Chapter Sixty-Three; Wuthering Heights
Eighteen months later,
Thomas had surprised Kate by whisking her away for a month long honeymoon in France. They had visited Paris and so many places that she'd been curious about. Thomas had actually found some enjoyment in Paris during the day, but obviously, he preferred the nights. After all Paris was the city of love.
Today, however, Thomas had decided that he was ready to face the demons that had been haunting him for so many years. Kate held onto Thomas's arm as they walk through the forests of Verdun. It had rained the night before, so the roads had puddles of rainwater in them. A majority of the trees had been burned, but the trees had been making a splendid recovery. The trails had been cleaned up from the artillery; bodies had been removed and properly buried. Instead of a thick scent of blood and gunpowder, the air was filled with the rich scent of dirt and forestry. You'd almost forget that there had been a horrible battle here almost fifteen years ago.
Kate glanced at Thomas, his breathing was uneven, but he was holding up well. He glances towards her. "Need a moment?" he asks her.
She nods. "Yes." She really doesn't need it, but Thomas has been anxious for the last twenty minutes. He needed a moment to calm himself down. Kate exhales as she sits down on the large rock. Thomas sits beside her, his eyes darting around the forest. "It's…actually beautiful and peaceful here. I didn't have time to notice my surroundings at the hospital."
"Nor I." he inhales again, jumping slightly when a bird flies away from a branch.
She pats his hand. "I've got something for you."
He frowns as she reaches into her coat and hands him a yellowed envelope. "What's that?"
"Well, I was putting a few things in the safe when I saw this." She hands it to him. "You were supposed to open it several years ago. It's from my grandfather."
Thomas brow arches as he nods. "Yes, I remember. I never did get around to opening."
She nods. "I brought it with us, waiting for the right moment, should it arise."
He exhales as he opens the letter. "Guess now's a good time." He unfolds it. "Shall I read it aloud to you?"
Kate nods. "Yes please."
Thomas clears his throat as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his glasses. He takes a second before starting to read. "To the man who married my granddaughter." Kate's eyes widen in surprise at those words. Even Thomas appears to be taken aback by her grandfather's words. She shifts closer towards him. "The moment I saw the sun rise in my granddaughter's eyes, I knew she had finally met the one who would stand beside her and love her all her days. My God allowed me to see you before she herself knew that she belonged to you." Thomas reaches for her hand and squeezes it. "My granddaughter has always been like the river, stretching outwards to touch others, but having no one to hold her. I have tried to be of comfort to her, but it is not for me to cast the darkness from her heart."
Thomas pauses for a moment, clearing his throat before continuing. "You Sir, stand alone like a pine tree, weathered from years of fight. Kate will be like the river…to wrap herself around you, nurture and cleanse you and by doing so, restore light to her own heart. You will be her strength and her life will be fulfilled, no more roaming the earth looking for happiness."
Kate blinks as tears dribble down her cheek. "I wish, that my God had allowed me to be present for your union, but that is not to be. My people and my way of life, like me, is dying. I will be dead before she even crosses the ocean to return to you. But I can die with the knowledge that my family lines will be continued with your five children." Kate laughs lightly and wipes a tear away. Thomas shakes his head. "I will be watching over you both and showering you both with as many blessings until we meet again. God be with you both."
Thomas exhales deeply and carefully refolds the letter. Kate sniffles as she reaches for his pocket-handkerchief to dab her eyes. "That was…unexpected." Thomas nods in agreement. "How did he know?"
"Damned if I know. Hell of a magic trick." Kate smiles as she refolds his handkerchief and tucks it back into his breast pocket. "I should have liked to have meet your grandfather. He seemed like a very interesting man."
"That he was." She cleared her throat. "He always claimed to have the gift of foresight and until today, I never believed him."
"Well, he got one thing wrong. You only gave me three children, not five." He kisses her cheek. "And we're not having five."
"Actually, Thomas," she bites her lip. "I have something to tell you."
"What Kate?" He wipes his eyes with an exhale. "And it better not be what I think you're going to say to me."
She rubs his arm as she says. "I'm fairly certain that I'm pregnant again."
He stiffens and blurts out. "No you're not."
Kate laughs at the look on his face. "Yes, I am."
"No," he shakes his head in denial. "you're f**king not!"
Kate smiles broadly at him, loving this reaction. "Thomas, I am pregnant."
"You're not kidding?" she shakes her head. "Damn you to hell Kate."
Kate howled with laughter. "I'm sorry." Thomas started cursing again as he threw his hat on the ground in aggravation. "Easy there, it's not good for your blood pressure. Your hair is turning gray too."
"Who the hell do you think is responsible for that?" he demands.
She smiles. "I have no idea, this time, I think it was Valentine's Day." She sobers. "But I don't think its twins. It doesn't feel like it."
"Well, that's assuring." He says sarcastically. "Means I'm going to knock you up one more time then, which will not happen Kate!"
Kate laughs as she kisses his cheek. "God, I love you so much Thomas Michael Shelby. I hope we have one of each, keep the numbers even."
"I love you too Kate." He stands up and holds his hand out to her. "Shall we go now?"
Kate smiles and takes his hand as he pulls her upright. "I'll follow you anywhere."
"Makes sense," he yanks her against him. "I give you an inch, and you take a f**king mile, each damn time!" Kate kisses him to silence him. He lets out a grumble as he returns her kiss. In that moment, the clouds part to allow the sun to shine brightly through the clouds. He breaks the kiss, planting one on her nose. "I'm not sure what the future holds Kate."
She smiles she looks upwards at the sky. "I don't know, from where I'm standing, things look pretty bright."
Thomas chuckles. "Indeed it does, and with you in it…it keeps looking brighter." Kate smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist and they continued towards the field. With the past firmly behind them, they had a whole future ahead of them that would be filled with many more moments of pleasure.
Idcam: Sorry about the delay, I hate writing the final chapter. I thought it was something that Thomas couldn't be able to handle! When re-reading my story, might I suggest listening to the Kate Bush songs per chapter? Her music was such an inspiration for this whole story and help give the story a new perspective. Especially King of the Mountain, Running up that hill, Cloudbursting, Between a man and woman, Man with the child in his eyes. and Song of Solomon.
