Without another thought, she rushed toward him, her feet barely touching the ground as she flew into his arms.
The moment their arms wrapped around each other, all the years of separation, of worry, of desperate hope, seemed to melt away.
Charlie, now a young boy of eleven, held her just as tightly, his small frame steady in her embrace, though his face was a mixture of joy and uncertainty.
“Sister!” he cried, his voice thick with emotion. “I—I can’t believe it’s really you!”
Tears welled in Helena’s eyes as she laughed through her sobs, hugging him even tighter. “I never thought I’d see you again, Charlie! Look at you—so grown!”
She pulled back slightly to look at him, as if to make sure he was real.
Five years. Five years of wondering, of fear, and now he was here, in front of her, safe and whole.
Charlie smiled sheepishly, his eyes glistening. “I’m not a baby anymore, Helena. I’m almost as tall as you now!” His voice, still full of the innocence and warmth of a boy, made her heart ache with the weight of the time they had lost.
They both laughed, and in that moment, nothing else in the world mattered but the joy of being together again.
“Oh my, when did you arrive?” Helena blubbered, as she swayed with him back and forth in her arms.
He gestured towards Benedict, who was leaning against the mantelpiece.
“Your husband’s friend came to get me yesterday,” he replied.
Helena nodded in gratitude to Benedict before moving a few paces back from Charlie in order to feast her eyes on him, though she could barely see through the blur of her tears.
“Oh, I can’t believe you’re here! I was so worried about you!”
“I’m fine.” He looked around. “Is Mother here?”
Helena’s heart fell to the ground.
“We wanted to wait for you,” Amelia said in a small voice.
Helena gasped at the sight of her, lunging forward to hug her close. “Amelia! I’m so glad to see you well.”
“Likewise,” Amelia whispered.
She stepped back and looked at her brother who was looking back at her expectantly, an eyebrow raised.
“Oh Charlie…” she said before the words died in her throat.
Realization seemed to come over him slowly. “She’s not here, is she?” he said in a soft voice.
Helena shook her head jerkily, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“How did it happen?” Charlie asked stoically.
Helena realized sadly that he had grown up while she was away. “She saved my life,” she said.
Charlie stared at her with interest. “Oh?”
Helena nodded. “Yes. Uncle James…” She hesitated because she did not know how her brother felt about their uncle.
Charlie frowned. “Why would he harm her?”
“He… He wanted to shoot me. I don’t know if he only meant to injure me or kill me outright, but Mama, she…” Helena choked.
“She protected you, didn’t she?” Charlie asked softly.
