Chapter 25 Home At Last

• After her parents hugged her again and after sharing more hugs and tears with most of her siblings, she noted that two of her brothers were somewhat distant. She figured they were mad at her, maybe because she didn't return after twenty-three years, and only now came because her parents had to send for her. Granted, she could've come home many times, but she thought her family didn't need or want her back. Gabriel stood back, giving her space to be with her family. Caelan couldn't let his daughter go, for it had been too long since he held his little girl, even if she was so tiny. His face and heart displayed relief and gratitude, though Caelan couldn't find the words. Everyone in the room knew that a father's love was strong without words ever being said.
• Gabriel could see the family was different now that they all stood together, even if the two oldest sons were not as happy as the others. Gabriel remembered Vera's words from her vision, which had been some time ago. She stated that while the family was torn apart, they were not at their strongest, for there were forces out there that wanted the family to be divided against itself. Though he hardly ever spoke to Vera during the first few years he was trying to get over Natalya, he couldn't help but think about being away from Natalya, and he, too, wasn't entirely himself. There was a time when he had no reason to speak to anyone, for his heart had been broken into so many pieces. It was Vera who had reached out to him, telling him that their mother was just worried about Natalya getting hurt because Natalya's future wasn't easily explained. Each of the siblings' futures were seen all but Natalya. Something unseen was around the corner, and she didn't want her daughter to be left holding nothing but broken pieces, or worse, they would have nothing left of Natalya to prove she had ever been born. Vera had reasoned with Gabriel not to lose sight of Natalya, that everything would fall into place. Even now, as the family was together, he could see to some point why Vera had told him that her family being separated would be the death of them, that they were stronger as a family for whatever came their way. Vera had never said what kind of danger the family was in; she didn't go into details, but her silence spoke for her, for there was something that was tearing the family apart to break them and then kill the line.
• He wished he could do something for Natalya, save her from whatever was trying to harm her. Seeing her now, smiling and being with her family, he would never have guessed that she was the same woman he had encountered the other day. She looked over at him; her molten honey eyes caught his attention, and then he saw her mouth saying thank you to him. He knew in his heart that once she was home, she would see that she was essential and had been significantly missed. He hoped that because he thought if she had a chance to love her family, she would want him to be part of her, too.