Chapter 61

The funeral,

despite the circumstance being her mother's death, was a happy one.

The death was easier accepted by all , knowing that Alessandra's mother had been ready to leave

the world they inhabited, and move on.

When it was over,

everyone spoke of plans to return to their normal lives. Edward's

father and mother moved back to their estate immediately, leaving

only Alessandra's family in the home. Once again, she found herself

walking with her brother.

"I have asked Father to

come and stay with us for a time, but he refuses and says he must

get back to his home," Nicholas was saying with the sound of dismay

in his voice. "I worry about him."

"Yes, but his life is there,"

Alessandra said. "Perhaps getting back into his normal daily

routine is something that he needs. I will suggest Edward and I

stay there with him for a while, and see how he takes to that

idea."

Suddenly Nicholas stopped and

turned to his sister, taking her hands in his.

"Thank you

again for this, Alessandra. You have a good

heart , and we do not see

enough of one another. If anything has come from Mother's passing,

it has made me realise that I need to work harder to see family -

you and Father. We must make more of an effort, no matter what

fills our daily lives."

"I agree, Brother. Perhaps I

shall make this our family holiday home," she said, smiling as she

waved her hands around to indicate she meant the estate they were

on. "It is a good, central location for all of us, is it not, for

such an event?"

"It is indeed," Nicholas

replied. "Although it still surprises me that Tom left it to you,

one cannot argue that it is an outstanding property. We shall be

glad to come to stay here whenever you invite us."

"I must decide what I am

going to do with it in the long run, but for now I shall keep it.

It now holds some memories for me, of Mother…"

Alessandra started to cry

once more, and soon found herself enveloped in her brother's arms,

for the first time in her life. She then realised that she was not

the only one crying.

~~~~~

"Father, are you sure you will

not come with us?" Nicholas asked his father as he and his family

readied themselves to return to their home.

Alessandra saw her father shake

his head and put on a brave smile.

"Thank you, my son, but I shall

return to my home. I have much to do there."

Edward watched the family as

they started to disassemble. Nicholas, Victoria and their children

disappeared down the road to leave only Edward, Alessandra, her

father, Margaret and Elizabeth.

"Edward and I will travel with

you, Father, and stay with you tonight, if you have no objection.

It will make our journey home vastly easier if you agree to it,"

Alessandra said to her father. It was her way of trying to insert

herself into his presence in his home, whilst making it sound like

he would be doing her the favour.

"Of course. You are all

welcome to stay as long as you like," he said, looking around the

views once more. "It is a lovely estate, Alessandra. I believe,

from what the staff have told me, that it was unloved for a long

time. If that is true, perhaps it was always meant to come into

your hands. You will love it as it should be loved, I have no

doubt."

After they walked around,

talking to the staff and ensuring everything was in place for the

house to be empty for the undefined future, the five of them

travelled back to Alessandra's parents' house once more.

~~~~~

Upon walking into her parents'

home, Alessandra immediately felt the absence of her mother.

Looking at her father, she could see that he was similarly

affected. June, the housekeeper, greeted them sadly, having been an

assistant of one kind or another to Alessandra's mother since they

had both been young women.

Alessandra requested tea

be brought into the drawing room, while she settled her father to

help him relax. When he did so, he started to talk about his wife

and their life together, right from when they had first laid eyes

on each other. Alessandra, Edward, Margaret and June, all sat down

and listened to the stories he told over much of the afternoon.

Alessandra wondered if such an action might hurt him more, but the

more he spoke, the more he started to smile. She could see that he

had found his way of starting to heal.

Edward watched his wife.

He felt sadness for her loss, but admired how she seemed determined

to place focus on her father. The more Edward saw what was going on

around him, the more eager he found himself to get home and be

around his own parents. He found himself conflicted.

As if sensing his

internal dilemma, Alessandra turned to him, smiled, and took his

hand, which she raised and kissed. He saw something in her eyes

that he had not seen in recent times, understandably so with all

that had been happening. Regardless, they sat quietly and listened

and listened, until her father seemed to run out of stories to

tell.

"I shall go to bed now, as I am

feeling quite tired," her father said. "You are welcome to stay as

long as you wish to, Alessandra. I am very glad to have you all

here," he continued before kissing her on the forehead and leaving

the room.

Shortly afterward, Margaret

left with Elizabeth. Edward and Alessandra remained in the drawing

room, staring at the fire as the two of them held each other.

"You are distant today, Edward.

What is on your mind?" Alessandra asked.

"My parents," he replied. "I am

aware now that my time with them is possibly short, also."

"Would you like to return

to your home? I do not wish to leave Father yet, but I do not mind

if you need to return to your mother and father. I can follow at a

later time," Alessandra said.

Edward kissed her softly.

"No, my love. I thank you but I do not wish to be apart from you.

Your father needs us for the moment. I can provide him with support

in anything he needs help with. I would rather be here than there

for now."

"Thank you," Alessandra replied

and kissed him. For a moment they looked at each other before

kissing again, whilst trying not to get passionate due to where

they were.

"We need to stop, my beautiful

wife. Oh, how I long for you, but not here," Edward said to her

with his voice deep and quiet.

"When we get home," Alessandra

said quietly, without needing to finish the sentence.

He smiled softly at her. "When

we get home."