Author's Chapter Notes: Warning: Character death
Elizabeth woke. Something was missing … then memory and grief washed over her. John was dead. She would never again wake to his warmth at her side, his tender kisses, his ready smile. They wouldn’t grow old together. In the darkness, she rose quietly from her bed and padded softly to the doorway of their children’s room. She watched Kit and Matthew sleep, comforted that they could – if only briefly – forget their father was gone. Elizabeth considered going back to bed, but for now she was content to stand and feel the tears running down her face like falling rain.