d added tools on the ranch as well for him to continue learning his skills and offering more aid to the ranch hands. 

Peter had, much to her consternation, moved out of the house. Their pastor had retired and gone to live with family in Louisiana. There had been some light drama about the unconventional Peter taking over the church, but Viola thought he was doing well.

“It’s certainly a learning curve,” he had commented the last time she had attended church. “Everyone likes to try quizzing me.”

“Oh? What do you say when you don’t know something?” she had asked.

Peter had merely shrugged and waved the Bible in his hands. “I tell them I’m only a guide on their path to salvation. They have to find the answers for themselves.” He offered a cheeky grin. “Not everyone likes that answer.”

A few times a month, Peter still came to help out on the ranch. They used to have it arranged where he joined them for supper every Sunday, but as he had begun to grow more established in his new role, other folks were hoping for his attention then as well.

Viola snickered. The last couple of families she knew that had been attempting to get him to visit them more often all had young women of marrying age. Even though Peter insisted he didn’t want to marry for at least a few more years, she doubted he had one more year on his own.

There were other people in her life here that were going through changes as well. 

She thought of each face as they came through her mind. So many changes, so many miracles.

Hopefully, Viola thought to herself, she might have some miracles coming her way as well. A woman married for three years usually had a bigger family by this point. Perhaps after her anniversary, she could talk to Benedick and wonder what more they could do to try for….

Her thoughts trailed off as she suddenly stiffened. Frowning, she considered the date and then returned to her notebook that she had taken to carrying over the last couple of years. It was useful for taking notes, preparing lists of items she needed in town, and tracking dates.

“Three, four… oh my.” Viola breathed out.

Dropping the notebook, she put her hands on her stomach and stared. The math added up. Her mind sped through the possibilities. She had talked about this with her mother when she had lunch with Laura a few weeks ago, but it hadn’t seemed right at the time.

Now? Now was different.

She leaned against the wall as she grew dizzy at the thought in her head. It all made so much sense to her. The frequent sickness. The way she had seemed to slow down. Her growing appetite. Over five weeks had passed since her last cycle, which sealed the deal.

“Huh.” Viola stared blankly ahead, stunned. “Oh my.”

As the truth slowly settled in, she felt her heartbeat begin to pick up speed. A thrill ran down her spine. She could practically taste the happiness as she began to smile. Her cheeks hurt, but she didn’t care.

Nervous energy poured through her. Flitting around, Viola picked up her notebook and set everything in the kitchen aside. She needed to clean up. She needed to do something. 

“What do I do?” she asked herself. “Do I tell him? Oh! It could be an announcement. I only have to wait a couple of days. I could… I could…”

Shaking her head at the notion, Viola immediately knew she would not last that long. A secret like this was too grand to keep. No, she would rather share the wonderful news with Benedick. They deserved to be this happy together.

She shrieked and clamped a hand over her mouth before laughing at herself. Running to the back door, she clumsily switched her shoes so she could make her way outside.

“Benedick!” Viola waved her arms in the air on her race down the path. Past the barn and past the nearby corral, she soon located her husband.

He was astride a horse, looking powerful and handsome as usual. Since he’d had a haircut just the other day, his hair didn’t get in his eyes when he turned to look her way.

“Viola?” she saw his lips mouth when he spotted her.

“Benedick! Benedick!” Although Viola supposed she could say something else, she couldn’t quite bring herself to blurt out the thrilling news just yet. Not like this. He had to be the first and only person she told in the next moment.

Happiness bubbled over when she watched him slide down from the saddle. There was a confused look on his face that softened from a frown. He was probably concerned, as he usually was. His overprotective nature had hardly changed since that terrible incident long ago with Faulkes.

Fortunately, it meant Benedick was there to catch Viola when she stumbled and nearly planted her face in the dirt. “Whoa!” she cried.

He hefted her back up to her feet. “Careful, Viola. The recent rains made everything churn up. What are you doing? Is everything all right?”

“Oh, everything is wonderful!” Viola laughed and threw her arms around his neck.

Martin and several ranch hands were nearby, glancing over at her and each other with amused expressions on their faces. Benedick must have recalled them since he glanced over his shoulder and gestured for Viola to move back a couple of steps to get out of hearing range.

“I’m glad everything is wonderful,” he said with amusement. “Are you going to tell me what made you run all the way over here? I thought you weren’t feeling well this morning.”

“I wasn’t! Isn’t that amazing?” she gushed.

Benedick raised his eyebrows. “Is it?”

Giggling, she grabbed his collar and pulled him down for a kiss. And another one just because she liked the way he tasted. Between the kisses, she told him, “It’s all quite exciting––I don’t like being ill––but I find this may rather be worth it––can you imagine?”

“Mmm, no,” he mumbled, pulling her close. “I’m just glad you’re happy.”

“Aren’t you happy?” she pressed.

The moment she asked the words, Viola giggled. So much joy had flooded through her that she had nearly forgotten to tell him the actual news. Beaming, she pressed their foreheads together.

“I have news,” she reassured him.

“I do hope it’s good news.”

“Oh, the very best kind of news.”

He put his hands on either side of her face. “Are you going to tell me this very best kind of news?”

The smile on her face made her cheeks ache. She bit her lip to try and restrain it, but even that didn’t work. Studying Benedick for a moment, Viola forced herself to keep breathing. 

They had wanted this for so long. Even on their wedding day, they had begun to joke about the sort of parents they would be. Benedick was anxious about messing up, but she had quickly reassured him that they would do their best. He had helped to raise his brothers, after all. If anyone was going to be a disaster, it would be her.

Yet that hadn’t scared her. She had kept better track of her cycle that first year, eager for the time when she might begin to miss it. There were one or two times that she was late and so hopeful that she thought she might burst. Inevitably, the next day would come and bring her cycle with it.

This time was different. More than enough days had passed now to reassure her of the fact. There were too many symptoms that could not be ignored any longer. She didn’t even know how she had missed them up to this point, for she should have noted it earlier.

It was just important that she knew now–– that they both knew.

A shaky breath escaped her lips as she looked Benedick deeply in the eyes, knowing without a doubt that their lives were about to change. “I’m certain now, Benedick. I mean it. I’m with child.”

Watching him gave her the chance to see the words slowly register in his mind. It took her husband a moment. Then he blinked as the truth dawned on him. His hands tightened slightly around her face and then loosened as he stepped back.

“You… Really?” he breathed.

Tears threatened to fall when she nodded. “Yes. Yes, I am!”

A laugh of disbelief escaped his lips. His eyes brightened. He grinned, scooping her up in his arms as he let out a loud whoop. His joy made her laugh. She clung to his neck, made even happier in his grasp.

He was, after all, completing his father’s dying wish with certainty now. Viola couldn’t recall the countless conversations about this in the past. It had made Benedick anxious for the future until they finally began to relax and consider that this life was theirs. If he was able to fulfill his father’s wish, then he would. If not, then he would find a way for his brothers to help.

Bringing her back down to the ground, Benedick pulled her close with an arm around her shoulder and the other low around her waist. She was buried in his grasp as he kissed her tenderly.

“I didn’t think I could be this happy,” he gasped after a moment.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “No?” Smiling, she looked up at him. “It’s always been possible. You just needed to believe.”

That made his lips twitch. “If I had known such happiness could happen once I believed in love, then I would have certainly relented much sooner than I did.”

“Would you really?” she asked with a cheeky grin. “You were quite stubborn.”

“Thank the Lord, He gave me you, then. You’re twice as stubborn,” he said but didn’t give her a chance to respond as he swooped in for another dozen kisses.

Viola could hardly breathe by the time they finally paused for air. Her chest heaved and pressed against his. She could feel her stomach still feeling queasy out here in the fields, but now she didn’t mind so much. She understood why she didn’t feel well, and that brought her great comfort. 

As for getting away from the pasture, well, she would take care of that later. Viola wasn’t about to miss this moment with Benedick.

Every day was indeed a happy one. However, there was something special now with her discovery. A tear made its way down her face as she looked up at Benedick.

He gently wiped the tear away before he righted her on the ground. “I hope you are half as happy as I am at this moment,” he murmured.

“I am,” she promised him. “Now tell me my favorite words.”

Before he did, Benedick bent down to kiss her where the tear had fallen. He always said she tasted sweet, and this made her wonder if she tasted salty now. Clinging to him, Viola wanted this precious moment of theirs to last forever once he said those words.

That was when he said them.

“I love you,” Benedick murmured with his lips pressed against her skin. She stopped breathing. “I love your smile. I love your mouth. I love your eyes. I love your kindness. I love your joy. I love your cleverness. I love every part of you, Viola. I love you.”

Those words were enough to melt her through and through. Somehow, she managed to stay upright and whisper in return. “And I love you.”

It was then that Viola knew with certainty that everything would always be just fine for them in the future. Or, more likely, it would be absolutely wonderful. 

THE END

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