Yule Tidings

by Savannah Dawn

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Epilogue

  Merle and Anne returned from three weeks in Europe happy, tanned, and healthy. Anne lost more weight while in Europe; finally able to wear those size twelves she’d grown out of so long ago. Merle came back with a piece of mind he’d doubted possible after the loss of his first wife. It would be a wonderful spring for them.

  When Anne walked in the house she sighed. Europe was wonderful, but it felt fantastic to be back home again. She started to take her suitcase to the bedroom, and was surprised to find it empty of both hers and Merle’s things. “Merle?” she called cautiously, afraid that perhaps he’d been robbed while they were away. “Merle? Everything is missing,” she said, making her way back to the kitchen when she heard him come in the door with another load from the car.

  “No it isn’t, sweet. I had the kids put everything upstairs in our bedroom. I’d be a poor husband indeed if I didn’t allow my wife to sleep in the master bedroom of her own home.” Merle had seen the look on Anne’s face when she’d walked into the upstairs bedroom; admiring how truly amazing and luxurious it was. He knew she’d never ask him to let her sleep in the room, or even enter it, knowing he’d designed it for his first wife, but Merle had made peace with Martha’s death; it was time to open doors he’d closed. If Anne could sleep with him in her old bedroom, he could share his new one with her.

  Anne looked ready to cry as she walked into the bedroom upstairs behind Merle. Her clothes, shoes, everything had been moved upstairs with tender care. She knew her daughters were responsible; everything was exactly where she would have wanted it. Merle’s clothes too, were arranged in the second closet. On the nightstand was a wedding photo of Anne and Merle holding hands, smiling at each other. “Well Mrs. Johnson, welcome home.”

  “If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.”

  ~Ray Bradbury