The Brown house returned to its normal routine the next day. Cedric got up for work, checking in with Evangeline as she woke to make sure they were at least relatively okay. She gave him a genuine yes, but it was evident she still wasn't prepared to fake any merriment.

She joined the children for breakfast and the more unpleasant moments of the previous day seemed to be mostly forgotten. Chrissie yelled at Sebastian for taking food from her plate, Eric was caught hiding his boiled egg in a napkin for heaven knows what reason, and Aggie threw a fit, suddenly deciding that she didn't like eggs at all. It was a welcome relief. These were the kinds of problems Evangeline was well-equipped to handle.

By late morning, the children calmed down, most of them involved in a cricket match in the yard. Aggie sat with Evangeline in the day room, content with her blocks and the dolls she'd taken from Chrissie. Evangeline smiled as she peered over the top of her book. At least she'd have a couple of hours of peace before that inevitable spat.

"Evangeline?"

Her eyes moved from Aggie to Simon standing in the doorway. "I never thought I'd see the day you walked away from a game. Is everything all right?"

He shrugged, taking a couple of steps further into the room. "I didn't feel much like playing."

Setting her book on the side table, she was on her feet and standing over him in a second, her hand pressed against his forehead. "Are you ill?"

Simon shrugged out of her hold. "I'm fine."

"So long as you're sure." She fixed his hair before going back to her chair. "You're welcome to sit in here with me and Aggie, though I think you'll have more fun outside."

He nodded, opening his mouth to say something, then closed it again soon after. Instead, he went to sit next to Aggie, watching her play for a few minutes before he turned back toward his stepmother.

"I guess… Well, I've been wanting to… apologize."

Evangeline's eyes widened. "Whatever for?"

"For being upset with you yesterday morning. You and Papa."

"Don't worry about it," she replied with a gentle smile. "It was a hectic day for all of us."

Simon nodded. "I spoke with Papa at the beach."

"He mentioned that."

"And you're not mad?"

"For speaking with your father?"

"About what we talked about."

"He didn't say very much, actually. Only that you've been worried that he's forgotten about your mother."

"Oh."

"Is there something else I should know?" she questioned.

He shook his head. "Not really… Just that… I guess I've been feeling a bit jealous for her, if that makes sense. Then I feel guilty about it because you've been so nice to us. Even before you married Papa you treated us better than anyone. You weren't scared off."

Standing and going over to him again, she sat down beside him on the floor. "You don't need to feel guilty. I know it's a delicate situation."

"I just don't want you to think I don't want you and Papa to be happy together. I've been thinking all day that he'd said something to you and that… well, you'd be mad."

"I think it's quite admirable that you want to defend your mother. I know you don't think ill of me."

"Okay…"

She touched his shoulder. "You're so much like your father. Both of you like to hold things in until they make you miserable. You know that you can always talk to him or me, don't you?"

He gave another apprehensive nod. "Papa said he stayed home from work yesterday because he was missing Mama. Is that true?"

"That's the best way to put it," Evangeline said, not sure what exactly Cedric would want him to know. "I insisted he take the day off. I think he needed to spend time with all of us."

"You don't get upset when he misses her?"

She pursed her lips. She wasn't sure how to answer this question for herself, let alone Agatha's son. "No," she said after several seconds, "upset isn't the right word. I don't think jealous is, either."

"What then?"

"Sad, I suppose. Not because he misses her instead of thinking of me, but sad for him. Sad for you kids. I wish that none of you had to lose her in the first place. But then I guess I get my own guilt because if things had been different, I would never have married your father or have become your stepmother. It's conflicting emotions."

"… Can I ask one more thing?"

"What's that?" she replied, though not without hesitation.

"Were you in love with Papa when Mama was still alive?"

Clasping her hands in her lap, she said, "That's another complicated answer, I'm afraid."

"So, you were then?"

"I wouldn't go as far as to say I was in love. It wasn't an option. He adored your mum. I admired him just as I admired her. Maybe there was a difference. I don't know anymore. There was no use for those kinds of thoughts aside from having always found him handsome. I suppose most women do."

"When did you fall in love?"

"I suppose it happened slowly some months after your mother passed. You know how he was. He needed someone. I offered support when appropriate and perhaps maybe we became closer than a master and a scullery maid should — like friends. And then when he made mentions of going to tea dances in such… I didn't know the gravity of the situation. I thought he might be looking for a wife on his own accord. At least in the beginning. That's when I got swept away. He'd always treated me so kindly. Part of me figured that maybe he would be able to settle for me someday, though I knew I had nothing to offer him."

"And that's why you started having Lily teach you to read? Why you all of a sudden started talking about your lack of education?"

Embarrassed, she nodded.

"That makes me feel a little better."

"I'm glad," she chuckled. "I mean it, Simon. I never want to come between you all and the memory of your mother. That doesn't mean doing so hasn't been difficult at times."

"Like with you having a baby?"

She nodded once more. "I'd been hoping to put a few years between Aggie and this one."

Aggie turned her head at the mention of her name, but quickly lost interest and turned back to her toys.

"You've all been through so much change these last couple of years," she went on. "I didn't want to add more to it."

"Most of us are used to new babies by now," Simon said with a gleam in his eye. "But yeah, we're also worried."

"I know you are… I wish there was something I could do to assure everyone everything will be fine."

"Is Papa still scared?"

"He's more frightened than all of you combined," she somehow managed to say with a chuckle despite how true the statement was.

"You must be angry at all of us."

"Of course I'm not angry. There's a part of me that wishes things could be different, surely, but that doesn't change the way things are. Fact is that some months down the line, your father and I will have a son or daughter and you and the others will have a new half-sibling. How we get there will be less important as time goes on."

"When you put it that way it seems like a sure thing."

"I'm feeling rather confident about it," she said, nudging his chin. She then stood, tugging at the crease in her skirt. "Are you going to be all right?"

"Yeah," Simon answered. "I'm fine."

"I'm feeling a bit peckish. I'm going to see if cook will let me have an early lunch," she said with a wink. "If you go back outside, bring Aggie along, please."

He agreed, saying nothing else as she left the room.

Leaning against the wall, Simon let out a sigh. Before he could think much of the conversation he'd had with Evangeline, Aggie plopped herself into his lap.

"Cake!"

"Cake?"

She nodded. "Need cake for 'vange'line."

Remembering his sister's comment from the day before, he replied, "Cake as in a party?"

"Yeah! Party!"

"We should throw a party and celebrate the baby?"

"Aggie baby. Party for 'vange'line."

Simon laughed, humoring her for now. "All right then. We'll ask cook to help us throw her a party."

"Let's go!" Aggie said, tumbling off his lap and then pulling on Simon's hand.

"No, no," he said, putting a finger to his lip. "Let's make it a surprise. Don't tell Evangeline, okay? Let's go tell the others and then we'll ask cook to make a cake after lunch."

"Okay!"

. . .

Cedric wasn't two steps in the door when he found himself being swept back outside by the children.

"What on earth is going on?" he questioned, their shushes immediately following.

"We're throwing Evangeline a surprise party," Lily said excitedly. "To celebrate the baby."

"With cake!" Sebastian enthused, only to be nudged by Eric. "With cake," he repeated, this time in a whisper.

"My, what a wonderful idea."

"It was Simon's idea," Tora said.

"Well, really it was Aggie's," Simon confessed.

"Aggie's?" Cedric laughed. "Good heavens."

"Cook is making Evangeline's favorite supper," Chrissie said.

"Lily and I have the dining room all decorated," Eric said proudly.

"And Sebastian and I made the streamers!" Chrissie added.

"I helped!" Aggie exclaimed.

Eric rolled his eyes. "Helped tear them down."

"And you managed to keep all of this from Evangeline?" Cedric asked in amazement.

"She's been quiet today," Tora said. "A lot like yesterday."

Cedric sighed. "We haven't made this the happiest of occasions for her."

Tora nodded. "That's what Simon said after talking with her."

Simon elbowed his sister in the ribs.

Face falling, Cedric questioned, "Did she… say she was unhappy?"

After taking a moment to glare at Tora, Simon answered, "Not in so many words. She said we'll all be happier about it as time goes on."

"Has she said anything about it to you, Papa?" Tora asked.

"Pretty much the same," he fibbed. "I think a party might be just the thing Evangeline needs."

. . .

"Come on, Evangeline!" Lily said, pulling on her stepmother's hand. "It's time for dinner!"

"What's the hurry?" Evangeline chuckled. "Good grief, wait for your father to come home."

"He's been home. We're all waiting for you!"

Her face fell. "He has? For how long? He usually comes and says hello to me."

"Come on," Lily tugged again when Evangeline had slowed.

"Goodness, I've never seen you so eager to—"

"Surprise!"

She stopped short when they rounded the corner, her eyes wide at the site of the banner reading 'Congratulations, Evangeline' and the table full of food and treats.

"What is all this?" she breathed.

"A party, of course!" Lily giggled.

"For me?"

Cedric came up to her side, putting an arm around her shoulder and bending down to kiss her temple. "Of course it's for you."

"Did you do this?" she questioned, looking up at him.

"As much as I'd like to take credit, this one goes to the children."

She turned her head and scanned the room. "… Simon?"

He shook his head. "Aggie listens a great deal more than we think."

The little girl ran up to Evangeline with her arms open wide and in the air. "My idea!"

Evangeline scooped her up in an instant and kissed her cheek. "Aren't you a dear thing…" She looked around the room again. "I'm… I've never been so touched." Her voice wavered as tears sprang to her eyes.

Aggie clung around Evangeline's neck and rested her head on her shoulder as Cedric pulled her closer to his side. The rest of the children followed suit and soon she was in the middle of a group hug.

"But I…" she sniffed. "I don't understand. You only found out yesterday… or we told you. How did you put this all together? And is that a roast?"

"What do you think we've been doing since lunch?" Lily giggled.

She dabbed her eye with her free hand. "Avoiding grumpy ol' me, I presumed."

"You're not grumpy," Sebastian said.

Evangeline tousled his hair as she set Aggie back on the ground. "Everything looks scrumptious," she said as she stepped toward the table. "I wish I knew what more to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Tora smiled. "We are happy for you."

"Quite," Eric agreed.

"I think you should have a boy next," Chrissie said, making sure she got the seat next to her stepmother. "One little sister is enough."

Evangeline chuckled. "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way, lamb. We won't know if it's a boy or a girl until he or she is born."

"Well, it worked last time. I told Mama I wanted a little sister and I got one."

"I agree with Chrissie," Sebastian said. "We need another boy. Then it's even."

"I agree," said Eric.

"Girls are easier," Lily rebutted.

Simon chortled. "A lot you know. You girls are much needier."

"We are not," Tora argued.

"Children," Cedric said over them, however gently. "It's a needless argument. Boy or girl, we'll love him or her just the same, won't we?"

They agreed, letting the matter drop.

However, Cedric now found himself curious. "Since we are speaking of it… do you have a preference, darling?"

Evangeline shook her head, swallowing the bite of roast she'd long since dug into. "I haven't thought of it, really. I always used to fancy a daughter, but now I have both… in a sense. Of course, I started working here before Chrissie was born and then Aggie. I suppose I'm more used to baby girls. Then again, perhaps it's time to learn what it's like to take care of a baby boy."

"Maybe you'll have twins," Eric suggested. "One of each."

"Heavens, I don't know if I want to learn two at once!"

The children laughed, but without even looking at him she could feel Cedric tense.

"It's like your father said," she continued. "Boy, girl, or what have you, all that matters in the end is a new member to the family."

The children nodded.

"Now," she said, "let's not let the delicious meal cook prepared get cold. Plus, the sooner we eat our suppers, the sooner we can taste that delightful looking cake."

Needing no further convincing, the kids began with their meals and resumed their typical dinner time chatter.

Beneath the table, Evangeline touched Cedric's knee. His hand then fell from his plate onto hers, giving it a squeeze. Evangeline finally turned her head to him, a look of concern in her expression. With a soft smile, Cedric assured her he was all right.

. . .

Later that night, Evangeline sat at the vanity as she brushed her hair with a smile plastered on her face. She'd started the day so gloomily. Now? It was a strange sort of feeling. While she knew the kids put her celebration together because they felt sorry for her, she was touched by their enthusiasm. They'd always accepted her into their family, but tonight was the first time she truly felt a part of it.

Cedric came up behind her, smiling as well as he gazed at her reflection in the mirror. "It's been too long since I've seen you looking for content."

"I could say the same about you. How are you feeling?"

He rubbed her shoulders. "Better than I anticipated on my way home from work."

"Another bad day?"

"No, Mr. Jowels and Mr. Wheen were insistent on that. It's that you were so unhappy last night and quiet this morning. I wasn't sure what I was coming home to."

Evangeline sighed. "It's been a strange few days, Cedric."

He bent down and kissed her head. "I know, love."

"So long as you're doing all right now."

He slid his hands down her arms until he reached her hands. He then took the brush and set it on the vanity. "I think we should continue this evening's celebration instead of dwelling on the recent unpleasantness." He pulled her up and spun him into his arms.

"And what do you suggest we do to celebrate, Mr. Brown?" she replied coyly as she reached up and looped her arms around his neck.

Cedric chuckled, leaning down as she stood on her toes and gave his reply with an ardent kiss.

He picked her up, Evangeline's knees locking against his waist as he carried her to the bed, taking care that their lips never parted in the process. Once he reached the mattress, Evangeline slid down until she was kneeling, enjoying how level she was to him now. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his head more firmly against hers. Cedric let out a low growl, but then he let go and stepped away.

"What's the matter?"

He went over to her nightstand and started pulling it in front of the door. "Giving us one less thing to worry about."

Evangeline laughed. "You're quite serious, aren't you?"

The door now barricaded, he was back standing in front of his wife. "I've been wanting to make proper love to you for days."

"Proper, eh?" She raised an eyebrow. "As if I were a society wife?"

"Good heavens, no," he quickly corrected, their conversations about upbringing and expectations feeling like a lifetime ago by now. "I mean proper in the way of a husband madly in love with his wife ought to."

Pressing her lips against his jaw and trailing them down to his neck while her hands began undoing the buttons of his shirt, she mumbled against him, "I rather like the sound of that."

. . .

They lay in silence for a while after, Evangeline snuggled in Cedric's arms as he traced circles around her hip. Every so often she'd look up at him, though if he noticed he didn't acknowledge it. It felt as though he was somewhere else but she didn't have it in her to ask. Instead, she touched his chest, letting her fingertips get tangled in his chest hair.

"You all right?" he asked after some time, his voice sounding louder than it actually was.

"Mhmm," she hummed, running her hand up to his neck. "How about you?"

"Fine."

"I'm glad you thought to block the door," she then said. "I would hate to be getting dressed right now."

"I don't know why it's never occurred to me before."

"Let's hope the children never wake up with a nightmare. We'll be doing this more often."

Cedric nuzzled her cheek. "Will we now?"

"If you had told me a year ago things would be like this I'd say you were mad."

"I would have had to agree."

"Sometimes I still find myself surprised you managed to fall in love with someone as plain as me."

"That's what I love about you. Everything you are… it's you. No show. No pretense.

You're Evangeline through and through."

She smiled and kissed him. "So I wasted all those months before we were married thinking I was too stupid and unattractive to ever win your heart?"

"You've always been radiant. The only difference now is that you're wearing new dresses. And stupid? It's not your fault you never had the chance for schooling as a child. That doesn't mean stupidity. I think it's admirable that you taught yourself things."

"It was Lily's help that did it. All I did was practice."

"Still, you learned quickly it sounds."

"I did it for you."

He smiled. "You never needed to impress me. You'd already won my heart."

Pressing another kiss to his lips, she then said, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"It feels good to know how to read and write now," Evangeline went on. "I enjoy it."

"What have you been reading lately?"

"Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Vern. Simon and Eric insisted on it."

"Are you enjoying it?"

With a chuckle, Evangeline stroked his cheek with her thumb. "Are you really interested in my book right now?" He'd been looking at her lips more than her eyes.

Moving to kiss her neck, he confessed, "Not particularly."

"We'll discuss it over tea tomorrow."

"Ooh, that's right," he crooned. "Tomorrow is Saturday. I get off early."

"It's too bad we agreed to be more cautious of our alone time, hmm?"

Sliding his hand down her back, Cedric said with a raised eyebrow, "All the more reason for us to indulge now."

"You're very persuasive."

"Are you really going to put up an argument?" he teased.

"Hardly," she said before kissing him yet again.