ATOP Chapter Four

"It's been a ridiculously long day for the both of you, I know" Donna smiled as Jim turned the car down the Stewart's lane. "All three of you, really, " she added, her eyes lingering lovingly on Benjie, who now lay sleeping in Ronnie's arms. Josh had finally surrendered the baby, with great protest. "I want to have you all over for dinner, but I think tonight, it's best if you just go home. I'm sending over supper so you don't have to worry about getting anything together... just get settled in and rested up."

"Wait..." Rachel's eyes widened. "Does that mean...?" She turned to Ronnie, astonished, and he grinned. 

"That's the surprise," he laughed as her eyes grew wider yet. "We got the house finished, it's all ready to move into, all down to curtains on the windows and flowers on the table. The girls helped me. And Emma donated dozens of books. The two of them have been sewing ever since they got home... sheets and quilts and curtains and... oh, I dunno. Everything. Of course, if you want to change anything..."

"Ach du schande!" Rachel breathed, reaching out to clutch his arm. "It's... ready? And you never said a word..." and there she stopped speaking for they were even then pulling to a stop in front of the new house.

"Four bedrooms," Ronnie said proudly. "Benjie can have one all to himself. And a great big kitchen, all for you..." 

"Mein Gott," Rachel whispered, slipping from the car almost before it stopped rolling. She stepped forward eagerly, then stopped and looked back. 

"Hold up," Ronnie was laughing. "Can't break tradition... If we're gonna do this thing, let's do it right, eh? Now you take baby." 

"Kindly tell me what you are doing first," Rachel laughed back, obediently taking the baby, who squeaked once in passing and fell peacefully asleep again.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ronnie scooped her up, grinning like a child on Christmas morning. "I'm going to carry my bride over the threshold."

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Rachel was silent as they crossed the threshold and Ronnie set her on her feet inside the front door. Cuddling Benjie close, she hovered in the entryway, her eyes darting from side to side as she took everything in. She seemed almost afraid to move.

"Come on," Ronnie grinned, holding out his hand. "It's okay. This is your home."

Still not a word from Rachel, but she took his hand and followed him into the kitchen. The sight left her breathless as well as speechless. Everything from the blue-checked curtains framing the picture window above the sink to the enormous black oven to the solid oak table standing in the middle of the room... it was all she had ever wanted... no, more. She had never dared to dream this high.  A blue crockery vase of fresh fall flowers stood on a lace doily in the center of the table and through the window, she caught a glimpse of a wide lawn and a towering elm tree with a tire swinging from a limb. Space... for Benjie to run and play. A real oven and stovetop to bake on. Windows that didn't need to be shuttered up in fear. A whole room, just for baking and eating in. It was... no, it was too much to be believed.

Ronnie took his cues from Rachel and stayed silent himself as he led her from the kitchen into the family room. A brick fireplace and a mantle overhead... a mantle to decorate with family pictures! And a rocking chair, so perfect for rocking her baby to sleep. Bookshelves... glory unequalled... bookshelves filled with books! 

She glanced tentatively up at Ronnie, her lip quivering, tears standing in her eyes. He was waiting... waiting for her to say something. He looked... nervous. 

"Do you... like it?" he whispered at last, uncertainly.

"Pinch me," she whispered back. "I need to know if... if this... is just a... a dream..."

He laughed and bent to drop a kiss on her lips.

"Take that instead. I'm not gonna pinch you."

"I don't... deserve this..." and Rachel hid her face against Benjie's black head. "I can't... it's... almost... too much."

"It's not enough," Ronnie shook his head. "Nothing can be too good for my Rachel."

"But I..." Rachel got no further as Ronnie pulled her close, the baby pressed in between them.

"If I could build you a palace, it still wouldn't be enough," he murmured, kissing them both. "If I tried all my life, I'll never begin to repay the joy and blessing you've brought into my life. But consider this a start... of repaying that debt." He grinned, but it was a wobbly grin. He was crying too. "Welcome home... my family."