Walked toward the carriage.
The attorney followed.
A moment later, the horses began moving.
The carriage rolled down the frozen road.
Clara watched until it disappeared.
Then her knees trembled.
Gabriel caught her gently.
She leaned against him.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Then she began crying.
He wrapped both arms around her.
Held her close.
And whispered, "It's all right."
She shook her head.
"No."
He looked down.
Her face was wet.
She whispered, "I was so afraid."
Gabriel kissed the top of her head.
"I know."
She clutched his coat.
Then asked something that nearly broke his heart.
"Do you still want me here?"
Gabriel went still.
For a moment, he remembered the first night.
The fallen chair.
The crumpled letter.
The unbearable feeling of betrayal.
He remembered his own doubts.
The days of silence.
The fear that Clara had chosen him only because she needed a name and a roof.
Then he remembered everything that followed.
The accounts.
The laughter.
The Christmas gloves.
The storm.
The baby moving beneath his palm.
The first kiss.
The woman who had just stood against a powerful man despite trembling so badly she could barely remain upright.
Gabriel lifted her face gently.
"Clara."
She looked at him.
Tears filled his eyes.
"I don't want you here because you need somewhere to hide."
Her expression changed.
He continued.
"I want you here because I love you."
Clara stopped breathing.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Then a sob escaped her.
Gabriel swallowed.
"I've been trying not to say it."
Her lips trembled.
He smiled sadly.
"But I can't keep pretending."
Clara reached toward his face.
Her hand rested against his cheek.
"Gabriel."
He closed his eyes.
Then she whispered, "I love you too."
The words seemed to settle over the snow-covered porch.
Simple.
Terrifying.
Beautiful.
Gabriel opened his eyes.
For a moment, he looked almost disbelieving.
Then he leaned forward.
Clara met him halfway.
They kissed gently.
Not as strangers bound by a newspaper advertisement.
Not as two people pretending the past hadn't happened.
But as a husband and wife who had finally begun choosing one another with their eyes open.
When they separated, Gabriel rested his forehead against hers.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he looked toward her stomach.
His hand moved slowly.