To Belong
AN: This is my enry for Sri Starlz's "Remembering Grace" Contest. Hope you guys like it!
A steady beat of the door knocking was heard in Grace Cahill's private office.
"Did you call for me Mrs. Cahill?" said a voice that Grace knew very well.
"Yes Arthur. Please come in and take a seat. I have something to discuss with you."
Arthur Trent took the seat in front of his girlfriend's mother. He was very anxious on what she had to say because this was basically the first time she had called for him, alone, he might add. He just had this inner feeling that Grace Cahill doesn't trust him, especially when they found out that he was a Vesper but had changed his ways because he fell in love with her beautiful daughter with the name of Hope Cahill. Arthur and Hope have been dating for almost three years now, but sometimes he just feels that he still doesn't belong to the Cahill family, and he thinks that he will never be even if he tried as hard as he can. He cleared his throat and began the conversation with Grace.
"What can I help you with, Mrs. Cahill?"
"Oh, I am not asking for your help, dear. Out of utter curiosity, I would just like to know why you were fiddling with a diamond ring under the dining table during supper earlier. Do you have some desired intention to propose to my beloved daughter?"
"…" Arthur was speechless. He didn't think that anyone would have noticed his gesture earlier. Even Hope, who was sitting beside him during that time, didn't bother to notice. But Grace did.
"I am a very well trained Cahill, Arthur. I can even sense when someone is pointing a gun at my back, just so you know. I believe that is what is going on through your mind right now."
Another thing: Grace Cahill was never wrong.
"Well, yes, I was planning to propose to Hope tonight..but.." His voice faltered.
"But what, my dear?" Grace inquired.
"To be quite honest, I just feel that I…that people might think I just simply proposed to her to get information out of the Cahills. I feel that everyone will always be suspicious of me, in all my words and actions. I don't think that I will ever belong in this family."
Grace didn't speak for quite some time. Then her words struck him,
"Arthur, dear, the past is the past. We all know that you completely removed your ties from the Vespers. Ever since that moment, I trusted you Arthur. I trusted you then and I trust you now. As a matter of fact, I can see how you behave around Hope. You two love each other, and if you are really intending to propose to her, then you have my blessing."
"I don't know what to say.."
"You don't have to say anything. You may now leave my office and do what you have to do. Just make sure you take my daughter to a fancy place during the honeymoon." Grace joked.
"Of course I will. Thank you Mrs. Cahill."
"You're welcome. And by the way Arthur, you will always belong to the Cahills. Don't ever put that out of mind. And I believe that you will be a great addition to this family, and a great son-in-law to me."
Arthur thanked Grace once again and left.
Grace sat back down on her office chair and smiled. She was intrigued at the young man's words. She truly believed that Arthur Trent always belonged to the Cahill Family ever since he professed his love for Hope. She also believes that Arthur will accomplish many great things and will be a big help to the Cahill Cause. She just hoped that Arthur's innate goodness will be passed down to the future Cahill generations. Because for what will eventually happen, Cahills just might need goodness right now.
And that is why when Arthur and Hope died eight years later, Grace did not only weep for her daughter but for her son-in-law as well, because he really did belong to the Cahill Family.