I heard his car pull up. Arthur looked up from the book he was reading to Aubrey and we all smiled.
“Daddy’s home!” She hopped down off his lap and ran for the door, swinging it wide open before David had even made it to the step. “Daddy. Come see who’s here.”
David laughed, taking her hand. “I know already, Aubrey. Mommy tells me you’re a very clever little girl.”
“I am,” she said with a big nod. “I can make dead people alive again.”
David laughed, stopping on the tiles as he looked across the room and saw his uncle. Cal came bounding up behind him and his eyes lit up.
“Well, if it isn’t the man himself,” Cal said, pushing past David and moving swiftly across the room. He put his hand out to shake, but Arthur stood instead and embraced his long-lost family member.
“I’ve been watching over you, Callum,” Arthur said. “I’m glad we could finally meet.”
Cal leaned back, shaking his head as he looked over every inch of Arthur’s face. “I don’t know what to call you, like… do I call you Grandfather or—”
“Arthur will do. Uncle Arthur if you prefer.”
“But you’re not my uncle.”
“And yet I hear you are more like a brother to David and Jason than a cousin.”
Cal nodded, looking back at David with an expectant smile. “We gotta call Jason, man.”
“I’ll do that,” I said, sweeping my phone off the coffee table. David still hadn’t moved, even as I reached the stairs; he just couldn’t shift himself. As much as I wanted to go upstairs and call Jason—deliver the good news—the bigger part of me wanted to see David hold his beloved uncle again for the first time in almost three decades.
Arthur, realizing David couldn’t bring himself to do anything harder than breathing, walked slowly over to him, smiling. “Son.”
“Arthur,” David choked out. “I…”
“Say nothing.” Arthur hugged him, no back patting or awkward man grunting—just a strong, loving embrace. “No words need to be said. I am just grateful to be back.”
“And what of Arietta?” David said sadly. “You wanted to die without her. And your daughter?”
Arthur took a long, deep breath.
Aubrey hopped up beside him and tugged his sleeve. “I can bring them back.”
“Thank you, Aubrey, but you mother said you c—”
“No it’s okay,” I said from the top of the stairs. “If she can find them, she can bring them back.”
David was overcome then. I knew how much that would mean to him—to see his aunt again—to bury all the regrets he’d carried his entire human and immortal life. He covered his mouth with a fist, his throat making an odd noise.
“How do I find them?” Aubrey asked.
“We can ask Aunt Ali,” Elora said, moving her away from the men. “She knows how to summon spirits on the other side.”
Arthur looked as floored as David. All he ever wanted was a human life, with his beloved Arietta and their child. Now, by what could only be called a miracle, it was possible.
I turned away and left them to it, dialing Jason’s number.
“Jase?” I said when he picked up.
“We know,” he said in an urgent voice. “We’re packing now. We’re on our way.”
“How did you…?”
“Lily had a vision. And she said not to—”
“Ara.” Lily took the phone. “You needn’t worry. I saw it.”
“Saw what?”
“Morgana will bring her mother back—in ten years—but we will all be there with Aubrey when she does.”
“And is… is it bad?”
Lily laughed. “Goodness, no. Without her powers, Anandene was never a threat. I cannot say it will all be roses for Morgana; she will find that this woman she placed on a pedestal is more of a disappointment to her than she imagined, but there will be no trouble for any of us.”
“So stop worrying,” I heard Jason call from the background.
I laughed. “And how did Jason take the news? Was he excited about Arthur?”
“He saw the vision occur in my head as it happened,” Lily said with a laugh. “He was speechless for a full two minutes.” That pretty much described David’s reaction, too. “And then he just cried,” she added. “I never fully understood how much he missed his uncle until that moment.”
“Aw, poor Jase.”
“I’m okay, Ara,” he called again. “Just excited to get there and see him.”
“And I imagine we’ll be staying for quite some time,” Lily said, “based on how big our suitcases are.”
I laughed again. “Well, as always, you’re all very welcome here. I’ll get your rooms ready. And you’re bringing the kids, right? I haven’t even met Princess Rose yet.”
“Of course we are.”
“Yay.” I jumped on the spot. “I’ll see you in a few days then.”
“See you then.”
She hung up the phone and I snuck back out to the top of the stairs to watch, just as Mike arrived. Even he was overcome when he saw Arthur standing there, alive. It took me back to what seemed like simpler times, even though they were harder and more regretful, but I quickly moved on in thought to seven years ago, when Aubrey came into our lives. I never thought I could feel so complete, but it turned out that, while life had a funny way of doing harm, it could also do unbelievable and unimaginable good.
I walked down the stairs and joined my family, giving David the good news about Lily’s visions, and though I couldn’t see the exact future that lay before us, I could see it shining brightly for us all—finally together. Finally free. Finally happy ever after.