Wade sat in Clyde’s old armchair, where he smoked a pipe and tried to read. He looked up from his book several times, since the story wasn’t grabbing his attention, and regarded the space around him. The house, which had always seemed so small and loud to Wade, now seemed big and quiet. Ada had moved to Haverton some time ago. Grace was now married to Thomas and living on a farm several miles away, and the twins had each married their sweethearts and were staying near the sawmill in Lebec.

Life passed too quickly, he thought, with some regret. He hadn’t appreciated the fullness of the house back when he should have, instead constantly craving peace and quiet. He and Sadie had been alike in that way. They’d both wished for more solitude back when they were younger, and he suspected that she too missed the activity now that it was gone, though she’d never expressed that to him.

The next morning, Wade stood in front of the mirror and wrapped his tie around his neck, dressing up for his second meeting with investors. During the last meeting, they had seemed eager to fund his newspaper venture. Wade had provided proof of his contribution to the Themis’s success, and he suspected that today would be the day he’d be given the go-ahead to start his business.

“Are you happy about Ada coming to visit?” Wade asked Sadie, while straightening his tie.

“Oh, yes,” Sadie said, running a brush through her hair. “I wish she didn’t live so far away so I could see her more often.”

“It’s only a half-day journey, darlin’, but I understand. When will she be here, you reckon’?”

“Any time today. She had some interesting news in her telegram.”

Wade was about to ask her what news Ada had shared, but Sadie spoke first, changing the subject. She set her brush on the dresser. “Wade, do you ever feel like the house is too empty now that everyone’s moved out?”

Wade caught her eye in the mirror before turning to face her. “Sometimes, yes.”

“So you wouldn’t mind if we, I dunno, added a child to the family?”

He didn’t answer right away, while he imagined the sound of children’s footsteps across the floor once again. It was a happy thought. “I’m not opposed.”

“I’m glad,” she gushed, beaming. She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I want to talk to you about that some more.”

He returned the hug, pulling her to his chest and kissing the top of her head before releasing her. “I have to go. I can’t be late,” he said. “We’ll talk about children later, all right?”

Disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she nodded her understanding. “Good luck with your meeting, darling.”

Several hours later, Wade could have kicked himself. He realized what Sadie must have been trying to tell him. She wasn’t talking about children in the future. She was pregnant now! He could hardly concentrate when the investors gave him approval for the loan, and he couldn’t shake their hands and take his leave fast enough.

He cantered home, urging the horse to cover ground quickly. When he arrived, he spotted Ada’s buggy out front. That’s fine, he thought. She could be there to learn the news of Sadie’s pregnancy when he did, if she didn’t know already.

When he burst into the cabin, Sadie and Ada looked up with matching surprised expressions. “Wade!” Sadie exclaimed. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes,” he assured her. “I hurried home because you wanted to discuss something, and I left before you could.” He flashed Ada a smile. “Hello, sweetheart. How was your journey?”

Ada grinned and stood. “My journey was fine, thank you.” She glanced at Sadie. “I know you two have something to talk about. I’ll be outside.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Wade protested, but Ada was already halfway out the door.

Sadie walked to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “How did the meeting go?”

He gave her a kiss. “Splendidly. Business is funded.”

She gasped. “That’s wonderful, Wade!”

“It is wonderful,” he agreed. “Do you have some good news to share as well? Are you with child, honey?”

Surprise flashed through her eyes before she laughed and dropped her hands from around his neck. “No.”

He was shocked to have been wrong, and more than a little disappointed, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“Wait right here,” she said.

He watched with curiosity as she disappeared into the boys’ old bedroom and closed the door behind her. A moment later she reappeared, and she wasn’t alone. She walked toward Wade holding a boy’s hand. “This here is Zeke,” she said. “He needs a place to hang his hat, and I reckon we have room.”

Wade observed the child, who looked shy and uncomfortable, struggling to assimilate what Sadie was saying.

“His parents died at the hands of criminals,” Sadie continued. “And he kept running away from the orphan’s home. Ada caught him stealing a pie from her window and told him he either had to come here or she’d take him back to the home.”

Wade returned his attention to Zeke, who was scowling down at the floor. “How old are you, son?”

Zeke looked up and focused an expression of reluctant cooperation at Wade. “I’m almost fourteen. My birthday is next month.”

Wade swallowed. He could hardly believe the boy was the same age as he had been when Clyde had welcomed him into the family. Zeke looked so young, so very much like a child. It struck Wade, not for the first time, how kind and wise it had been of Clyde to insist on taking care of him.

His heart swelled with compassion for the boy who needed a family and also for his wife who wanted to give him one. “Fourteen, eh? That’s a big year,” he told Zeke with a wink. “I betcha Sadie will bake you a cake.”

“I will,” Sadie confirmed. She smiled at Wade and then at Zeke. “I’ll bake you the best birthday cake that ever was baked, and then we’ll invite the rest of the family to celebrate.”

Zeke frowned as though worried they might be pulling his leg. “Can I invite my friend Joe? He lives in Haverton.”

“Of course you can,” Wade said. “You can invite whoever you like. In fact, we’ll fill up this whole house with people to celebrate your birthday. How about that?”

A smile formed across his face. “Sounds grand.”

Wade tousled Zeke’s hair and then grabbed Sadie into a hug. He landed a kiss on her lips. “He’s right. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of anything grander.”

 

The End