Epilogue

One year later

A nother year had come and gone, and Robert couldn’t help but notice the many differences from the year before. Every Christmas started at church, with Fred giving his timely and meaningful sermon, but Robert remembered the previous Christmas, which had found him heartbroken, mourning, and dismal at best. He thought he had ruined everything, that the rest of his days would be limited to such dreariness. Only to have that day entirely evolved when Caroline walked into the chapel, and later dispelled all his worries with a kiss.

This Christmas would be different, for Robert took his family to the graveyard after church, stopping to wish all their family and friends a Merry Christmas. He would do so with his two children by his side, and with Caroline as his wife.

They visited the graves of Aunt Fanny, followed by his parents, Mrs. Rosemont who had passed in the spring, and also his late wife, Edith. Caroline always spent a particular amount of time there, wanting to respect the woman who had cared for Robert after Caroline felt she had failed. Now she spent the rest of her life making up for lost time.

It was a quiet, pleasant morning, and Robert thrived on hearing his children laugh and play together around the headstones. Martha had grown much taller since the night she had snuck out into the snow, and she had also grown much closer to Caroline as a stepmother. Tim still hadn’t spoken yet, but he was becoming more vocal in other aspects, so perhaps it would be someday soon.

The church steeple bells rang loud and strong, a lovely ode to their Christmas joy. Robert called to gather his children but couldn’t find his wife anywhere. Then he spotted her, in the back corner, staring up at the black stone angel statue, so he walked over to stand beside her.

“Everything all right, my love?” he asked gently, wrapping an arm around her waist.

Caroline nodded. “Just remembering how this thing used to frighten me so. And now, I only see it as a guardian angel, just as everyone always said, watching over our dear friends and family.”

“Yes, all the fear from before is long gone now,” he said, placing a kiss to the side of her head. “Now come, there is much to prepare for the ball.”

“Well, there might be some remaining fear,” she said as he led her around to the front. “I am nervous to meet your friends. Did you tell them much about me… from back then?”

Robert laughed. “My friends from school knew very well that I was lovesick over a girl from home, and after you broke my heart, they did have some choice words. But you needn’t worry. They won’t say or do anything that would upset you, for that would also upset me.”

Caroline sighed as he gave her a squeeze. “Very well. Come along, children. Tim, get off that headstone! We must be respectful.”

The little boy hopped down with a tumble, wiped off his pants, and said, “Yes, Mother.”

Robert’s mouth gaped open, wanting to shake his head and clear out his ears to be sure he had heard properly. Nothing in his life had ever sounded so beautiful and melodious as finally hearing his son speak again. Tim walked over to Caroline and took her hand, though she had tears filling her eyes with one hand over her mouth.

“Did you find your voice again, Tim?” Martha asked, her own voice high pitched in disbelief.

The boy simply shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “Papa, can I have an apple tart for breakfast?”

Robert clenched his jaw, lips pursed in his attempt to stave off his own tears. Swallowing with great difficulty, he nodded, taking Tim by the hand, and reaching for Martha with the other. “You can have whatever you like, son.”

They returned to Longford Manor to prepare for the annual ball, which kept Caroline plenty occupied. Robert tended the children while Mrs. Park and the rest of the staff set up decorations, readied fires, lit the candles, along with anything and everything else to make sure the party was perfect. While she had given up her more selfish and less admirable traits, Caroline’s stubbornness and tenacity remained. She was known as one of the kindest women, finest friends, and charming neighbors in all of Hamstead, even at times surpassing Mrs. Fezziwig. But it was also said of Caroline Cratchit that she certainly knew how to throw the best of parties, which was one of her favorite monikers of all.

When all was said and done, and guests started piling in the front door, Robert and Caroline were there to meet them, while Martha and Tim welcomed all the children in attendance and led them to the playroom upstairs. They wouldn’t stay there all evening, but some children had never seen a house so large, and Robert was pleased that they would have an opportunity to play to their heart’s content.

A face appeared in the doorway that caught Robert’s eye, and he identified him immediately as his school friend, James Bailey. He had his family in tow, but Robert also recognized his other friends close behind, Daniel Kaye and Alfred Deanne, with their wives as well. Robert’s heart swelled full with joy, for it had been years since they had seen any of them much less all at the same time.

“My friends!” Robert cried, rushing to greet them with an enthusiastic hug. “How are you?”

James smiled, and something about him seemed different than he remembered. “I am well,” he said, and Robert believed him. He was not the grumpy, ghost of a man he used to be. He seemed truly well, as if at peace, which no one deserved more than him.

“This is my wife, Eleanor, and our two children,” James said.

“I’m pleased to meet you, and look, how dashing these children are!” Robert said, admiring them in their festive outfits. “We’ll have plenty of room for them to play upstairs, if you wish.”

“How could you not want their ruckus downstairs?” said his friend Daniel, coming around to offer Robert a fierce embrace. “This is my wife, Julianna.”

“It is a pleasure, and you make a lovely pair.” Robert patted him on the shoulder. “I assume you keep this one in check?”

“Only about half the time,” she said with a wink, locking her hand in her husband’s arm.

“I’ll only behave tonight because Lord and Lady Bingham couldn’t be here with us. Their children would have loved a spectacle such as this,” Daniel teased. “But I’m sure there’s still some shenanigans we can all get into. It is Christmas, after all.”

“Don’t encourage him,” said Alfred, stepping forward to greet his friend. He introduced his wife Clara, who held a tiny blonde baby, smiling up at them despite the late hour.

“It’s so wonderful to see you all again,” Robert gushed, his cheeks hurting from grinning. “And to meet your darling families.”

“Why don’t you introduce us to your wife?” Alfred asked, watching the two of them together.

Robert pressed his hand to his forehead. “Yes, of course. It’s so distracting, seeing these two parts of my life finally intertwined.” He reached for Caroline, tucking her hand in his arm. “Allow me to introduce the love of my life and the orchestrator of the evening, my wife, Caroline Cratchit.”

They all exchanged the proper pleasantries, and Robert could tell Caroline was keen to speak more with the ladies and make them all her immediate friends.

“I will say,” Daniel mentioned lightly, “you are not quite what I had expected, Mrs. Cratchit.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows. “Oh? How so?”

Robert wished he could have stopped his friend, but he knew there would be no holding Daniel back.

“It’s just that, when Robert explained everything to us all those years ago, he did not paint you as someone who would willingly host a ball, welcome guests with a smile…” He looked around at his friends to chime in, but no one did. “Rather, he made it clear you were a pompous chit who thought herself better than everyone else, isn’t that right?”

His wife whacked him across the chest with her fan, and Robert cringed as he glanced over at his own wife. Thankfully, Caroline simply laughed, easing his worries.

“You are justified, Mr. Kaye, because it was all true. I was not a decent sort of person back then, but I have changed my ways. I’m sure you all know for yourselves how love can change even the hardest of hearts,” Caroline said, patting Robert’s arm, “And I’m thankful every day that this man had enough patience and forgiveness to help change me.”

“Indeed, well done, Robert,” Alfred said.

“She’s even started a charity house,” Robert said, wanting to take the attention off himself, for he certainly was not the saint she was trying to paint him out to be. “One that particularly helps out the poor and orphaned in our part of the country.”

“Oh truly?” Clara piped up. “How lovely. You are doing a great good to help bring a change to the world.”

Caroline nodded, a flush pinking her cheeks. “Thank you. It was in honor of my late aunt. She had always wanted to but was unable to before she passed, so I opened the Derbyshire Relief and Aid Society. It’s a temporary home to help the sick, poor, orphaned, or displaced to get back on their feet. And there is so much need in this part of the country.”

“Well, I, for one, would love to hear more about this,” said Julianna.

“Thank you, you are too kind,” Caroline said. “Why don’t you come in out of the cold, and make yourself comfortable? I will be glad to discuss more with you throughout the night.”

They all moved to enter the ballroom, leaving Caroline to sigh against Robert’s shoulder.

“Not as terrible as it could have gone?” he mumbled.

“No, they are lovely. I should very much like to know them better.”

The grandfather clock struck a quarter after, just as Martha and Tim came rushing down the stairs.

“Are Kitty and Hannah here yet?” Martha asked.

“Not yet, but they’ll be along shortly, with the Dilbers as well.” Robert bent over to pick up Tim. “Are you ready to enjoy all the Christmas festivities?”

Tim simply shrugged. “Will it be better than last year?”

They all laughed heartily, Caroline finishing with, “Such a declaration!”

“We’ll make it the best Christmas ball yet,” Robert said firmly.

“Yes, God bless Christmas,” Martha said.

“God bless our Mrs. Cratchit, the keeper of our Christmases.” Robert could not help leaning over a placing a fervent kiss on his wife’s lips.

“God bless you three,” she said in return, a teary smile on her face, “Whom I love more than anything.”

“What say you, my boy? Since you now have so much to say?” Robert said, squeezing Tim’s side.

The young boy simply smiled, and said, “God bless us, every one.”