“For better, or for worse, the challenges life gives us make us who we are.” He looked down at Tempie tucked to his side. “If she was not an awful woman, you might not have had to become savvy and strong and able to love with an invisible depth that has no ending.”
God, I just loved Hamish for Tempie.
He so got her.
Hamish looked to the group. “That woman was a reprehensibly terrible mother. But you four would not have what you have if she wasn’t. It doesn’t make the flaws in her character right. But it does bring out in stark relief the strength of all of yours.”
Jeez.
I so totally liked that guy.
Tempie did too, if her grabbing his beard and pulling his mouth to hers so they could make out hot and heavy on the couch was anything to go by.
As fabulous a moment as that was, it went on a long time.
And Prue got done with it.
“Yuck!” she cried. “Go to your room!”
They broke, and Tempie snuggled up against her hot Scotsman with a smug smile on her face.
“Hamish is right,” I said. “I told my sister I felt comfortable here, in this beautiful jewel of a massive house, which could and maybe should be formidable, but it isn’t. Because it’s so full of love. You four built that. And I’m so honored I was even invited to walk through the front doors to experience it.”
“Oh, Vivi,” Prue said and gave me a hug.
I hugged her back.
“Shall we metaphorically bury mother like our ancestors buried dead bodies and move on?” Tempie suggested, to Hamish’s head jerking and Christian’s eyes narrowing on her.
Battle sighed.
I returned to the chair next to him and my drink.
Bartholomew started snoring.
And a loving family in a house filled with love sipped cocktails while they waited on dinner.
The next Monday, when Battle was back in London, and my hands had healed enough I was back in the studio (with electricity and phone line repaired), Prue came out and knocked on the door.
She stuck her head in.
“I know you hate interruptions, but I need to ask you something,” she said.
“Girl, I need to stand or my hip flexors are gonna be locked in sit position for the rest of my life.” I looked out the windows at the sun shining and suggested, “Wanna take a walk?”
She nodded.
I left the cats snoozing (as was their wont), and we walked out into the sunshine and Chassie’s flourishing garden.
“What’s up?” I prompted.
“Natalie and I just had a long chat, and I’m accepting an offer for my book.”
She then told me the advance, and I stopped dead.
She stopped with me.
“Holy fuck,” I whispered.
