Three months later…
“CALLIOPE! XANDER! THEY’RE HERE!” Stella squealed and raced out the door of the house, while Calliope felt unnaturally panicked.
She pressed her palms against her cheeks, tried to will away the warmth even as her chest fluttered. They’d been talking about Xander’s family visiting for months, a visit that had been timed purposely so that Xander’s father could celebrate his sixty-fifth birthday on the coast.
“You need to relax,” Xander swooped in behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Pulling her against him, he nuzzled her neck. “My parents already love you. It’s me they’re not so sure of anymore.”
“Liar,” she said with a laugh. She turned and linked her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. As expected, the apprehension settled the moment her lips found his. A special kind of magic that never ceased to thrill and amaze her.
“I called Abby this morning,” Xander reassured her as he ran his hands down her back. “They’ve got the suite all set for my parents. My siblings can have either a room or a cabin. I’m guessing the Costas contingent will be taking over the majority of the Flutterby Inn for the foreseeable future.”
“Hey! You two going to play kissy-face in here all afternoon or come out and say hi?” Alethea ducked her head in long enough to roll her eyes. “Move it.”
Calliope brushed her lips over his again before she led him outside. The sunshine poured down on them and they watched the two rental cars pull up to the gate. Calliope let out a delighted laugh as the doors opened and Xander’s siblings, niece and now two nephews spilled out.
Organized chaos, she thought, as Alethea escorted a now anxious looking Stella toward the gate. The introductions went quickly, with Stella embraced by her new family. Was there anything more wondrous? The fragment of unease faded and she breathed easier. The anticipation of their arrival had kept her buzzing in the kitchen for days; she’d baked until the oven wept and gathered enough vegetables to feed a dozen Costas families. Tonight’s feast would be held on the patio, beneath the fairy-lit pergola Xander had recently rebuilt with Kendall’s help.
The front passenger door of the SUV opened and Calliope recognized Xander’s brother Antony. He removed a wheelchair from the back and opened it for who must be his father.
“He still looks so frail,” Xander murmured. Calliope leaned into him as he held her close. “I know Mom said he was doing better but—” He trailed off.
“He’ll never be the man he was before the stroke, Xander.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “But he’s here. For you.”
“Doesn’t mean I stop hoping, right?” He looked up at the sky. “Couldn’t have asked for better weather.”
“I ordered it special.” She’d known, of course, that a future with Xander would mean one with his family as well. She hadn’t expected that relationship to begin almost immediately after Xander’s return at Christmas with video chats, phone calls and unending text message streams that threatened to short-circuit her cell phone.
Over the past few months, she’d become a sort of confidante to his sisters and mother, who, only a few days ago, had been concerned about a potential setback for Cyril. But he’d rallied and declared nothing was going to stop him from making this visit.
“Hey, Mom.” Xander grinned at his mother as she hurried over to the porch, bypassed Xander and went straight for Calliope. “Ah, right. Mom, Calliope. Calliope…”
Calliope gasped at the power of his mother’s loving embrace.
“Another daughter,” Helen exclaimed. “I’m so happy. The greatest gift my son could have given me.” She attempted to pull away, but Calliope clung to her, unable to stop the sob that erupted.
“Aw, Mom, look what you did.” Xander tried to pry them apart but both his mother and Calliope pushed him away.
“There now,” Helen whispered as she gently rocked her. “Everything’s okay, now. I’ve got you.”
There was no guilt, Calliope realized with a bit of surprise. No worry that she was somehow betraying the mother who hadn’t been able to be one to her.
Emmaline.
The sadness didn’t descend as fast, nor as hard as it once did. Emmaline was at peace now, having passed away in her sleep just after the New Year. The night before, Stella was able to talk to her through the owls that had visited her in her dreams.
The owls had become hers, Stella declared that next morning, and from that day became their caretaker and guardian.
“I’m sorry.” Calliope sniffed and finally stepped out of Helen’s arms.
“For what?” She touched her hand to Calliope’s face and smiled as only a patient, loving mother could. “Xander.” Helen turned to her son and squeezed the daylights out of him. “I’m sorry we’re a little late. Your father’s having one of his stubborn days.”
“He’s entitled.” Calliope headed over to the group and, after introducing herself in person to Xander’s siblings, focused all her attention on Cyril. “It’s lovely to meet you, finally.” She bent down and clasped his hands between hers. “You have a wonderful son.”
“Beautiful Calliope.” Cyril beamed and held her hand.
“He’s been practicing saying that for weeks,” Dyna said. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you in person, Calliope.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Calliope caught an exchange between Helen and Xander, with Stella joining them on the porch. Stella let out a barely constrained squeal before jumping up and down, clutching Xander’s arm like a life preserver.
“Hmm, I bet they’re up to something,” she said to Cyril who tapped a finger against his nose to tell her she was correct. “Shall we go see what?”
She pulled her hand away and took Antony’s place. She wheeled the chair across the grass to where the family had gathered.
“We’d like to know what’s going on? Stella?” But Xander was the one who stepped forward with an explanation.
“I was planning on doing this tonight, but I don’t want to wait.”
“Wait for what?” Never in her life had Calliope felt as if every single butterfly in her charge had taken up residence inside her.
Stella and Xander’s family formed a semi-circle around them. Alethea had wrapped a sisterly arm around Stella’s shoulders.
“I’ve actually been wanting to do this for a while.” Xander held out his hand and between his thumb and index finger was a stunning, antique diamond and amethyst ring. “It was my grandmother’s,” Xander said.
“My mother’s,” Helen clarified. “Sorry,” she whispered when Xander grinned at her. “Proceed.”
Xander bent down on one knee. His mother and sisters let out a chorus of “aw.” “Will you marry me, Calliope?”
It was as traditional a proposal as anyone could receive, completely opposite to Calliope’s style and yet she couldn’t have imagined a more perfect moment. She nodded, unable to speak.
“He’s going to need a verbal response,” Antony spoke up and earned an elbow in the ribs from his wife.
“Yes,” Calliope whispered, blinking the tears free as she drew Xander to his feet and slipped the ring onto her finger. “Yes, yes, yes!”
She laughed when he picked her up and spun her around. Laughed when he kissed her and hugged her and buried his face in her neck. “I love you,” he murmured against her skin.
“And I love you.”
“What’s happening?” Dyna’s whisper of wonder sent chills racing down Calliope’s arms as she stepped slightly out of Xander’s embrace. Across the field, butterflies dropped from the trees, circling and swirling, cascading down and around, swooping toward the house, encircling the family. Stella and Alethea threw their arms into the air and twirled amidst the flutter of wings. “That’s amazing,” Ophelia laughed as Iris and Jeremy joined in the celebration.
“No,” Xander murmured against Calliope’s lips. “That’s magic. Pure butterfly magic.”
* * * * *