Come What May

Chapter 32

Epilogue

It was Christmas Eve, 1917. Julia Banner answered the door, and saw her son and his family standing there. "Come in." she smiled, shutting the door behind them.

They all took off their coats. Julia hugged Danny and Kelly. "Let me see my beautiful granddaughter." She said excitedly as Kelly handed over a tiny infant to her.

The baby had almost blonde hair, which would probably turn light brown like her fathers once she got older.

"She's still so little." Julia commented, smiling at the baby and holding her close.

"Well, she's only a month old."

A little boy with light brown hair grabbed onto Julia's leg. "Gramma!"

"Hello, Jamesy." She smiled and ruffled his hair.

A young girl with long dark brown hair pulled back with a bow hugged her. "Hello, Grandma Julia. Merry Christmas!"

"Thank you, Evelyn, dear. Merry Christmas to you too."

They all entered the living room and sat down. Matthew was already there, sitting next to Margaret Moody. There was a two year old boy on her lap with her dark brown hair and Matthew's green eyes.

"Aw Benny got so big!" Kelly exclaimed when she saw him.

"So did your all of yours." Matthew commented.

The boy hopped off his mother's lap and went over to James. They were only a year apart in age, so they got along well.

A little while later, Rebecca showed up. She held a sleeping toddler in her arms, and there were two four year old twins behind her. Also, under her dress was a round bump, as she was expecting a fourth child in February.

Harold couldn't be present at the gathering due to the war.

Kelly went over and hugged her sister. "Happy Holidays."

"You too." Rebecca eased herself into a chair. "It was a challenge trying to get Evan to stop crying, but Thomas and Aeron played with him a bit, and he fell asleep. He's been knocked out ever since." She smiled. "It would be so much easier if Harold were around. I haven't seen him in almost 7 months." Her smiled fell.

"Kate is the same way." Kelly glanced over to Julia, who was making silly faces at her baby. Then faced her sister again, "Don't worry, dear. I'm sure Harold is fine and missing you terribly. He'll return soon."

Oliver Banner entered the room. "I do apologize. I was taking a very important phone call."

Little James ran over to him, "Grandpa!" and Oliver couldn't help but smiled broadly and pick him up.

The doorbell rang again. Christopher Moody entered, followed by a very pregnant wife, who everyone knew as Alexandra.

"Merry Christmas, everybody." He was wearing a festive Santa hat.

He hugged his sister and greeted everybody. "Kelly, may I speak to you for a moment?"

She nodded and walked over to the corner of the room with him.

He pulled a letter and a wrapped present from a bag. "This letter is for you. It's from my father."

She unfolded it and read quickly:

Dear Mrs. Banner, I would like to apologize to you for being so rude and for shutting you out of my life five years ago. I've been thinking for a while, since I now have a lot of time, seeing as both of my surviving children are married. I'm alone and aging. I want you to come visit sometime, so that I may meet my granddaughter face to face. I heard you named her after my late wife, and I am sure she would feel honored. Please plan a trip to Scarborough sometime. I wish to see your entire family. I hope your holiday is enjoyable. Sincerely, JH Moody."

Kelly was smiling. "He's finally ready to acknowledge Evelyn."

"I know. I was very excited to come here to give you that. He also bought a present for her." Christopher approached the young five year old, who was giggling with her younger cousins. "Hello, sweetheart." He kneeled down to look her in the eye.

"Hi Uncle Chris!"

"Evelyn, this is a gift from your grandfather. My father. He cares about you very much." He handed her the wrapped package.

Upon opening it, she saw it was a doll. The doll was pale with fair faux hair, and a fancy light blue dress.

"I like it." She showed it to her cousins.

"Good." He kissed her forehead and stood up.

The night consisted of singing carols and drinking tea or coffee. This happy little family was together, and would remain as so for the rest of their lives.

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Danny and Kelly had two children together, James Daniel, and Katharine Olivia. Their son being named after Jim, and his middle name for Danny. Their daughter was named for Julia's two deceased daughters. Mrs. Banner was thrilled about this.

Danny, Kelly, Evelyn, James, and Kate all lived in London, not far from the Banner's home or from Rebecca and Harold's home.

When Evelyn was four, she started having dreams involving ships and water. But they were not nightmares. These were good dreams, and there would occasionally be a young man wearing a uniform. Kelly decided to tell her about her real father then, and as she grew up she would share more of it. James and Kate had no idea until they were ten and twelve.

Danny died in 1958, at the age of 72. Kelly joined him in 1980, at the age of 85. They had seven grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren, who all passed on Kelly's stories for years to come.

Rebecca and Harold had two more sons, Evan and Cadan. Harold remained at sea but never achieved a command in the merchant service. He was made a commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the First World War. They remained in their home in London until 1937. They moved to Wales, where Harold died in 1944. Two years before that, their son Evan was killed while fighting in WW2. They were devastated. Rebecca moved in with Kelly and Danny, and then retired back to Wales until her death in 1961 at the age of 68. She had nine grandchildren.

Kelly and Rebecca stayed close throughout the remainders of their lives.

Ellen Hoffman never saw or spoke to her children again. She lived out the rest of her days in a small home in Liverpool. She died all alone in 1935.

Julia and Oliver Banner were very loving grandparents, spoiling Evelyn, James, and Kate as much as they could. They even treated Rebecca's children like family too. Oliver passed away in 1936, and Julia followed in 1957.

Michael and Grace Sullivan welcomed a daughter in March 1914. Her name was Emilie Louise Sullivan (thankfully somebody was able to talk him out of the name Prudence). Three years later a son joined their family, Jacob Michael Sullivan. Michael was killed in an automobile accident in 1927. Grace raised her two children alone until she remarried in 1934. She died in 1956.

After meeting at the wedding, Matthew Banner began to exchange letters with Margaret Moody. After he graduated from law school he took a trip to Scarborough to visit her. They were married in 1915. They only had one son, Benjamin Robert Banner. He did not follow the family tradition of going into law. He chose to become a banker instead.

Christopher Moody and his wife, Alexandra, had two children. Christopher Jr., and Eileen. He lived 'til 1978.

Mrs. Albert Morley (Elizabeth) never remarried. She also never crossed the ocean again. She died in 1914, supposedly of a "broken heart".

The Titanic was found lying on the bottom of the North Atlantic on September 1st, 1985 by Robert Ballard's team. The wreck now stands as a burial place for those who were lost that night. They would never be forgotten.

This is the end of Come What May. I, Kelly, would like to apologize for the long hiatus in the middle of this. I got very sidetracked. I'm very glad I got back to this. Becky and I are so happy we are actually able to finish this story. Thanks to Annasweets, SCamden, Starlight63, Mufasa Lives On, dodge-a-turtle, donutgirl, royandjohnnyfan, Megz2009, It'slikeAna, miss .olivia .jones, Hugz-4-All-The-Emoz, sodapop86, Steg, rebelchild218, poniescheerleader1993, Simply Laura, Miss Kaelyn Marie Lorne, EGIsetter101, May-I-Take-Your-Name-Love, and Antionette Rose for reviewing our story. Reviews make us very happy. I'm a bit sad to end this, but it had to happen sometime. I'm sure Becky may miss it a bit too. She isn't online at the moment for me to ask. But I'm sure she is very thankful to everyone for reading. We love you guys. Btw, Happy Holidays to everyone and a Happy New Year coming up. We wish you all the best. Thanks, guys!!

Love, Kelly (overactive imagination) and Becky (doctors gal 1792).