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“And it wasn’t okay to tell your sisters not to talk to us either. We were worried sick.”

Katherine nodded her reply. She could see the worry in her father starting to subside even before he wiped both of his eyes with the heel of his hand.

“I know, and it won’t ever happen again. I promise.”

After Jerome led Katherine back to Matthew, he clapped Matthew on the back and said, “I’m sure you two need some time alone. So, I’ll see you back at the station in a few days.”

When Matthew tried to protest, Jerome wouldn’t hear of it.

“I hear there’s a nasty bug goin’ around.” He winked. “You two oughta hole up for a few days and get yourselves better. Justin and I can manage things at the station, and I know Mom, the girls, and Florence wouldn’t mind pitchin’ in around here alittle longer. You know, they’ve done a pretty good job so far. Actually, your mother has really enjoyed herself.”

“Interesting...” Katherine said, and her father chuckled, shaking his head.

“You could call it that if you like.” Jerome smirked. “Now, you two get outta here and get yourselves better.”

When they tried to thank him, he only waved it away and turned to walk out. “Take care of my baby girl, Matthew.”

“Will do, sir.”

When Jerome was gone, Matthew looked down at Katherine and smiled. His eyes were tired, and his heart was wounded, but his soul was soaring. “Can we go home now?”

“Which home is home?” Katherine asked. “My home or your home?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Matthew said, leaning down to kiss Katie. “Home is where you are.”

Epilogue

Three days later, they were wide awake at two a.m.

“Do you think she’s okay?” Katherine whispered in the dark.

“Of course she’s okay,” Matthew whispered back. “You know she’d be fussing if she wasn’t.”

“That’s true.”

As the room fell silent again, Matthew could sense a restlessness in Katherine. “But you still wanna check on her, don’t you?

“No…”

“Tell the truth,” he teased.

“Okay, yes. I wanna go check on Libby. Is that such a bad thing?”

Matthew snickered. “Come on, I’ll go with you.”

Climbing out of bed, they walked carefully down the hallway even though it was no longer necessary. Matthew’s dad had replaced the creaky floorboards two weeks ago, making the sound of their footsteps barely noticeable.

“See…” he said softly when they peeked inside Libby’s bedroom. “That’s three nights in a row. Now, do you believeme when I say she doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night anymore?”

Katherine smiled, watching Libby’s little body rise and fall with each breath. “Yes, I believe you.”

“But you still wanna stand here and watch her sleep?”

“Maybe…”

With a low, rumbling growl from the back of his throat, Matthew leaned down, wrapped his arms around Katherine, and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

“Matthew!” she whispered and squirmed. “You’ll wake the baby!”