Epilogue:
Two weeks later Connor was surprised at breakfast to see Carolyn sitting at the table in an old worn dress with a bowl of porridge and a pen and paper. Connor smiled at her and sat down at his place. Haytham entered from the room across from the kitchen and frowned at his bowl but took her hand and led them in grace. Picking up his spoon he eyed her and the list carefully. "So Diana was here yesterday. What did she say?" Carolyn smiled at him. "Same as always; that your grandson is a remarkable baby. That he's gaining weight again now that I'm back." She shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe it's been 2 months."
She had opened the windows and the warm spring air filled the room. A large pot of soup already simmered on the stove. She turned to Haytham and smiled. "Did you have plans for today?" She asked innocently. He took a quick spoonful of his breakfast before replying. "Actually, yes. I had hoped to run to Boston and run some errands. You didn't need me here, did you? " She looked over at Connor. "Connor, did you have plans?" He paused over his breakfast. "No, I had no plans for today." She smiled at him brightly. "Wonderful! It was such a beautiful day I thought we might do a proper cleaning. I have a list and was hoping you could help!" Haytham grinned into his bowl. "I'm sorry to miss it." Carolyn laughed at him. "Somehow you always do. Shall I have Connor collect you from the tavern once we done? Assuming of course that you're back from your errands?" Haytham nodded and stood.
Carolyn fetched Haytham his hat and walked him to the door. She checked on the baby in the crib downstairs as Connor finished his breakfast. "Where do we start?" he asked. She grinned and took his hand. "Upstairs." She led him to the balcony and looked around. "Your eye sight is better than mine. Is he gone?" Connor looked around but saw no sign of Haytham. "Yes, he's gone. Is everything alright?" She laughed and pulled him inside the house. "Thank goodness he's so predictable. In all the years I've known him he's never helped clean." She kissed Connor and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Is there a reason you needed him out of the house?" She blushed "Diana wasn't just here for the baby. She was checking on me too." He nodded. She ran her hands over his shoulders. "She says I'm better." He pulled her close. "Better and better every day." She laughed pressing herself against him running a finger down the line of his jaw. "When you say things like that I never know if you're serious or not." Realization lit his eyes and he grinned down at her. "Really?" She blushed and nodded. He laughed and picked her up. "Save your energy! I still want to clean!" she laughed but let him carry her to their room. Pausing at the door he looked down at her "I think I figured out why you wanted my father out of the house." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love having him here. Don't mistake me. But his first reaction to hearing me scream is to run into our bedroom armed. " He matched her blush at that. "I don't want him to leave," she said "I just don't want him sleeping right below us. I was actually wondering… " he fumbled the door open with one hand and looked at her curiously. "I mean since we all know do you need to keep a weapon room in the basement? I was thinking it's not a bad room. It's large. We could add a fireplace and have the walls finished. And he would have some peace and quiet." He lowered her to the bed laughing. "True. We wouldn't have to worry about the baby waking him up at night, would we?"
The sun was starting to get low in the sky when Haytham spotted Connor walking in the door of Miles End. He waived him over and laughed as he sat down and leaned back in the chair. "Sorry about that boy. Some day you had to learn the danger of a woman wearing old clothes and holding a list." Connor broke into an unexpected grin and flagged Oliver over to bring two new steins. "Carolyn says dinner will be a bit so we may as well relax and have a drink." He leaned back in the chair with a contented sigh. "You're in a remarkably good mood for man who's been stuck doing housework all day." Connor grinned at him "Truly I didn't mind helping." He picked up his cup and took a drink when Diana appeared behind him. She smiled at Haytham and clapped Connor on the shoulder. "Looks like you got the good news! You're such a patient man, Connor. Most men find the normal wait unbearable." He flushed hotly and muttered into his stein. "Thank you." She laughed and headed out. Haytham looked at him in horror. "I did not need to hear that! Does that woman have no shame?" Connor shook his head and studied his drink. "Not that we've ever been able to find."
Haytham shook his head, his expression turning serious. "I suppose it's unfair of me to stay with you. You're young. You need space." Connor waved off his concern. "Carolyn would never forgive me if you left again. We actually discussed it today. She suggested that if I'm not having to be secretive about my work then there's no reason to hide the basement. It's quite a large room and we could have Lance fix it up. It's quite warm in the winter and you wouldn't need to be worried about being disturbed by the baby in the middle of the night." Haytham nodded, trying to block out the unsaid words. They finally finished their drinks and headed back to the house. The floors were freshly scrubbed and all the fireplaces and wood gleamed. Haytham could hear Carolyn humming in the kitchen. The entered and took their places. Carolyn placed the food on the table stopping to give Connor a quick kiss as Haytham turned to study the wall opposite. She laughed and eyed the table winking at Connor. She took her own place putting her hand into Haytham's. Connor reached across the table and grabbed her other hand, holding it lightly as she smiled at him. Haytham looked between them and held his hand out to Connor as well who looked at it briefly before sighing and taking it. If Connor did not lower his head when the others did he could not disagree with the sentiment as Haytham blessed the meal. "Thank you for the understanding we have gained today."
Author's Note:
There it is. I wrote it for my own amusement and decided to share. Having written it I could not get out of my mind how small choices impact your life. What if she had told him earlier? What might have happened? Having said that Chapter 20 is an alternate ending starting after chapter 10. What if she hadn't come home from school early that day?