Hello again, sorry for being a little late. There were a few things with this chapter I need to work out.
4 months later
"Evangeline?" Brian mumbled and sipped from his champagne glass as they watched Adaline and her baby from afar. "After Eva?"
Wendy looked at her son; surprised.
They were celebrating Evangeline's baptism. Wendy had become quite known for throwing lavish parties for her grandchildren. It was a fun tradition that started with her own mother-in-law.
Adaline was sitting on a sofa surrounded by their family, friends, and acquaintances. Little Eric was hugging his mother's skirt, very skeptic of his new little cousin.
She smiled at her son. "I did not know you remembered her."
Brian smiled warmly, as little Eric carefully reached out for the baby but quickly retracted his arm as the baby started crying. "Of course, I do. She was Mary and Adaline's imaginary friend, right? We were always playing by the trees while you were having tea."
Wendy smiled. He did not remember.
"What a heartwarming sight." Duke Knightly came up beside them.
"Wallace," She greeted him.
He greeted them by raising his glass.
"I do wish Mary could have been here to celebrate with us. I would have loved to see her son." He said and took a drink from his glass.
"Yes, her son and Evangeline are only a few months apart," Brian said. "Though, perhaps you want to meet him because he was named after you?"
The older man raised his head with pride. "One can only hope to be a good influence on the young."
Wendy smiled, as the little Eric finally had enough courage to touch the little baby's hand.
"Have you gotten any more letters from her?" Brian asked.
Wendy shook her head without taking her eyes off her two grandchildren. "Sadly not…"
Before she could say anymore, they were interrupted by her husband.
"Duke Knightley," He greeted with a nod. "It has been quite a long time. There is actually a business venture with my son-in-law I would like to discuss with you. Brian, come along, this concerns you as well."
Brian smiled boyishly and shook his head. "I will pass on this opportunity. There's something I need to discuss with Mother."
The two older men walked off as they talked about retail business plans.
"Is Father keeping you from contacting Mary?" Brian asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
Wendy smiled and shook her head. "Dearest boy. Your father can do little to keep me from doing anything I want to do."
"Then why have you not written back to her?"
Wendy looked at her son. He seemed so young in that moment. "It would cause a stir with your father, and neither of your sisters deserves to deal with that right now as new mothers."
It was about time she started to prepare for her exit from the baron's family. She wanted to enjoy the last peaceful memories.
2 years later
"See this one goes here and the other one goes here…" Little Eric instructed Evangeline, as they played with blocks.
The little girl clanged two blocks together.
Wendy's smiled.
Adaline turned in her seat. "They play so well together."
"Well, we are raising a gentleman." Catharina smiled behind her teacup.
The family had gathered on the terrace for afternoon tea and a blanket had been spread out for the children to play on.
There was not much talking as the adults mostly watched the two children play, while the sun hung low behind the treetops of the forests, bathing the terrace in an orange light.
"It is a truly wonderful sight to see." Wendy's husband joined in. "To see the family continue."
Everything was going so well. Devin and Adaline's new clothing business was doing well, Brian's work was going well, and Catharina's charities were a success – as well as a great reason to host parties. She and Eric were managing the estate and their social life swimmingly, and their grandchildren were healthy and happy.
It was perfect.
There was a clattering of wood and everyone turned to look at the source of the sound.
"Elias?" Wendy greeted with a warm smile, as the man tried to reach for a big ruler he had dropped on the floor without taking his eyes of her. "Did you come to deliver the newest painting? Why not have a cup of tea with us?"
The man had a confused look on his face as he looked at all of them. "Beautiful," he suddenly said.
"Excuse me?" Brian asked.
That seemed to snap the older man out of it. "I apologize my lords and ladies. It is just the sight of all of you in this tranquil, beautiful sun that … looks quite enchanting."
"Really?" Catharina was the first one to speak up. "Perhaps you should get your easel out and we should have a painting drawing?"
Wendy's smiled as her old friend's eyes lit up at the idea and he scrambled to get his easel. He still went nowhere without it.
His hair was shorter now and had a gray hue to it. There was a spider web of wrinkles across his face. Yet, his eyes still sparkled with amazement when he saw something beautiful.
Their eyes met for a second as he painted the outline of their Prompt-to-painting and his smile did not reach his eyes.
She understood why he was angry. She had told him of her plans to leave years ago and yet she had not left. She had gotten too caught up in happy moments with her family. She had debated these scenarios hundreds of times and she knew that the children would not hold a divorce against her, but it was still a hard step to take, and it would undoubtedly cause discord in the family for some time.
She glanced at Eric as he watched the grandchildren. He looked so content. She smiled. She did not hate him all the time. Many times, she remembered how gentle and warm he could be. And she knew that if they were to divorce, their children would side with her. Eric would be left alone and would probably not see his grandchildren again.
She lifted the teacup so as to not sigh.
The dilemma had circled in her head for the last three years.
She just wanted to enjoy the happy times they still had.
Three days later
She smiled at her work as she knitted the pink yarn together.
Wendy wanted to give each of her grandchildren a blanket she had knitted herself for Christmas, so she was starting early to make sure it was going to be done - especially considering that one of them was going to be shipped overseas.
She had forgotten how much she liked handwork. Whenever a button came undone or clothes were ripped or damaged, the servants took care of it. She had gotten so used to it that her knitting suffered.
Practice makes perfect. Her mother would have said to her. One of these days she would go back to the inn for a visit, she missed her brothers and their families and her mother.
The phone rang.
She did not even react out of habit.
The phone continued to ring. It seems no one was going to take it.
She put her knitting work aside and stood up.
She walked the few steps to the table with the phone and picked up the receiver.
"Yes?" She said.
"Missus Wendy Branigan?" A formal-sounding voice asked from the other end.
"This is she." She said.
"Madam, there has been an accident involving your son and daughter-in-law on the main…" Wendy furrowed her brows as the voice became muddled.
Brian and Catharina had been to a special high society tea that Catharina had organized as part of her charity – they had even taken Eric along as there would be many other children at the event.
"Excuse me what?" She said, not quite understanding what the man on the other end said.
"I am very sorry, Madam, but they have been hurt badly and we need you to come look after your grandson…"
The voice continued on, but she dropped the phone at this point and slowly sank to the floor as her legs failed her. What had happened to her baby?
"Eric!" She yelled as she saw her grandson in the hospital waiting room, where he sat with a nurse and the driver.
One of his arms was bandaged up and his face had a few bandages on it. He looked so small in that big chair.
"Nana!" He cried out to her and jumped into her arms.
She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight as the nurse introduced herself.
"Where are our son and daughter-in-law?" Wendy's husband asked as Catharina's parents came up behind them.
Little Eric started sobbing uncontrollably and Sophia came to stroke his hair.
Wendy and Sophia rocked Eric and could barely hear the nurse's voice over his crying. Brian and Catharina's car had collided with a truck going over the speed limit. The driver was fine, but the back of the car was completely destroyed. "Mr. and Mrs. Branigan are in surgery." The nurse said and smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Wendy pressed the little boy against her chest, as the driver pulled her husband aside; likely to apologize.
Little Eric sobbed that mommy and daddy had screamed and there was a loud bang.
Sophia stroked his hair. "Do not worry dear, it will all be fine."
They had all been sitting in the waiting room for hours.
They had called Adaline and Catharina's siblings and now they were all just waiting.
The little Eric switched laps from time to time, but he didn't make a sound. He just stared into nothingness.
The light in the sign above the surgery room dimmed.
It felt like an eternity before the door opened and a doctor came out. He looked somber.
Sophia ran up to him.
They spoke in hushed voices, but when Sophia fell to the floor they all knew.
Little Eric cried out for his mother, and Wendy could do nothing but hug him.
An hour later, they got the same message from Brian's doctor.
Wendy could not remember anything. Someone put their arms around her.
Her baby. Her raven-haired baby boy, who looked just like his father. He wasn't there anymore.
The next few days.
The funerals have been heart-wrenching. They had arranged them at the same time. Everyone was there. Catharina's family, Adaline and Devin, and her brothers and their family along with her mother.
She held little Eric close to her chest and rocked him as the priest spoke, while the two caskets were lowered into the ground.
He cried and cried and cried. Everyone did. It was a tragedy. They were so young.
There were no words that could comfort that little boy, but she just kept reassuring him that she was always going to be there for him.
Her husband had arranged everything. She was happy he was there. Even in a crisis, he knew exactly what to do.
It had also been arranged that Eric was going to stay with them. Catharina's family was of course welcome anytime, but he would be living at the estate for now - he was the next in line for the Baron's title after all.
The days passed quickly, or not at all, Wendy wasn't completely sure.
She spent most of her time with her little grandson, rocking him while he cried out for his parents. She rocked him until he finally fell asleep from crying and sat with him as he slept. He looked so much like Brian when he was little.
It took about a week before Eric smiled again. He was sitting with Evangeline on the floor and playing with blocks when she suddenly started pulling odd faces at him. He had laughed.
It made Wendy feel relieved.
She could not remember which day, but her husband insisted that the maids took care of little Eric for the night.
She had been reluctant as she followed him to their bedroom.
She barely left the little boy alone and didn't want him to feel abandoned.
As soon as they closed the door behind them, her husband turned to her. "How are you?" He said.
Wendy froze.
The look in Eric's eyes reminded her of when they were young. They were so soft and clear.
She breathed heavily and sobbed.
Eric caught her in his arms before she fell to the floor.
She looked up at him through tears that streamed down her face. He was crying too.
She wrapped her arms around him, and they cried together.
Wendy woke up later in the night and looked over at her husband.
She wondered how many times he had not expressed his emotions. How many times he pushed them down for the betterment of the family…
She kissed him on the forehead. Wrinkles marked his face, and his hair was gray, there were only a few black hairs left in his beard.
Wendy felt so heavy when she got out of bed.
Almost as in a trance, she wandered out of the house and down to the forest.
Greetings… my little lady of the night… The Elven Queen shined in the moonlight.
"Your Majesty…" She breathed.
The cold arms encircled her and pressed her into an embrace. Sorrow seems … to follow you wherever … my little hunter … how I wish … I could take it … away forever…
Wendy felt the tears falling again, but she didn't cry. She couldn't anymore. She had sobbed into her husband's clothes and screamed for her child, but it was like there weren't any cries left.
The Elven Queen wiped a few tears away. They shined in the moonlight.
Even from the deepest sorrow … something beautiful can be born…
Before Wendy could ask her what she meant, she heard another voice.
Mother, I missed you…
Brian stepped out from in between the trees as if he had just been out for an evening walk with his wife.
He smiled warmly and his eyes shined in the light.
"Brian…" she whispered.
Catharina had her arm in his.
Wendy closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around her child.
"I thought I would never see you again." She whispered and took a good look at him.
He still had his boyish smile.
There is no such fear … with me by your side… The Elven Queen smiled. I will do everything … to see your beautiful smile…
Wendy smiled and hugged the two youngsters.
She was happy she could still see them. But she could not tell her grandchild or Catharina's parent about this. Even if they did believe her and came with her to visit them, could she be sure that they would leave with her again? They would want to stay forever. She wanted to stay forever.
I am glad we got to meet you … as well… Catharina's voice sounded like a melody.
Wendy broke up the hug and looked at the young woman. She was breathtakingly beautiful like she was on her wedding day.
Her daughter-in-law took her hands.
We worry for Eric … will you take care of him…?
Wendy smiled and squeezed the gloved hands. "I will be there for as long as he needs me."
I hope that this promise … has lessened every burden… The Elven Queen said, as a thousand fireflies lit up the night. Now let us forget … the sorrow of the night … and toast to the morning…
Wendy smiled as her body began to feel lighter and less stiff. "Thank you, your majesty."
The beautiful and elegant being smiled as she twirled around to the sound of the elven music.
You have freed me from the sorrow time have placed upon me … And showed me great beauty … It is only right I return the favor…
One year later
Evangeline came flying into the room. "Eric!"
The boy looked up from his book and immediately smiled. "Evie!"
No matter what he was doing whenever he saw his little cousin, he would smile.
The cousins hugged.
"Nana, can we go out into the garden?" Eric asked.
Wendy was about to answer when Devin stepped in. "I can watch them well out. I would like to smoke a pipe either way."
Wendy nodded and he left with the children while Adaline sat down for a cup of tea with her.
"He seems to be doing well all things considered," Adaline said, as the maid poured her a cup of tea.
"Indeed," Wendy smiled as she watched the children through a window. "He started attending school and has gotten a lot of friends." She took a drink from her teacup. "And of course, he loves it when Evangeline comes to visit."
Adeline smiled and they watched the children play in the grass for a while.
"It reminds me of when we were little." She said and then looked at her mother. "Have you thought of reaching out to Mary again?"
Wendy sighed. "Your father is very much against it. But she sends me letters from time to time, and I send her letters when I have the time. She was really sad about what happened to Brian and how she wasn't able to come to the funeral."
Adaline shook her head. "I can't understand him. Tragedies like these are meant to bring people together. Doesn't he realize that if he keeps pushing people away, we'll all leave at some point?"
Wendy smiled weakly at her daughter. She had thought the same. "Despite how much the outside world has changed, high society has barely changed since I was young. They value people's families and titles a lot more than others. Mary leaving put a dent in a lot of your father's business relationship and impacted his ability to take care of the family. I suspect he is still angry about it."
Adaline shook her head again. "Sometimes I wish you would leave him, so I didn't have to associate with him…"
Before Wendy could answer, they heard crying from outside.
Adaline instinctively stood up and they headed outside.
Devin had the little girl in his arms and consoled her.
"It's OK." He smiled uneasily. "She just fell."
"Don't cry, Evie," Eric said and tucked at Devin's pant leg. "We must live happy lives so that our parents don't worry and be happy too, though … it's okay to cry when you get hurt."
Wendy patted the little boy's head for his encouragement. "Who taught you that?"
Eric smiled up at her. "Mommy and Daddy."
Wendy furrowed her brows, and she could feel Adaline stiffened beside her. "When did they tell you that, my dear?"
The little boy just continued to smile. "In my dreams."
Two years later
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Wendy smiled.
"I want to hear her kick," Eric said, rather politely.
Adaline obliged him and let him put an ear to her stomach.
"I want too." Evangeline joined in and put her ear on the other side of her mother's stomach.
Adaline smiled and caressed the two children's hair. "I was thinking of Sophie."
"Sophie?" Wendy echoed.
"After Marchioness Kerr," Devin explained with a small smile. "She was kind and considerate of us, like a third mother. Despite us not being related."
Wendy smiled fondly at the thought of her old friend.
Sophia had been elegant and proper, but always kind and considerate of others and she simply adored Evangeline. But she was never the same after the accident. She became a shell of herself. She stopped hosting parties and charities and would often just sit by herself. Wendy understood her pain. Catharina had been the baby of her family. In the end, Sophia had slowly died from a broken heart.
"Grandma." Eric pulled her out of her dim thoughts. "Evie doesn't think it's true that you hunted bears."
She smiled as the two small children looked up at her in anticipation.
"Well, I did not hunt bears, my little one." She said and caressed the boy's face. "I tamed them."
The two children's faces lit up and the thousand questions followed.
"Evie, Eric!" Devin laughed as their questions turned from hunting to dancing in the wild forest with fairies.
"I want a story, Daddy," Evangeline said sternly.
"Come up here, my dear," Wendy said and her granddaughter crawled up on her lap and snuggled into her.
She smiled at her daughter as her grandson tried crawling up on the couch to her too.
"Do you see this?" She asked and pulled her hair away from her ear revealing the golden elven kiss that still had not dimmed after almost 40 years.
"What is it?" Evangeline asked and caressed the mark.
"An elven kiss, my dear. Only The Elven Queen's most beloved friends get one."
The children's eyes shined as she told them stories of her adventures in the forest, even Adaline and Devin listened intently.
In the middle of the story, Wendy looked up at her daughter and son-in-law. This was a nice moment with her grandchildren sitting on her lap and her telling them stories.
"I think Sophie will be a lovely name for your daughter.
Please tell me what you think.
The next chapter will be the last one and it is going to be a little long, so I'm going to take two weeks to publish it.
I hope you all enjoy it :)