Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Family Renewed

Though they continued to visit, the momentary discomfort caused by the brief encounters with the Dumont sisters faded into the background when Ethpeal discovered she was pregnant again. A boy this time, neither of us disappointed, knowing Miriam would make a fine leader.

The darling girl could lift my spirits with a giggle and a gentle stroke of her chubby little fingers. I often found myself her pillow as she curled up on the carpet after play with a blanket over her and my body for her resting place. Ethpeal would laugh at my predicament, but I couldn't have been happier.

I wonder now, had I made another choice, decided to put as much energy into this new baby as I had with Miriam, what kind of man he would have been. But I chose to let him develop, as did Ethpeal, both of us confident in his health and wellbeing, though I knew he would never be as powerful as his sister.