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Dex walks over next. He's quieter than usual today, and his gaze settles on Jude, or more specifically, on the jersey he's wearing. Something passes between them before Dex finally turns towards the urn and reaches out, resting two fingers against its side.

“Welcome back, D.”

Three words.

My heart cracks right down the middle.

I swallow hard as Jace steps forward, his light brown hair peeking out from beneath his cowboy hat and his blue eyes unusually serious.

“Nora!” He opens his arms with a warm smile. “It's so good to finally meet you in person.”

“Hello, Jace. It's so nice of you to be here, too.”

He pulls me into a hug, and when he steps back, his smile softens.

“I'm sorry I couldn't make the funeral, but I wouldn't miss this for the world.”

His gaze drops to the urn, and he rests a hand against it.

“Welcome back, brother.”

I blink back another wave of tears and take a breath.

One by one, the others come over to hug me. Penny holds me a little longer, Summer squeezes my hand, and Grace wraps her arms around me so tightly that I almost laugh. Even little Mia gives me a hug, and by the time everyone has stepped back, I'm fighting another wave of tears.

I take a breath and look at Jude. “Should we go?”

Jude looks at me. “You good?”

I nod. “I'm okay.”

We head towards the trail together, with me walking between Jude and Chiara, the urn pressed against my stomach, while the rest of the Hawthornes follow behind us.

Mia runs ahead until Ethan calls her back.

“Stay where I can see you, bug.”

“I will!”

“If I have to squint my eyes, you're not where I can see you.”

“That's not how it works, Daddy.”

A laugh ripples through the group.

“She's got you there,” Cas says.

Ethan mutters something under his breath, and Summer laughs as she catches up with him.

I smile.

This is what Damiano remembered. The noise, the teasing, the feeling that nobody ever really walks anywhere alone because there are always ten other people following behind.

“He used to talk about this,” I say.

Jude glances at me. “What?”

I look back at the family. Ethan has Mia over his shoulder now while she shrieks and demands to be put down, and Summer is laughing beside them. Cas has taken Noah from Penny, one huge hand supporting almost the entirety of his tiny body, while Grace is arguing with Jace about something and Asher walks beside them with Liam.