“On the contrary. I’m not being controlling at all. This is exactly what you want to do.” He added coaxingly, “You told me you wanted to go home. It’s what I promised you. I offered you a trip on Bezos’s spaceship, but you said the lake cottage would be fine.” He added gently, “You wanted to go home to Eve and Joe. I believe you still have a need for family. Perhaps more than ever now. You’ve not even told Eve that you’re going to have a child. You should do that, Jane. It will give her the opportunity to anticipate and think about what’s to come.”

“Yes, it would.” And the idea of being together with Eve and sharing that news was bringing that same wonderful anticipation to Jane. “You’d come with me?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled. “It will be an experience.”

“Better than that. You’ll be able to test the waters of how it feels to be a member of a real family. I want that for you, Caleb.”

“Then I want it, too.” He opened the door of the Range Rover and watched her get in the passenger seat. “Why don’t you call her now on the way to the Run? It seems like a good time.”

Jane looked out the window as he started the car. A good time? Smoke. Small fires burning in the forest. Soldiers being taken into custody by MI6. Violence and terror.

But they had overcome all this and soon it would go away. Just a little longer…It was time for life and laughter and the love that could heal all pain.

She punched in Eve’s number. “Hi, Eve. Do you feel like having visitors? I need to see you. I’m so excited. Because I have very special news…”

Epilogue

Epilogue

Lake Cottage
Four Months Later

I’m big as a house.” Jane frowned as she looked down at her belly. “I don’t remember you looking like this when you were pregnant with Michael.”

“I did. You just don’t recall because I always wore my loose chambray shirts all the time when I was working on the reconstructions.” Eve brought Jane a cup of tea and sat down on the couch beside her. “You look beautiful. And you’re not as big as a house.”

“At least a small house,” Jane said. “And I can’t stand not being able to keep up with Michael when he does his morning runs.”

“And you haven’t seen Caleb since he and Joe headed to Montana two weeks ago.” She gave a mock sigh. “Poor Jane. I guess you’ve been deserted.”