"Let me hold my grandbabies," I say, because I can’t resist and just have to hug those adorable little ones.
Winter hands them to me with a smile. Their names are Summer and Snow, in honor of the people who saved their parents’ lives. I lift them, settling one on each hip.
Their hair is fascinating, a very pale green, so light it looks like pistachio ice cream.
"You’re both going to grow into such handsome boys," I tell them as I sway them gently on my hips.
Sariel smiles wide. "I hope so, I really want them to take after Winter. There’s no more handsome man in the world." He looks at Winter with so much admiration… I’m struck by it every time. Winter’s albinistic looks used to be his biggest insecurity, and the most important thing for me is that he found someone who sees him as perfect. Everyone has someone meant for them.
When I see Sariel’s minty eyes, full of love, fixed on Winter’s face, I feel my own eyes grow a little wet again. It’s wonderful to see how much love flows between them, how close they are, and how full of tenderness Winter finally allows himself to be.
My next stop is Snow and Bay’s table, two of my sons, in order of age, sitting side by side, talking to each other in a way I’ve never seen before. I feel the shift in their energy right away, I know something finally changed between them.
"Hey," I say as I lean over them, placing a hand on Snow’s shoulder and the other on Bay’s.
"How are my only two sons blessed with bass voices? Maybe we’ll finally hear your duet, I’ve always dreamed of it?"
Bay glances at Snow, lifting his brows slightly in question.
"Why not? Maybe you’ll finally show your talent to the world," he says.
Snow hesitates for a moment, then suddenly smiles and nods. "Yeah, why not?"
He’s a composer, but he also has a beautiful voice, one he uses far too rarely.
"Maybe we can sing Let It Snow? Perfect time for it, right in the middle of June," Bay suggests jokingly.
"The microphone is all yours," I murmur, patting their shoulders. "This is going to be quite the show for the family. Have Jordan bring your instruments from your rooms, yes, yes, the ones you used to practice on!"
"All right," Bay says. "Come on, let’s rehearse real quick." He says it to Snow, and Snow nods. Of course, both of them are perfectionists. I watch them head off toward Snow’s tiny house to run through the song once.
Meanwhile, I lean down to kiss Alex and Summer on the cheeks. They’re sitting alone, with a bit of uncertainty in the air between them. I step back and start to move away, but then I see Alex shift over one seat to be closer to Summer, and Summer leans in, looking at little Gem with a gentle smile.
I catch a sentence Alex says.
"I heard you saved Winter’s life. That’s incredible… and honestly really admirable."
Summer blushes and quietly replies, "We did it together, Snow, me, and his dad."
Then after a short pause he adds, "It sounds cliché, but saving is so much more satisfying than destroying…" His expression turns a little melancholy, a little apologetic.
"I know exactly what you mean," Alex says with a grin and winks at him.
Smiling under my breath, I move on to the next table.
Rain and Kay are sitting there, and next to them Nathaniel with his True Mate and their son.
I place my hands on Rain’s shoulders and give him a warm pat. "How are you, guys? Be sure to thank the Sanders for thecatering, it’s top-notch. I haven’t eaten anything this good in a long time."
Kay smiles with a bit of embarrassment. "I’ll tell them, of course. I’m really glad you like it."
I peek over his shoulder.
Pressed against Kay’s chest is little Light, cuddled close, his cheeks plump and rosy. On Rain’s lap sits little Ray, his chubby hands buried deep in a piece of cake. Rain has clearly given up trying to fight those endlessly busy hands that keep scooping up frosting and smearing it everywhere.
Then I move to my adopted son, Nathaniel, and plant a loud kiss on his cheek too. His story is truly remarkable, and I’m so happy he also got his happy ending.
Next I head to the table where Skye and Soren are sitting with little Silver, who’s already a year old and one of the cutest kids I’ve ever seen. His face is framed by black curls, and his big gray eyes draw attention everywhere he goes. With parents like his, it’s no wonder he’s gorgeous.
