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“It’s so good to be home,” smiled Alice. “Even without the boys.”

“I know what you mean,” laughed Deanna. “I didn’t realize how much I was already thinking of this as my home. I was here so much as a child. Then, as a teenager, I guess I always felt a particular affinity to the land and the people here.”

“That’s usually how it works,” smiled Alice. They were all seated in the grove as dinner was being served. The beautiful spring evening was warm and bright, no signs of the heavy summer rains yet to come.

Seated around them were many of the other women whom Deanna would rely on in the coming months and years as they grew together. Clark, Amy, Ellie, Elena, Daphne, Emelia, Maddie, Nell, Macie, Khloe, Jill, and Katelyn were all around the same age as Deanna. She knew some of them because they were raised at Belle Fleur. Others she was getting to know quickly.

“Hi,” said Stephanie. “Are the guys back yet?”

“No, not yet, honey,” said Annie. “They’re still trying to figure some things out in Coronado. Would you like to join us for dinner?” Annie could see that Stephanie was struggling with the idea of sitting down for a meal with them all. She bit her lower lip and looked away, then back at the tables.

“No. No, that’s alright. I have some things I need to do. I need to think – I need to think about some things,” she said with a sad expression.

“Stephanie, don’t do anything just yet, sweetie,” said Alice. She noticed that Marilisa was standing behind her and tilted her head to see her better. “You too, young lady. Don’t do anything just yet. Men are stubborn and hardheaded. They’ll come around.”

“But I might not,” whispered Stephanie. Annie and Alice looked at one another, then at the other young women as Stephanie and Marilisa walked away.

“Damn. You call our sons,” said Annie. “I’ll go speak with them.” Alice nodded, leaving the women to eat their meal.

“How are you feeling, Dee? Better?” asked Maddie.

“Much,” she smiled. “I’m sorry I left so suddenly and didn’t tell you all. I was feeling terrible and just couldn’t face everyone.”

“It’s understandable,” said Clark. “You were attacked, injured, in pain, and I would suspect a sprinkle of confusion about Pax.”

“I was never confused about Pax,” she smiled. “I’ve always known that I loved him and that if we didn’t end up together, I would be alone forever. That’s how strongly I felt. I was confused about my parents and what they did. I’m learning to forgive them and, hopefully, move on from that. I know they didn’t mean to put me in harm’s way, but they also didn’t trust me as their daughter and professional.”

“Parents will always see their children as little children,” said Daphne. “It’s hard to flip hats and think of kids as adults. Sometimes adults with their own children, or even grandchildren.”

“Truth,” smirked Antoine, walking by the table. The women laughed, and Deanna called out to him.

“Mr. Antoine?”

“Ouch,” he said, clutching his chest.

“Oh, come on. You know I only mean that out of respect for you.”

“I know, but it still kills me when a beautiful young woman speaks to me like I’m my father.”

“To her, you are your father,” laughed Clark. He gave a side grin.

“What do you need, honey?” asked Antoine.

“I’m just wondering if all of you took a while to realize that you were in love with your wives?” she asked.

“For me? Yes,” he said honestly. “At least, compared to some of the others. Ella was hurt when we met, along with Ryan. I didn’t want to scare her, and I didn’t want to admit my feelings for her and make her feel as though she owed me something.”

“What changed?” asked Deanna.

“The day we went to officially adopt Gaspar and Alexandra’s kids, Luke, Adam, Ben, Carl, Violet, and Lucy. We were standing in the courtroom and finished their adoption and took a break between Ella’s hearing to officially become the legal guardian for Ryan. My father pulled me aside and reminded me of how foolish I was being.

“He was right. I asked her right then and there to marry me. We walked back in, and the judge married us and gave guardianship to Ella for Ryan. It was the best decision of my life. But fear almost screwed it up for me.”

“Do you think that’s what’s holding Brax and Saint back? Fear?” asked Amy.

“It’s a good bet,” he nodded. “Think about how afraid Marcel was when he realized that you’d brought him to life. You. A single, small woman brought him back to life after two hundred years of death. Can you imagine what that felt like for him?”

“He’s tried to describe it to me,” she said quietly. “The thing is, I didn’t really have a choice. I mean, to fall in love with him, I didn’t have a choice. I knew the moment I saw his face that he was my destiny. He was my world. I’m sure that sounds corny.”

“Not at all,” said Nell. “Even in a moment that I thought was the worst of my life, seeing Sor brought me hope. I couldn’t really explain it to anyone because I thought it would make me look like a loose woman or something. I mean, my husband dumps me for his wife, and we’re thrust together.”

“Because you were supposed to be together,” smiled Claudette, making her rounds to the tables. “Everyone who is here is supposed to be here. It’s the way it’s planned.”

“Planned? By whom?” she asked.

“You never can tell,” smiled Claudette. “Never can tell.” They watched as she giggled like a little schoolgirl, walking away from them.

“What does that mean?” asked Jill.

“No telling,” laughed Deanna. “How about you guys help me redo the cottage? Pax said I could do whatever I want to it, and it’s a bit manly for me.” Macie clapped her hands together, raising them above her head in a cheer.

“Now, that sounds like a plan.”