Sudden Pleasures

Epilogue

Benjamin Kimbrough Mulcahy was born on the nineteenth day of August, a week before his parents' first anniversary. Everyone remarked on his bright blue eyes, which several months later at his baptism were still an unrelenting blue.

"The blue of his namesake," Ashley said quietly.

The baby was baptized in St. Anne's, the same church where his parents had spoken their vows some months before. It was Thanksgiving weekend, and the hall was filled to capacity with Angelina and her family. Michael O'Connor, now a freshman at Princeton, stood as godfather to his cousin. His mother, Frankie, was the baby's godmother.

Back at the house afterward, Angelina noticed a pair of very rococo antique silver candlesticks on the dining room table. "I have not seen those before," she said to her daughter-in-law. "They're beautiful, and quite valuable, unless I miss my guess."

"They belong to your grandson," Ashley said. "A gift."

"From whom?" And then, carefully inspecting the candlesticks, she smiled. "Bianca di Viscontini?" she said, recognizing the Italian workmanship of the candlesticks.

Ashley nodded. "We sent her a birth announcement and told her that Venice could still claim to be the most romantic city in the world."

Angelina laughed. "Well," she noted as she looked at her newest grandson, "certainly no one in this family can deny that."

And Ashley replied softly, "Romance, Lina, can be wherever you make it." Yes, everyone could believe that little Benji had been conceived in Venice, even Ryan. But Ashley knew better. She knew because her brother had told her, and Ben had never lied to her. Her son had been conceived aboard a jetliner over the Atlantic, or possibly Montauk Point. She had joked to herself about calling him Mile High, or Skylar. He had been created from the love she and Ryan had for each other, and from the delicious sudden pleasures that they always seemed to find with each other.

Her husband came up, slipping an arm about her waist. "Ready for another?" he teased Ashley, and turning, she whispered something in his ear. Ryan Finbar Mulcahy actually blushed and chuckled. "Anytime, baby," he said. "Anytime!"

Grandfather Kimbrough had been right after all, Ashley thought with a smile. There really was a happily ever after.