Christmas To Come
It had been seven years since William Reed Roberts Horton had last been in Salem. He had left in anger without saying goodbye to his mother and he regretted it now. He had regretted the poor choice he had made for the past six as the contempt for his father had taken over. How could he have let him do that? It was too late to fix it now but William was ready to try to and make it up for his mother.
Living in Europe had been an interesting experience and it had helped to shape the young man William was today. With the help of his aunt Carrie and his uncle Austin who was more like a second father to him, William had schooled himself and found his passion in the kitchen. After all the years of eating takeout, William actually enjoyed cooking his own meals and eating healthy. He had become quite a sensation in his field and his new-found self-confidence had ensured him a business of his own. He had also made a point to create himself an image that would attract customers instead of repelling them.
But there was more to Williams daily life than just work and food. All his life William had feared repeating his parents mistakes but now he finally understood why Sami and Lucas had fought for him for so many years. William finally knew what it felt like to share a connection with someone who was absolutely wrong for him. On the night of his graduation William had been out celebrating with his friends and he had ended sharing a bed with a beautiful and sweet girl, who had become pregnant. Renée had decided to keep the child and William had agreed. He had even offered to marry Renée but she had laughed at him. She had told him she could never love him but she would cherish their child. Renée had found the love of her life shortly after giving birth to Seraphine and William was now the proud single-father of a small girl and he wouldn't change a thing. Naturally Renée kept in contact with her daughter but she had another family to take care of now and she knew William would never have another child. Not as long as Arnaud had a say in it.
Arnaud wasn't happy to see William leave for the Christmas but he had to work in the gallery and he understood Williams need to make peace with his mother and half-siblings. Besides Seraphine deserved to meet her whole albeit dysfunctional family. William was actually quite anxious to introduce his little fiery princess to her paragon in spirit, her grandmother Samantha. And from what William had heard, Seraphine would find a soul mate in her aunt Allie. Salem beware of the progeny of Samantha Gene Brady. The thought made William laugh out loud.
All these thoughts and many more rushed through Williams head as he held Seraphine against his chest and raised his hand to knock on the door of the new DiMera Mansion. EJ had given his mother everything she had wanted and more. Before Williams knuckles met the solid wood door, it swung open and William found himself face to face with his mother. She hadn't changed at all. The astonishment in her eyes turned to tenderness as she silently beckoned her firstborn to step inside. Sami shut the door and turned to look at her son and granddaughter again. She found herself looking into the most colourful eyes she had ever seen as Seraphine studied her intensely. The little girl whispered something to her fathers ears and made him grin. William whispered something back to the little girl. Seraphine reached her hands out to Sami and waited to picked up before whispering softly:
"Joyeux Noël grand-mère. Merry Christmas grand-mother."