Six Years Later

The fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Weiss, was reading a story to the class when Edward heard himself being summoned to the principal's office over the intercom.

"Go on," Mrs. Weiss mouthed to him and, filled with trepidation, he stood and left the class, wondering what on earth he could be in trouble for. He didn't remember breaking any rules. He arrived at the office to find his Aunt Mary Rose there, crying. His cousin Janie Grey, who was just his age, stood staring at him with her huge, solemn brown eyes.

"Your father has passed on," Aunt Mary rose told him.

"Passed on where?" asked Edward.

"Granny means he died," said Janie.

"Daddy? Dead?" Edward felt as if he'd just been punched in the stomach.

Aunt Mary Rose nodded. "Margery went into his room and couldn't rouse him. She called Isabella, and Isabella called the coroner." Margery was Henry's maid, and Isabella was his nurse.

"But why did he die?" Edward felt tears fill his eyes, and he had to choke back a sob.

"You know he'd been sick for awhile, dear." Aunt Mary Rose's voice was soothing. "I guess the Lord just decided it was time to call him home."

"But I don't want him to be dead!" Edward sobbed.

"Don't cry, Eddie." Janie reached for his hand. "Granny says you're spending the night with us tonight. Mom's making fish and chips, and you know she always makes a lot."

Hot, salty tears streamed down Edward's cheeks.

"Now I don't have anybody!" he wailed.

"You have us," Janie reminded him. He managed a weak smile. She'd always been his favorite cousin.

"You'll never believe this." The Bourbons were sitting at the breakfast table, and Louis was perusing the obituaries.

"What?" asked Anne, pouring a cup of juice for her son, Andy. His full name was Andrew George Bourbon, and he was a year and a half younger than Beth.

"Henry's dead," Louis told his wife.

"What?" Startled, Anne dropped the carton, and orange juice flowed like a river all over the kitchen floor.

"Oh, no!" She snatched the carton and slammed it down on the counter, then dashed to the linen closet for a towel.

Beth grimaced. "What a mess!"

"Why don't you help your Mom clean it up?" Louis's eyes were still glued to the newspaper.

"OK, Daddy." Beth ran after her mother, and Andy followed. The three of them had the mess cleaned up within minutes.

"Now, what were you saying?" Anne walked up behind Louis and tried to read the newspaper over his shoulder.

"Henry's dead," Louis repeated. "Funeral's the day after tomorrow."

"I don't believe it!" Anne sank into the chair beside her husband. "Does it say what happened?"

"It just says after a lengthy illness."

Anne had to read the obituary for herself before she could believe it was really true.

"My God," she said softly. "I never thought it would happen."

"Are you going to the funeral?" asked Louis.

"Only if you go with me."

"Of course I will."

Maria and Philip were in the living room, playing with their two-year-old identical twin daughters, Elena and Elisa, when the telephone rang. Maria answered it, then turned pale.

"My father's dead," she said, in response to her husband's questioning look. She gently sat the receiver back into its cradle as her eyes filled with tears. Philip went to her and embraced her.

They stood like that for awhile, Maria sobbing while Philip patted her back, murmuring comforting words.

After awhile, Maria felt a gentle tug on the hem of her dress and looked down into the soft blue eyes of Elena, the more sensitive of the twins.

"Mommy sad?"

"Yes, Mommy's sad." Maria picked the little girl up and held her tight, inhaling the fresh, clean scent of her soft hair. "God has called your American grandfather to heaven."

Elisa was clamoring to be held too, so Maria picked her up with her free hand.

For the next half hour or so, the couple were busy letting Philip's family know what had happened and making travel arrangements. They took the girls to Philip's parent's house on the way to the airport.

"Mama and Papa have to go away for a little while," Maria explained. "You're going to stay with Oma and Opa until we get back."

Robert and Elisabeth were waiting for them at the door.

"I'm so sorry, dear," Elisabeth said as she embraced her daughter-in-law.

Philip and Maria said goodbye to the twins with many hugs and kisses, then drove to the airport.

Solemn organ music played as Anne entered the chapel on the arm of her husband. In spite of everything, she couldn't help wincing just a little when she saw the huge, ornate casket at the front. Although not easily spooked, she found its presence unsettling. She saw Maria standing with Philip, her face red with sobbing. Anne went to her and embraced her.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"Thank you," Maria whispered back.

Charles stood near them, Anna at his side. Most of the Seymours were there, and Anne was surprised to see that even Catalina had shown up. I can't believe it, after the way he treated some of these people, Anne thought to herself.

Everyone found seats, and then the minister started the eulogy.

"We are all here to honor the memory of Henry Tudor," he began. "He leaves to mourn his loss his children, Maria and Edward, his sisters, Margaret and Mary Rose, and many nieces and nephews."

He went on to talk about Henry's business successes and what a good father he'd been. His previous marriages weren't mentioned, of course.

Anne and Louis attended the graveside service along with the others, then picked up Beth and Andy at the Boleyns.

"It's such a sunny day, why don't we go to the park before heading home," Louis suggested.

"But it's freezing!" Anne protested.

"We're all wearing warm coats." His eyes pleaded with her, so of course she couldn't refuse him.

Beth and Andy ran off to play, and Louis smiled as he took his wife's hand and led her to a bench. They sat there for awhile, watching the sun make patterns on the leaves, listening to the joyful shouting of the children, huddling together when a cold gust of January wind blew through.

"I've been here before, you know," said Louis. It was the closest he'd ever come to telling her about his dream.

"So have I." Her mind returned to her own dream. "But the first time around, we weren't together."

He heard the sadness in her voice, and it touched his heart.

"I'm so glad things are different this time around." He smiled as he gazed tenderly into her eyes, and then they kissed.

This time around is so much better, Anne thought to herself. This time around, I have Louis.