Epilogue

Munich, Germany

A daytime moon hovers over the horizon. People say it’s rare to see the moon in daylight hours, but when I see it, I know it’s the mirror to the other side where Mama, Papa, and David are—where they somehow keep the stars aligned just right.

Emilie and I are sitting outside on the front step across from her childhood house, watching our two little girls, Daisy and Lily, play hopscotch, giggling without a care in the world. What more could I ask for?

I have Emilie and this place that feels like home. It’s all I wanted for so long. We may not live here forever, but while our wounds continue to mend, and the girls are young, I know this is where we need to be.

The nightmares continue, the memories haunt me even when my eyes are open. I still fear a certain look in people’s eyes, and distance myself when my thoughts become overwhelming. I’m trying to recover, to grow stronger, to leave the past behind. But those are my scars, like the one on my nose—the reminder of where I’ve been and why I’m still here. Emilie has relentlessly nursed me back to life, all the while fighting off her own nightmares, regrets, guilt, and sorrows. We’ve been through a lot and saw too much. But together, we can move forward, letting the people and events in our past pave the way for a life we deserve—a life we will always fight for.

“Ten more minutes, my sweethearts. Dinner will be ready soon,” I shout over to my daughters. I pretend not to hear their little grunts of frustration, and instead focus on Emilie’s laughter.

“Thank you,” Emilie says.

“I know you have an early shift at the hospital tomorrow. I’ll get them settled early tonight so you can rest.”

She kisses me on the cheek and brushes the pad of her thumb over the scar on my nose. “I love you,” she says with a sigh. “My parents will watch the girls for us on Friday so I can go with you to the shop and help prepare for The Dachau Farmer’s market this weekend.” Emilie sighs. “You know, the one featuring the infamous Alesky Honey people can’t stop talking about.”

Hearing the truth of our reality out loud always brings a joyful expression to my face. Alesky Honey. I’m carrying on my family’s legacy. “You’ll be able to help?” I ask, feeling immediate relief. Both of us have so much going on all the time, but Emilie refuses to sit still.

She nudges her elbow into my side. “Of course, and besides, Matilda told me this weekend is expected to have the largest turnout yet for you and the Shop of Wonders. You’ve worked so hard for this, and your Papa was right…he knew you’d make it big.”

From the increase in business lately, I have a good feeling. I think this might be a big weekend. I might sell out of all my inventory. “He would be proud—over the moon and beaming to know his dream was being kept alive when neither of us had so much as a promise of tomorrow,” I say, wrapping my arm around her. My Emilie. Always mine.

The door across the street opens and Gerty steps outside with a dripping mixing spoon in her hand. Theo rushes past her like a tornado.

“Can I play too?” he shouts across the way to Daisy and Lily.

“Okay, but only for ten minutes,” Daisy says with a huff.

“No, I won’t be ready in ten minutes,” Lily says. “Maybe twenty.”

“I think she gets her stubbornness from you,” I tell Emi.

“Girls…ten minutes,” Emilie says, firmly.

Gerty holds her hand against her forehead, shaking her head. “Yup, that’s all you, Emi,” she says, laughing.

“Oh, hush,” Emi says.

“Danner, Calvin has a buckwheat honey order. His market needs to double their stock inventory.”

“I’m on it,” I tell her.

“I’ll let him know,” she says, waving her spoon. “I’ll see you at the Farmer’s Market Saturday.”

Just as she goes back inside, we hear a crash and a bunch of clanging bangs come from next door, followed by the front door flying open and twin boys chasing each other down the front steps with paper swords. “Keep it down,” Felix shouts after them.

“They’re boys. Let them have fun,” Herr Weber argues with her son as the door closes.

Just another typical early evening on our road.

“I’m going to count the seconds before your parents’ door opens a crack and the girls disappear inside,” I tell Emi.

“Every night,” she says. “Mama can’t stop herself.”

Like clockwork, we hear, “Psst,” from across the street. “Girls…”

“Mama, no. Wait until after dinner. They won’t eat!” Emi shouts across the street.

“Are you sitting there waiting for me to open the door?” Frau Marx says, opening her front door all the way. “I’m their grandma. I get to do what I want, and if I want to give them treats…I will!”

“Don’t argue,” I tell Emi. “She’ll still win.”

“See, you’ve got a smart husband there. Listen to him. You’ll learn a thing or two,” Frau Marx says.

“You know, she’s been saying that since you were a few years older than the girls are now, but I’m not sure I’ve taught you much, have I?” I ask with a raised brow, staring directly into the beautiful eyes of my outspoken wife.

“Well…to be fair, you’ve taught me about patience,” she says. “Forgiveness too, and perseverance. I always knew the words to speak. It’s easy to tell someone never to give up, to be strong, and that everything will be okay in the end, but I didn’t understand what it took to prove the meaning of those words until you showed me.”

It didn’t come easy. I didn’t know how or if we could find a way here, but even on my darkest day, I knew she was my guiding light, the nurse with caring hands who brought me back to life. I’m the lucky one. I had a light all along…

* * *

If you were swept away by Emilie and Danner’s story, you will love The Doctor’s Daughter– a heartbreaking yet hopeful page-turner proving that even in the darkest places, we should still dare to hope…

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