Chapter 26: Epilogue
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Aunt Elroy encouraged everyone to stay longer. But, Stear was too impatient to meet Patty. Neal and Candy were impatient to see their children. The three of them went back to Chicago first leaving Anthony and Ella in London. Especially that Anthony's father was stationed closer to London port than to America.
In America…
Archie was happy beyond measure to meet his brother. He proudly showed him his wife, Annie, and their baby. After some celebration, Stear went to visit Patty at that same day - not willing to have any more delay.
A few hours of driving later, Stear arrived at the convent.
"Sir, men are not allowed to meet her," said the abyss. "Sister Patricia is in seclusion before her final vow."
"Reverend mother, to be blunt, she has to see me first before she makes her big decision," said Stear. "My name is Stear. I used to be very important to her but I went to war and was missing."
"Yes, I remember she told me about you," said the abyss. "I'll talk to her. Could you come back tomorrow?"
The following day, Stear came again.
The reverend mother took Stear inside. She pointed to a young apprentice who's sweeping dry leaves in the convent's very large yard. She then bowed and left. Stear bowed back respectfully. After the nun left, he turned to see the woman who was all the reasons for him to be there.
Patty…!
Stear stood examining his beloved in black and white outfit. She looked solemn, peaceful. He remembered Candy's stories about the turmoil she's facing before joining the convent and felt sorry to all suffering she had to endure for his sake.
And now I will ruin her peace all over again. He heaved a long deep sigh.
Gripping his cap tightly with both hands, Stear slowly moved forward. He stopped several steps away from her.
"Patty…," called Stear, almost in a whisper but it's enough to startle her. She froze and trembled at his sight.
"Sister Patricia," corrected Stear with much respect. "I'm Stear."
Her whole body shook at that familiar voice. She supported herself with her long broom so she wouldn't fall. She turned her gaze from the ground to his face but couldn't gather enough strength to lift her eyes to meet his.
Stear came forward but stopped as soon as he noticed she backed away.
"How are you?" Stear managed awkwardly. All eloquent words died in his choked throat.
She always thought, she would readily run to his arms when they met again. Whatever she had been expecting, it didn't go really quite like this. She even felt scared. Why hadn't he come back earlier? Is there someone else?
"I heard that you've decided to follow a greater call," Stear began, slowly finding words.
He paused waiting for her response. She didn't give any.
"Patty, could I have you back?"
He held his breath wishing she would agree and run readily to his arms. But she didn't.
"Patty…?" Stear pleaded. "Is there hope?"
He examined her silence hopelessly. If only she said yes with the broad smile she used to give him… But she looked unrecognizably frozen and stony. Say yes Patty… Don't let us end here. His heart sank in fear.
"Patty, I love you. I went to war because I love you. I didn't come back sooner because I love you. And now I'm here hoping to have you back also because I love you."
So many kisses and hugs he wished he could give her, so many regrets for coming home this late. But, maybe he's too late. The woman might not suppose to be his anymore.
"God bless you, Sister Patricia…," said Stear.
He exerted all his strength to distance himself just like how a gentleman should behave to a sister in a convent. He bowed slowly and turned away to leave.
Frozen, Patty watched his back. Almost not breathing, she clutched tightly the cross that's hung around her neck with both hands.
At the gate, Stear stopped to look back. She didn't come. His heart shattered.
Good bye, Patty. I love you, Stear thought, crying.
She was his once. If only he trusted her love and came home as soon as he recovered...
Devastated, Stear wandered to the wood outside the convent. The area was secluded and quiet, just what he needed to be alone… There, he cried and cried until all his tears ran dry.
Broken and devastated, Stear got up and slowly walked back to his car. He sighed and looked up at the sky wondering if it'd have been better if his plane had crashed to the ground. Then, he wouldn't have to live with this burden of regret and heartache. He would have been somewhere up there now together with Harry, Bob, Dick,… all his merry squadron buddies.
Then, his eyes caught someone - standing next to his car...
Patty?
Without the cassock! She wore a dress with a luggage next to her.
Hearing his step walking on the dry leaves, she lifted her head. Silent tears dripping on her face. With that sight, everything had been said before a word was spoken. He knew she's still his.
He ran to her and she ran to him.
"Stear… My Stear," she screamed. Sobbing, she pressed her palms to his cheeks. "I always know that you will come back."
Patty gently rubbed his face absorbing the miracle of holding him again.
"Yes, I go with you!" she cried.
Stear stared examining her look. She's wearing that green dress, his favorite. Even when she went to the convent, she was thinking about him. He shivered imagining what she went through back then. It was almost too much for his heart to handle.
"Patty," cried Stear.
He put his hand on her waist, initially awkwardly – it's been a long time, then firmly he pulled her closer to hug her tightly. The softness of her hair, the way she hugged - all still felt the same. His whole heart trembled feeling his beloved back in his arms.
"I don't want to force you... I don't mean to push you. I…"
"No. Stear… please," cut Patty, sobbing. Her voice was trembling as she continued, "I always tell God that I stay in the convent only until you come to pick me up. Then, I'll leave with you..."
His whole heart melted. It's amazing how much she's willing to devote her love to him. How foolish for him to think that she'd be with someone else. He vowed to make up the years they're missing by loving her every second of his life. Would that be sufficient?, he shuddered. All the time in the world simply wouldn't be enough to return her love to him.
"Patty,"said Stear, his voice breaking.
Their hug tightened. For a moment they stayed like that.
Stear then leaned over her to slowly kiss her. She stiffened remembering their last kiss. If they stopped kissing, would he leave again - like last time? She broke and cried, traumatized.
"Stear…"
She pulled him and held him tightly, pressed her face against his chest. If this were a dream, she wanted to vanish together with him. She didn't care, just never be separated ever again.
He sensed it.
"Until my last breath, nothing can take me away from you," said Stear determinedly.
"Nothing?" she asked in a low voce. The doubt in her voice whipped him.
"Nothing!" said Stear firmly.
"Together, we go to see sun rise, sun set, and a farm… A big farm! Our children will run happily in the farm. We fly kites together, pull a cart with them in it together, plant vegetables, pick up carrots, grow chickens,... Me and you together." He paused, forcing to smile. "How does that sound?"
"Love it Stear," her tears dropped like rain. "We, me and you, and our children." She whispered. "Oh, I'm very happy!"
Both took off their wet glasses and put them on the top of the car. They smiled. Holding each other's hand, they walked to a private place inside the woods, behind the trees, unseen from any part of the convent to kiss and spend some more time together…
oOo
Alen and Cassey were happy to see their parents came back home. They excitedly unwrapped their gifts and played the many new toys their parents brought from Europe... Candy and Neal spent the whole evening with them.
"Well, Candy," said Neal as he climbed the bed to join his wife. "You want to have a super private honeymoon and we ended up sharing it with Stear, Anthony and the whole villagers."
Candy laughed.
"I love it though, don't you?" He pulled her and buried his face in her thick curly hair.
"Super," answered Candy.
They laughed.
"I love your soup, honey. You have quite a hidden talent. Will you cook more?"asked Candy.
Neal grinned.
"You look sexy when you wash dishes," flirted Candy.
"Do I?" Neal whispered.
She gripped her collar.
"Very," Candy murmured. "Now, give me warmth."
She kissed him while her fingers automatically moved to unbutton his pajama...
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EPILOGUE
A few years later…
From the window, Neal saw Candy's car coming. He quickly went to the kitchen to pick up the bread he just baked and took it to the dining room. She just came back from her Saturday shift in the hospital.
"Baguette… baguette…*," said Alen. He ran around excitedly.
"Mom… daddy's baguette is ready," shouted Cassey to her mom who just entered, equally excited.
"Honey, your favorite," greeted Neal to his wife. He busily prepared his bread.
"Say it, truthfully, which's better… Daddy's or uncle Anthony's," said Neal excitedly.
"Daddy's! Daddy's!" exclaimed Alen confidently even before tasting a single bite.
Neal grinned broadly at his son's confidence.
The two children impatiently waited to devour the freshly made bread. A one year old girl sat nearby watching her older siblings intently, she could sense their excitement.
Neal gave a piece to Candy. "I changed the baking humidity, the crust should be…"
"Uhmph," said Candy, suddenly. She hurriedly closed her mouth with her hand. Her face was pale and she ran outside the room.
"I go check mom," said Neal. He followed his wife worriedly.
He found her step outside from the bathroom, leaning at the doorway. She looked better although a bit pale.
"Neal, I'm pregnant." Candy smiled broadly. "The doctor had confirmed just now at work." She added excitedly, "Dear… our fourth~!"
"Darling!" said Neal, full of joy. He hugged her tenderly…
All those sweet promises they made during the honeymoon stayed true and got even stronger with time.
They lived happily ever after.
-THE END -
Note:
*Baguette: A type of French bread.
~Fourth: Cassey, Alen, that 1 year old girl, and this one.
Cassey (first appears in chapter 4) and Alen (chapter 5): After Neal and Candy were married (chapter 16), they became Neal and Candy's children (chapter 13).
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THANK YOU!
For all the readers, I'd like to say loudly THANK YOU for reading! Very happy to have you here. Thanks for the time, support, and effort. Hugs from my little corner here to you.
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The entire Stear or Patty scenes starting from chapter 1 to 26 are written especially, in its entirety, for my friend Sabrina Weasley Cornwell.