Home is the first book I've written to have a bonus epilogue. I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it yet, but I will say that I felt it was necessary. I considered how I would feel as a reader, and I knew I'd want some closure to one more aspect of the story that didn't get addressed.  As the author, I knew how the story would play out. In fact, I know the rest of the life stories of all the Delmars. But in this case, I just felt like readers would want to know, so I added it.  I also added family trees at the end of Home to show what happened to the characters we've all grown to love so much. Once I'd done all that, yet another storyline popped into my head, but I knew a third epilogue would be pushing it, so for the avid reader, I've added that story here.

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This is the tale of Baby Maris as told by King Merrick II:

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I could have stared into her tiny face for hours.  Dez had long ago fallen asleep after handing the little bundle to me.  She was only a few hours old, but already I wondered what life had been like without her.  Her striped hat covered the jet black hair beneath it.  She had yet to open her eyes completely, but through the slits, the Delmar blue shone brightly.  Her forehead was wrinkled as though she was unhappy with having been displaced from her comfortable home, and her lips pooched into a permanent pout.  She was by far the most beautiful little Princess I had ever seen.

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I dug into her blanket cocoon to find one of her hands.  Her fingers, as wiry as spiders’ legs and almost as brittle, wrapped around my giant finger, and I felt like we were connected.  I placed a light kiss on her knuckles and then on her forehead.  Falling in love with Dez was fast; with this child, it was instantaneous. 

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“Maris,” I murmured, “I love you so much, and I promise I will be there for you always, no matter what.  Someday, you’ll be Queen, but I don’t want you to be afraid of that.  I’ll teach you everything you need to know before that happens.  It’s not like it used to be.  Things have changed.  You’ll be Queen, but really, you’ll be a helper to the people.  They don’t really need us anymore, but they feel more comfortable having us around pretending we’re still in charge.  We’re not. We’re just guides, helping them along and keeping things running.  I’ll step down someday and hand things over to you, but don’t worry.  I’ll give you plenty of notice before I do.  I’ll make sure you’re ready.  But do you know what else?  You don’t have to be Queen if you don’t want to be.  You can always abdicate.  I know that’s a big word, but you’ll understand it someday.  But if you do decide to abdicate, Uncle Mako is next in line.”

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I thought about that for a moment and shuddered exaggeratedly. 

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“That’s a scary thought.  Your Aunt Alex is working on taming him, but I don’t think he’ll ever be ready to be King.  But still, I don’t want you to feel any pressure.  Just because you were born to this doesn’t mean you have to choose it.”

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I stroked my thumb along her knuckles, still gripping my finger.  Shifting slightly, I leaned back in the chair next to Dez’s hospital bed and cradled Maris close to my chest.  She never let go of my fingers.

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“Sweet Maris,” I cooed, “May you be as beautiful and smart as your Mama, as strong and devoted as your grandmother, as brave and dedicated as your grandfather, as wild and carefree as your Uncle Mako, as joyful and helpful as your Uncle Dash...”

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“And as able, kind and caring as your father,” Dez whispered beside me with a tender smile on her face.

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