Sometimes, Caroline liked to stand outside their house and simply admire it. That’s what she was doing now, Jack noticed as he passed by the window. She stood on their wide porch with her hands on her hips and a faint smile on her lips, gazing up at their house like it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

It wasn’t quite as magnificent as the Hume estate back in New York City, but it was a darn sight better than where they used to live. Admittedly, Jack had been reluctant to move at first because that little place was the only home he’d ever known, and he didn’t want to leave it behind. But, it had bad memories attached to it, reminders of what had happened, and so, in the end, he hadn’t put up too much of a fight when Caroline showed him the home she wanted.

Now here they were, two months later, settling nicely into their new house.

Cracking open the front door, Jack poked his head through and called, “Caroline, it’s cold. Why don’t you come inside? I’ll make coffee.”

Her gaze flickered to him, a smile creeping onto her lips. “It’s not that cold,” she insisted with a laugh. “Come out and enjoy the view with me.”

“Staring at the walls of our house is hardly a view, love,” he replied with a laugh, “but if you insist.”

In truth, the house was quite the sight. Tall windows let in the afternoon sunshine and gave a glimpse into the rooms beyond. Each window on the bottom floor had a little wooden plant box attached to it so that the windowsills were filled with bright green foliage and delicate flowers. The ones on the porch had tulips, bright red and yellow filling up the view.  Then, of course, there was the beautiful, sprawling garden that stretched out all around them. It was hardly a mansion, but it was big and beautiful and more than Jack could ever have asked for.

They took a moment to stand together, basking in the sun and each other’s company. Jack loved the quiet days like this when the two of them simply enjoyed each other’s presence, with no chores or responsibilities to think about. It was heart-warming to know that they had something Jack had once considered impossible.

“I heard from Vince earlier today,” he murmured. “I know Clyde’s trial took longer than expected, so I asked him to keep me updated.”

She turned her gaze to him then, brows raised. “Oh? How did it go?”

He smiled gently, one brow raised. “Well, it’s a harsh sentence – not that he doesn’t deserve it. A lifetime of hard labor on charges of attempted murder, stalking, violent threats, bodily harm… the list goes on, and the judge apparently had no sympathy for him.”

Caroline frowned, and Jack couldn’t help but run his hand through her hair. “I feel so sorry for him. I know I’m safe now, and I don’t have to keep looking behind my shoulder anymore,” Caroline murmured. “But at the same time… it’s a shame how Clyde turned out. I really don’t know what happened to him, and it’s difficult not to feel like things should have turned out differently.” She bit down on her lip. “I do think Alasdair has been struggling with it most of all.”

“It’s been weighing on all of us,” he murmured, “but now, we don’t have to worry.”

“Clyde has never worked a day in his life. I can’t help but wonder how he’ll survive a lifetime of labor.” Once, the thought would have brought her joy, Jack thought. But now, her smile slipped, and she let out a sigh. “I still find it difficult to believe that he really did all this, you know? I have to wonder if he was always like this, or if it was the gambling that turned him into such a horrid man. I don’t understand how he could even think to hurt his own family like this.”

Jack wound an arm around her waist and pulled her close. She made a satisfying oof as she landed against him, immediately sinking into his side. She fit there so perfectly, like the space was made just for her to occupy.

“At least we don’t have to worry about him any longer,” she murmured. “I’ve been putting it off as I’ve been waiting for Clyde to be put away, but I have something to tell you. Two things, actually.”

He glanced down at her, feeling his chest stutter. “Oh? Go on.”

Caroline shifted, hopping giddily from foot to foot. Whatever this was, she was dying to get it out. “Well,” she started slowly – drawing it out, raising the anticipation. Caroline tapped her chin in thought, too, as if she hadn’t probably been deliberating over whatever this was for days. “We have one Hume tailor shop in Hollow now, don’t we? Juliet was so happy when I suggested joining the tailor’s and dressmaker’s shops together, and with both families working together, it’s wonderful. I love it, don’t misunderstand me, but I can’t help but feel like we could do more. Not for the money, because we hardly need it, but to honor father’s memory.”

“More?” Jack asked. The wind ruffled past, tossed his hair about his face, and blurred his vision. “Whatever do you mean, love?”

A shrug and a coy little smile. “Alasdair wrote me the other week, and he has the most wonderful idea. He thinks that we should open more stores. We would start with a few here and there, but then they would eventually extend all throughout Texas. With the fortune Father left for us, and the business doing so well under Alasdair’s new ownership, he wants to expand even more.”

Jack grinned. Truly, that sounded like a lovely idea. Caroline adored working at the little shop in town – though she didn’t need it for the money – and it was clear from Alasdair’s letters that he loved his new role as owner of the company. Why not expand? “I think that’s great,” he replied softly, “but… what was the other thing you wanted to tell me?”

Now Caroline was truly grinning, her eyes going wide with excitement. “Oh, that’s even better news! I’m afraid I may have accidentally slipped up and told Susannah the news already. So, naturally, Hettie knows too, but I made her promise not to tell another soul.”

Now he was intrigued. What could possibly be so important that she had to make little Susannah promise not to tell? It brought a smile to his lips, and he had to fight back the urge to laugh at the dazzling smile on Caroline’s features. “I’m dying here, love. Please just tell me.”

She slipped both of her hands into his, squeezing softly, and continued to gaze up at him with that beautifully soft expression. “Well,” she started, lips parting into a lovely grin. “It’s very important, and unexpected, but I hope you’ll be as happy as I am.” She took a deep breath then, before letting it out in one big breath. “Jack, my dear, I’m pregnant.”

For a long moment, all he could do was stare. Had he heard that right? Caroline, his Caroline, was pregnant. With their baby? The thought repeated over and over in his mind, but it refused to quite settle in there. When it finally did, his eyes shot wide, and he let out a gasp. Then, he grabbed Caroline by the waist and spun until her feet left the floor. “You’re pregnant!” he repeated wildly, laughter spilling from his lips. “My goodness, I don’t believe it.”

“Put me down before I throw up on you,” Caroline laughed, swatting at Jack’s shoulder until he finally did as he was told. Only once her feet were firmly on the ground did she say, “Yes, I’m pregnant. I’ve never been late in my life, but I was this time. Then, the morning sickness came… but that doesn’t matter because we’re going to have a baby, Jack! Isn’t that amazing?”

Slowly, a smile spread across Jack’s lips. He couldn’t stop smiling, not when he looked at Caroline’s beautiful face and knew what the future had in store. “It’s absolutely fantastic, my love.”

And it was.

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