Matthew stood and smiled as he watched Isaac run across the mine yard beneath the lanterns strung between the trees. The boy darted in front of the band that was playing lively tunes, his wide eyes fixed on the musicians before he turned back toward his father. Isaac clapped his little hands along with the band, though completely off beat, and then stomped his feet like he was leading the music himself.

Matthew laughed and scooped him higher into his arms. “You’ll be leading the band one day,” he teased, kissing the top of Isaac’s head.

The boy giggled and pointed at the fiddler, then leaned forward with wide eyes as he watched the fiddler play.

After a few minutes of quiet staring, he tilted his head and asked in his soft, curious voice, “Why he rubbing the box like that?”

Matthew smiled faintly and adjusted the boy in his arms. “He’s not rubbing it, little man. He’s making music come out of it.”

Isaac blinked, clearly not convinced, then pointed again. “But why it go squeak squeak?”

Matthew chuckled under his breath and leaned down closer to him.

“Because sometimes even the pretty sounds start out a little ugly at first. Kind of like learning how to talk.” Isaac seemed to think about that for a moment before resting his head against Matthew’s chest, still watching the fiddler with quiet fascination.

Two years ago, when the lawyer had delivered the papers proving Isaac to be the true heir to the mines, Matthew never would have imagined that they would be standing here today. The whole town had come out to join them in celebrating the reopening of the mines, now operating under strict safety guidelines. Isaac looked up at the lanterns with wonder, his sparkling eyes reflecting the light.

Matthew could see him taking in every moment as people passed by, enjoying the merriment. Isaac, now a lively and talkative two-year-old, kept Matthew and Rebecca on their toes with endless questions about everything he saw.

Matthew scanned the crowd for Rebecca and spotted her speaking with Clara Mae. Rebecca held their infant daughter, Penny, in her arms, smiling as Penny slept peacefully. Rebecca smiled, kissed Penny’s cheek, and held her close.

Penny’s dark hair, a shade darker than Rebecca’s, curled on her tiny head. Matthew saw every day how Rebecca’s spark and strong personality shone through Penny. She’d be a handful one day, but he couldn’t wait for that time. His life had turned out better than he ever could have imagined, and he was blessed with the most beautiful family he could have asked for.

He watched Rebecca laugh with Clara Mae as families from town danced together to the folk songs played by the band. Matthew’s heart swelled with pride as he looked at his wife. Matthew’s gaze stayed like a magnet on Rebecca as the lantern light caught in her hair, turning it into a halo of gold. Her laughter rose above the music, bright and clear, and he thought to himself that he had never believed life could feel this full, this safe. Watching her with Penny in her arms, surrounded by friends, he realized again how deeply he loved her. He loved her more than he had ever thought possible.

Matthew’s eyes scanned the crowd again and found Miss Eleanor sitting at a table with Miss Mary. The two women chatted happily, most likely gossiping in harmless fun about those walking past. The elderly lady had decided to stay in town in order to watch Isaac grow up and offer a helping hand where she could. Isaac had no other living relatives besides Mary Button, and he was very fond of his elderly aunty. He would run to her any chance he got. Most likely due to the stash of hard candies she kept in her coat pocket, but he loved her nonetheless.

A hand came down on Matthew’s shoulder, and he turned to see Lucas smiling at him broadly. The lantern light caught the ring on Lucas’s left hand, and Matthew smiled, remembering the simple ceremony Lucas and Clara Mae had shared a year earlier. It was a simple ceremony at the local church, which was decorated with little yellow field daisies. Rebecca led the flower girls down the aisle in a beautiful powder-pink summer dress, and Matthew had the privilege of walking Clara Mae down the aisle. The happy couple moved into Clara Mae’s house, where they lived happily alone, until the announcement came of the soon-to-be newest addition to the family. If they were to have a boy, Miss Eleanor and Miss Mary were convinced that their child was going to be the best doctor this town had ever seen. But that still remained to be seen.

Sheriff Kearney was not far behind Lucas, speaking to him about how much the town had changed for the better since Percival’s arrest. Percival was hanged shortly after his arrest for his crimes against the men in the mines.

“I wish I had been more observant,” the sheriff admitted. “Seeing the town now, the lighthearted smiles on people’s faces, the bustling stores flourishing since we came out from under Percival’s control…I wish I had taken action sooner.”

“We were all blinded, Sheriff,” Lucas replied.

The sheriff turned to Matthew. “We can all be grateful that you came to town, Matthew. You helped us see the truth. All the work you put into preparing the miners to testify after Percival’s arrest is something this town will never forget.”

“It was no trouble, Sheriff,” Matthew said, looking around at the joyous faces. “We all helped each other out from under Percival’s thumb, and it’s all for the better.” He smiled. Matthew looked among the smiling faces and noticed Rebecca watching him with a smile on her face and a glass in her hand.

“If you’ll excuse me, I believe I owe my beautiful wife a dance,” Matthew said to the two men.

Lucas grinned as he took Isaac from Matthew’s arms and slung him onto his shoulders. Matthew laughed as he walked away from Issac’s smiling face. He moved toward Rebecca, who had handed Penny to Miss Eleanor.

“Madame,” he said with a courteous bow. When Matthew bowed to Rebecca, he did it with exaggerated drama, sweeping his arm like a stage actor. Rebecca pretended to hesitate, tapping her chin as though she might refuse, before bursting into laughter and taking his hand.

“If you would excuse us, Mrs. Hale, I have very urgent business with this young lady,” Matthew said to Clara Mae as she smiled and rolled her eyes at his theatrics.

“Care for a dance?” Matthew asked, turning back to his beautiful wife.

She smiled and let him lead her to the middle of the dance floor. Beneath the moonlit sky, the two of them swayed together, surrounded by friends, family, and the promise of a safe future with the mines now in proper condition. As they danced, Isaac toddled over and tried to join them, clapping and spinning in circles. Everyone around them laughed; the band even shifted into a lighter tune to match the boy’s antics.

Rebecca looked up, locking her gaze with Matthew’s. “Nothing makes me happier than being here with you,” she said.

“I’m proud of what we’ve built together,” Matthew told her as his heart started to beat faster. Even after all this time, she still had an effect on him. And he loved every moment of it.

“Not just a family, but a better future for this town, where people can continue their family legacy in the mines, in conditions that are safe for everyone. If you hadn’t come to town, Matthew, I don’t know what would have happened to me or to the town. We all owe you a great deal,” Rebecca finished.

“I owe you everything, Rebecca. You gave me a new start and a new family. I know it hasn’t always been easy, but thank you for giving me another chance,” Matthew told her.

“Same to you, my love,” Rebecca told him. He always loved it when she called him “my love”, it was said with such tender endearment that it made his heart melt every time.

“Well then,” Matthew said with a playful grin, “I guess you can start to make it up to me by giving me a kiss.”

Rebecca looked up at the sky in mock thought. “Well, I suppose that’s a request I can fulfill,” she teased.

She leaned in, and Matthew bent down to meet her lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. When they parted, they stared into each other’s eyes, knowing that the true beginning of the life they had fought so hard to claim was unfolding before them. Nothing made Matthew more excited than the thought of living it together with Rebecca.

As the music slowed, Matthew pulled Rebecca closer, his hand resting gently at her waist. She leaned her head against his shoulder, whispering, “I never thought happiness could feel this simple.” He kissed her hair and murmured back, “It’s simple because it’s you.”

As the music continued to play, Isaac wriggled free from Lucas’s arms and ran back to where Miss Eleanor sat, holding baby Penny. Isaac clutched Penny’s tiny hand as if he were already her protector. Penny gurgled with delight. Rebecca laughed, took Penny from Miss Eleanor’s arms, then bent down to scoop her son up, kissing Isaac on the forehead and Penny on the cheek. Matthew wrapped his arms around all three of them, pulling Rebecca into the embrace, too. For a moment, the dance floor seemed to pause, the lanterns glowing above them like stars, and Matthew thought to himself that nothing in the world could be more perfect than this: his wife’s laughter, his children’s joy, and the promise of a future they had built together.

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