Tears rushed to Bree’s eyes and she pulled back and wiped them away. “I wish she were here.”
Aunt Di smiled and tapped Bree’s chest over her heart. “She is always here.”
Uncle Mark gave Bree a hug. “Congratulations.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
Uncle Mark and Aunt Di stood together, gazing at their offspring. Aunt Di gave them all a tentative smile. “Hello, children,” he said.
As if his words jolted Bree’s cousins into movement, the three sisters rushed forward to their parents.
Garrett and Laura moved forward but hung back to allow his sisters their time with their parents.
Max hugged Dianne and said, “Mom, you and Dad, you’re really here.”
“Dad, you and Mom, you’re alive,” Abby said, burying her face into Mark’s chest.
Izzy stood back a bit. “Is this for real?”
Dianne put out her arm and Izzy fell into her hold, along with Max.
Mark nodded for Abby to go to Dianne and Izzy, and Max retreated to let her have a moment with her mother.
Mark stood before Garrett. He held out his arms. “Garrett?”
Garrett chuckled and hugged his father. He looked at his sisters and then back at his father. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
Mark chuckled. “We do, I know, and we will tell them everything but first, I think we have a wedding to celebrate.”
MORLA GUIDED EVERYONEto their seats at the table. Bree and Horland in the middle on one side, Garlain sat next to Bree and Morla left the chair next to Bree’s father vacant, showing Kieri to the end chair. Leeta sat in the next chair and Tilly wheeled her chair to end of the table so she’d have room to move.
Most of Bree’s extended family sat opposite her and Horland. King Pradwick sat at the head of the table with Mark on his right side and Dianne on his left. Izzy sat beside her father and Edward sat between her and Horland.
Tilly wanted Laura to sit close to her because the young princess was enamored with the baby, and of course Garrett sat next to Laura.
Simone, Garlain’s sister, moved to sit beside her brother but Morla clasped her arm.
“No,” Morla said. “You will sit opposite your brother.” She waved her hand to the chair on the other side of the table. “There.”
Simone gazed at Garlain and he gave her a nod to let her know it was all right. She gave Morla a piercing gaze, then strode around the table and plopped into the chair. Then sat Peter and Max, and lastly Iain and Abby. Abby quickly started to talk into her mother’s ear.
Dianne just smiled and said, “All in good time.” Then she stood up and raised her chalice. “To the bride and groom, may their days be filled with happiness and wonder.”
Morla hurried to her chair between Garlain and Leeta. She smiled at Garlain and raised her chalice.
Everyone else raised their cups. “To Bree and Horland.”
The king nodded to Dianne, who sat down as he stood up and said, “To Lady Briana, I thank you for bringing Sir Garlain back to us and know this: we, everyone in my kingdom, loved your mother and will miss her laughter and beauty.” He smiled at Bree, thick emotion in his eyes. “We are fortunate, though, to have you with us and in you, we also keep Lady Patricia with us always.” He raised his chalice once more. “To Lady Briana and Sir Horland, may laughter and love know no bounds.”
Again, everyone toasted. “To Lady Briana and Sir Horland.”
Bree gazed at her extended family, tears burning the back of her eyes, and smiled.
Abby smiled and snuggled into Iain’s side. Max grinned at Bree and smiled at Peter, who clasped her hand in his, and Garrett put his arm around Laura as both smiled at Bree.
Izzy, holding Edward’s hand, said, “We all thank you, Bree.”
“Yep,” Garrett said. “Without you,” he glanced at hisparents, “and Mom and Dad of course, we wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t all be as happy as we are. Thank you.”
