Last chapter!!!

Suze

I lean on the wall, frying eggs on the stove.

"Matthew, E.L, Dominic, Elodie, come for breakfast!" I call, laying the eggs out on the table.

Ellie is the first to walk in. Her jeans are cut around the knees. "Hey mom." She says cheerfully, pulling up a chair. "Food looks great."

Dom is the next one to come in. "Hey mum." He kisses me on the cheek. Jesse taught him that. "Thanks for the eggs."

E.L walks in, his hands in his hair. He is messing around with some gel.

"E.L, go wash your hands before coming to the table." I say, slightly annoyed.

"Fine." He agrees, walking towards the bathroom.

By that time, my two sons and my daughter are eating happily. Matty is still nowhere to be found.

"Matt!" I call. "Come for breakfast!" He tumbles down the stairs.

"Sorry mom. I was…"

"Listening to music, I know."

He smiles and walks to the table.

"You're the best, mom." He grins and pulls out a chair for himself.

I sigh and look at my sons eating like there is no tomorrow. Typical.

"Boys,"

"Close your mouth when you chew." Elodie finishes, her eyes flashing. Her black hair swept in front of her eyes.

They all shove more food in. "Sorry mom." They all say in unsion.

I wipe off my pants and sit at the foot of the table. I place my hands neatly folded at the table.

"You're all lucky I don't make you wait until the company shows up." I say, and they all look up.

I love having control like that.

"Company?" E.L repeats. "Who's coming?"

I smile. "Well, Father Dominic is expected to show up. And if we're lucky, you're father can show up…" I look at the door. Jesse still hasn't walked in.

As if on que, the doorbell rings. Dom stands up.

"Allow me." He smiles at me and walks to the door.

I smile back. I love Dominic.

"Hello." I hear him say at the door. "We weren't expecting you."

A gruff voice replies from the door.

"Yeah, of course, one moment." Dominic walks back in the room. Everyone is looking at him.

"Mom, it's some… dude. Looks kind of messed up. Wants to talk to you."

I grunt weakly and stand up. As I look at him through the other room, I notice something… he looks familiar…

"Scott." I whisper. I run over to the door.

"Suze." He says, looking in my eyes.

"Look at this!" I say, almost crying. "Look at this… your beard! Oh, Scott… Look at you!" I smile and then step back to look at him.

"This may sound a little weird." He starts, "But, Susannah…. I need a place to stay. Maybe just for tonight."

I nod sympatheticly. "Of course, Scott. I owe you my children's lives." I kiss him on the cheek. "Come for breakfast, we're expecting company."

Scott sits beside me. He eats slowly at his food. The children chew slowly with their mouths shut.

"This is good, Susannah." Scott says. My kids look around, eyebrows raised.

They get that from their father. I swear.

"Who are you?" Ellie finally asks. I drop my fork and shoot her an annoyed look.

"I'm a friend of your mother's." He says gruffly.

"Like, friendly?" E.L says, looking at Scott, smiling. "Or, friendly friendly?" Matt nudges him.

"E.L!!" I yell across the table. Scott and the boys laugh.

"Sorry." He says, grinning.

"You better be." I say. "I should call Father. He's late."

I stand up and walk into the kitchen. I pick up the phone.

I dial his number and look in the other room. Scott is telling E.L and Matty a joke. They all burst out into laughter. Even Ellie.

"Hello?"

"Father Dom, hi. Where are you? I thought you were coming down to have breakfast with my family."

The phone crackles. "Yes, I am sorry about being late, Susannah. My fault entirely. I am coming up to your street right now, it's Wellington, is it not?"

"That's the one. 69."

"Sixty nine." He repeats. "I'm coming up to it right now."

"See you in a second, Father."

I hang up the phone and walk back into the kitchen.

"Boys!" I say sternly, trying to gain control. But E.L has put eggs on his face…

I cant help but crack up.

"Father Dom is here." I smile. I walk over and pick the egg off of his face. "Clean this up, child." I kiss his cheek and walk over to the door.

"Susannah!" He greets.

"Hi Father!"

Dominic raises out of his seat and walks over to the priest. They share a smile.

Dominic and Father Dom have had a strong relationship even before he was born. When I was pregnant with my first, for real, son, Father Dominic spent regular visits to make sure everything was going okay.

Father Dom was there when he was born, actually. Jesse was the first one to hold him. He delivered him, after all.

Speaking of Jesse, where is he? We're almost done breakfast, and he still isn't home.

Father Dominic sits down next to Scott. I take my place next to them.

"Hey Father." E.L says, shoving more food in his mouth.

"Hi Father Dom." Elodie says. Father Dom sends them all a warm smile and a nod.

"I haven't seen this boy before." Father Dominic says, looking at Scott.

He smiles sarcasticly. "I try to keep a low profile."

There are so many questions I want to ask him. He disappeared for eighteen years… eighteen long years. And then he shows up at my door…

"Whats your name, son?" He asks. Father Dom is an old, old man. I love the 'blessing' (so he calls it) that he's still alive.

"Scott." He says, taking a bite out of his eggs. "Friend of Susannah's." He smiles at E.L.

"Oh, that's nice." Father Dominic says, shoveling more food in his mouth.

I get the feeling that Jesse wont appreaciate Scott being here. I look down at my food.

The door swings open. Jesse modestly shakes off his boots and hangs up his jacket.

"Good morning!" He calls out.

"Morning dad!" the boys call. Elodie stays silent.

He walks in the room and kisses me on the cheek. "Food smells great." He whispers.

He pulls out a chair and pulls for his plate.

"Father Dom." He nods. "E.L. Matthew. Dominic. Elodie." He looks at Scott. He has a look of confusion on his face. "Have we met?"

I feel sick now. Please don't beat eachother up…

"I'm Scott. Your old neighbour."

His smile fades. "Oh." He says grimly. "Welcome to our home." He says as nicely and politely he can manage.

"Thankyou, Jesse."

We all eat in silence. Finally, when everyone is done, Jesse stands.

"We have come here today, in this beautiful house that we have been blessed with." He says. "With my three sons, my daughter, my wife, and my friends. Our friends."

We all smile. Everyone appreaciates Jesse.

"We are blessed with food, warmth, a house over our heads…"

"Amen." Says E.L, more then a joke then anything.

"And with love." Jesse continues. "This house, is kapt together with love. Love for our brothers, sisters, moms and dads. For our friends, for our gifts, for our wonderful things. Without love,"

"We are nothing." Dominic finishes. Jesse smiles.

"And this sinple prayer," Jesse continues,

"That we say every day," Matty joins in.

"Will keep our home." Says everyone together. "And our love, together."

Everyone is smiling by the time Jesse sits down.

We all stack up the plates and slide them in the washing machine.

--

That day was a beautiful day. The joining of pasts, linking with trageties, gifts, and miracles. If I forget everything else that I know, I'll remember this one day.

The day that I, Susannah Simon, had finally won.