The Inn of Second Chances – Extended Epilogue

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Two years later

James turned as Samuel walked into the hotel dinning room. In the time since the incident as they had taken to calling it, he had become a regular fixture of the place. James had been worried that it would be hard for Clara to be around him after everything that had happened, but she was the one pushing him to come by more than anyone.
“Welcome back,” James greeted with a bright smile. “How were things with the sheriff?”
“He left early to visit family today,” he said, face positively beaming with pride.
“So was this your first day as a deputy alone?”
“It was, and it went great if I do say so myself. This also means my training is finally done and I’m officially a member of the Clearwater law enforcement,” he said, flopping down at his usual table.
“I’m glad it’s going well. I know you’ll do whatever you can to keep our brown safe.”
“Thank you. It feels like this has really been a chance for me to start over.” He paused, looking away. “I mean it, thank you. It would have been completely understandable for you to have wanted me out of your life after everything I did to you and Clara.”
“If she can forgive you for what happened so can I. I knw I’ve said it before, but you’re my brother. No matter what mistakes you made in the past, you aren’t going to change that.”
“Well, it means a lot to hear that, so thank you.”
“Sammy,” Eliza’s voice cut through the room as she stompped over to him. “You didn’t tell me you were coming by today.”
He grinned at her. “Can’t I just want to surprise you at work?”
“If you’d told me I would have dressed a bit nicer,” she muttered.
“You knoe you don’t need to worry about that. You always look perfect to me.”
She looked away, cheeks burning. “I’m at work.”
“Sorry,” Samuel laughed. “Should I go?”
“I didn’t say that. In fact, you had beeter still be here when I get off. You can walk me home, but I do need to get back to Clara. She’s alone in the kitchen and we’re going to be dealing with the dinner rush soon.”
“Then I’ll be waiting here for you to finish your shift. Right in this exact spot, promise.”
She rolled her eyes, but it was impossibles to miss the smile on her face as she returned to the kitchen.
“How has Clara been by the way?” Sam asked. “I’m surprised she’s still working at this point.”
James sighed, shaking his head. “I’ve tried to tell her to take a break more times than I can count, but you know how she feels about this place.”
“James,” she said, stepping into the room with a pitcher of coffee and a sigh. “I’ve told you, IU don’t need to take time off.”
He raced over to take the pitcher from his very pregnant wife. “You’re due any day now. You really should at least be asking someone else to carry things for you even if you don’t want to take time off.”
She rolled her eyes. “There’s no need for that.”
“Clara, please.”
“You make it sound like I’m about to pop any day now.”
“Well, aren’t you? You are in the last month of your pregnancy. It isn’t unheard of for a baby to arrive early.”
“And it isn’t unheard of them to arrive late either.”
James turned to his brother with a heavy sigh. “See what you have to look forward to?”
“I like to hope that Eliza will be a little more….” he hesitated looking for the right word.
“Reasonable,” James supplied.
“I’m plenty reasonable,” Clara scoffed, heading back to work.
Less than three days later, she went into labor at the hotel during the breakfast rush.
The midwife made it clear that she should have stopped working several moths ago, but she continued to insist she didn’t think she had been doing too much.
James looks down at the little baby girl in her bassinet. It was hard to believe he had hjelped bring her into the world.
“She’s perfect,” he told his wife.
“I think that’s the seventh time you’ve said that,” she laughed. “But it doesn’t yhave anything to do with what I asked you.”
“Sorry,” he shook his head. “Can you remind me what that was.”
“I asked you if you liked Carrie Marget for her name.”
“After your sister and my mother?”
“If you’re alright with it, yes.”
His face softened as he looked at the woman he was lucky enough to call his wife. “I think it’s perfect.”
“Good, then that’s what we’ll call her.” After a moment’s pause, she changed the subject. “I’m hoping our daughter won’t be the only good news our family has to share soon.”
James frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Eliza and Samuel, obviously,” she grinned.
He couldn’t help but grimace. “I’m still not sure that their relationship is the best idea.”
“And why ever not?”
“Because, he only just turned over a new leaf. Doesn’t it seem a bit premature for him to start a relationship?”
“I think Eliza would be good for him, another reason to stay on the stright and narrow.”
James smiled at his wife. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I usualy am.”
“Besides, they both seem so clearly smitten with each other.”
“I know what you mean.”
“I’m honestly surprise he hasn’t proposed already.”
“I think he wants to make sure that he’s good enough for her. I’m sure if you told him that you thought they should get married, he would pop the qiestion almost immediately.”
“I doubt he puts that much stock in what I think.”
Clara shot him a look.
“Alright, once you’re done recovering from giving birth, I’ll go check on him and ask about his long term plans with Eliza.”
She grinned “I knew that you would see things my way.”
“You’ve made it clear that you usually know the best course for both of us, havent you?” he muttered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“I’d like to think I do,’ she replied, before bringing their lips together in a sweet kiss.

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