“He would have, indeed. All of his children, including those he adopted”—he squeezed her shoulders—“are here together.”
“And he would be especially pleased that Mater is surrounded by people who love her.” She gave him a little shove. “Go give her a hug and a good afternoon, as you told Oliver you would.”
“You’ll be here when I get back?” He’d taken to asking her that when they were going to be apart.
“I always am,” she said.
Charlie made his way to Mater. A rare break in the attentions of the Gents and their wives gave him the opportunity to sit with her, something he missed doing now that his home was not the same as hers.
“Are you simply in heaven, Mater?” He knew at a glance she was.
“Crispin has a peaceful home life. Adam is here and surrounded by family. Arabella is among us. Your father’s Princess has found her way to us. All you boys are happy, loved, and together.” She sighed a contented and pleased sort of sigh. “I have long dreamed of a day like this.”
Stanley happened to look over in that moment. Charlie motioned him to join them. The summons was taken up by all the brothers, none of whom, it seemed, had been entirely unaware that Mater’s friends weren’t currently surrounding her.
In an instant, she was surrounded by her sons. They kissed her cheek in turn and hugged her fiercely, Philip last of all.
“Our rock in the storms of life,” he said. “We’d have been lost if not for you.”
She pulled them in close, managing somehow to embrace all seven of them at once. “My boys. The lights of my life. I couldn’t be prouder of the gentlemen you’ve become. And I love you more every day.”
Mater’s daughters-in-law and Crispin soon joined the circle. Adam and Persephone were among them in the next moment, then Linus and Arabella. And as Mater had more or less adopted Athena and Harry as well as Daphne and James, her gathered “children” grew to include nearly everyone present.
Charlie set his arm around Artemis. She held him in return, her expression one of genuine contentment and an open, unfettered happiness. Charlie kissed the top of her head, holding her fast.
This family loves you and loves each other,Father had written, his last and most personal bit of advice to the very young son he’d left behind.Embrace them. Let them embrace you. You need never be alone.
And he wasn’t. No one in this family would ever walk the paths of life on their own. They had each other. They had the legacy of their father’s unwavering support. The surety of their mother’s fierce devotion. And the promise of each other’s loyalty.
They had the sure, steadfast love that ties families together.
Forever.
