the future I can build with him will be hard and challenging and full of joy. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Luke’s heart felt like it would burst. If Clyde wasn’t standing five feet away he’d scoop Marianne off her feet and whirl her in circles.
Clyde still wasn’t looking at him. His mouth was downturned as he watched Marianne carefully. “This isn’t going to be easy,” he warned. “Your grandfather will snarl and fight. Andrew and Delia will be even worse. But you have my blessing.”
He extended his hand to Luke. The relief crashing through Luke made it hard even to return the handshake. Clyde’s face was full of skepticism and annoyance, but also a hint of respect.
They could build on that.
Thirty-Six
FOUR YEARS LATER
“We survived,” Marianne said to Luke in happy exhaustion as the train arrived back in Washington, DC. Visiting her family in Baltimore was always a challenge, but their four-day sojourn had gone well.
The goal had been to take a new set of family photographs, now that Tommy was openly recognized by her parents. Bringing Tommy into the family had been the last straw for Andrew and Delia, who moved to Atlanta. Marianne missed Sam terribly, but the move was probably best for everyone concerned. Andrew had never truly been forgiven for his role in exposing Marianne’s illegitimacy. All hope of Clyde ever returning to Congress was lost when news of Tommy’s birth became public, but Vera came through the firestorm with flying colors. She welcomed Tommy into her home for regular visits, even though it hadn’t been easy.
Respect, humility, and forgiveness were the bywords she and Luke had lived by in dealing with her family, and at last it was beginning to bear fruit. Luke would never be bosom buddies with Clyde, but things had gotten easier since Marianne and Luke’s daughter was born five months ago. Clyde doted on his first granddaughter, and little Rosie was a perfect topic for Clyde and Luke to chat about during these family reunions. They were now able to be cordial with one another, and it was enough.
Rosie currently slumbered in her basket on the floor of the train compartment. Marianne glanced out the window at the station platform, eager to find a carriage and get home, but her gaze snagged on a familiar figure among the bystanders.
“I wonder why Gray is here,” she said.
Luke ducked to peer through the window. “I have no idea,” he replied, a hint of concern in his voice. Gray wasn’t the sentimental sort who took off work to meet a train, so it was a little worrisome. Luke draped the slumbering Rosie over his shoulder, leaving the baby basket and their luggage for the porter to unload.
Marianne’s concern eased as Gray smiled in greeting when they reached the platform. “Back in one piece, I see,” he said, shaking Luke’s hand.
“To my horror, little Tommy now looks up to me like a big brother,” Luke said. “The prospect is terrifying. I’m not sure I’m up to the responsibility.”
Gray never tired of teasing Luke for his reluctant evolution into a responsible uncle and father. Gray and his wife now had three children under the age of four, and Caroline had a son the same age as Rosie. Caroline and Luke still seemed to be going through all the major stages of life in tandem. They got married in the same year, and their first children were born within a day of each other.
Gray led them to a waiting carriage and held the door for them. “Caroline is throwing an impromptu party, and I was ordered to bring the two of you straight to her house. I hope you aren’t too tired. A nanny has been hired to look after all the children, and Caroline will have my head if you don’t come.”
“What a shock, Caroline is throwing a party,” Luke teased. “What’s the occasion this time?”
Gray clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s a surprise. But don’t worry, you’ll like this one.”
“Do we need to go home and change?” Marianne asked. One never knew what to expect with Caroline. She threw charity galas and formal parties all the time but was equally comfortable hosting a summer picnic on the grass.
“Come as you are,” Gray said. “People are already gathering, and we shouldn’t be late.”
Luke wasn’t happy about the diversion. “The elm trees were planted on the National Mall while I was gone,” he said. “Four hundred American elms lining the park from the Capitol to the Washington Monument.