Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

T he house was quiet, the only sound the crackling of the flames in the fireplace. Yede lay on his side, his body curved protectively around Gemma, her soft breathing steady and reassuring. The sky was beginning to lighten outside the window but it was still early. He had time to watch her sleep, to savor this peaceful moment together.

Or perhaps not. His sensitive hearing picked up the sound of footsteps racing down the hallway.

Liam bounded into the room, practically vibrating with energy. His green eyes sparkled with pure joy, and his hair stuck up in every direction.

“Mama! Daddy! Wake up!” he shouted, bouncing on his toes at the foot of the bed.

He laughed, the sound surprising him—when was the last time he had laughed so freely? This was his family now. His to protect, his to cherish, his to love.

Beside him, Gemma stretched and yawned, her hair a wild tangle around her face. He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers, savoring her sleepy smile. Liam’s high-pitched giggle echoed through the room.

“Presents!” Liam bounced in place, tugging at his arm.

They moved to the living room where wrapped packages waited. Gemma handed Liam her gifts first—a vibrant scarf that matched his bright personality and a hand-illustrated book. Yede watched as Liam’s eyes grew wide at the pictures, seeing himself depicted as the brave hero of the tale.

Then came the moment he’d been anticipating. He retrieved the wooden box he’d crafted, his large hands suddenly feeling clumsy with nervousness. Inside lay the set of tools he’d made—each one sized perfectly for small hands, with smooth, safe edges and sturdy construction.

Liam touched one with a reverent finger.

“Is this so I can help you?”

“Yes, it is.”

Liam bounced happily but it was the mechanical dog that captured his complete attention. Yede had poured his heart into every gear and spring, creating something special for this child who had brought such joy to his life. When he wound it up, the tail wagged in a steady rhythm, and Liam’s face lit up with pure delight.

“It’s amazing!”

Liam clutched the dog to his chest, his green eyes shining with wonder. The fierce hug that followed made his throat tight with emotion.

Gemma’s present was next and he watched her face anxiously as he handed her a small velvet pouch..

“I made this for you,” he said, his voice rougher than usual.

The necklace caught the light as she lifted it free—delicate strands of metal woven together in an intricate pattern that was as strong and delicate as she was.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, touching the pendant with reverent fingers. “Thank you.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” he said gruffly as he fastened it carefully around her neck. The metal settled perfectly against her skin, as if it had always belonged there.

Liam disappeared for a moment, then came rushing back into the room, clutching something behind his back. The boy’s face glowed with excitement.

“I made this for you!” Liam thrust a clay pot towards him, its sides uneven and the rim slightly crooked.

His breath caught in his throat. The weight of the small pot in his hands transported him back through time and space. Another set of small hands, presenting him with a similarly lopsided creation. Davi’s voice echoed in his memory:

“Look what I made for you!”

His fingers traced the bumps and imperfections in Liam’s pot, just as they had done with Davi’s gift that final holiday. The same proud smile, the same eager anticipation of approval. His chest tightened.

“Do you like it?” Liam bounced on his toes, reminding him so much of Davi that it physically hurt.

“I love it,” he managed, his voice thick.

“We can put your tools in it!” Liam said eagerly, pointing at the pot. “See, I made it big enough!”

He nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. He remembered saying almost those exact words to Davi, explaining how he’d use the pot to store his favorite tools. His brother’s gift had been lost with everything else when their home was destroyed.

The memory of Davi’s laughter rang clear in his mind—not shadowed by pain as it usually was, but as bright and pure like the sound of bells. His brother’s face swam before him, not twisted in fear as in his nightmares, but lit with that same proud smile Liam wore now.

The ache in his chest remained, but something else joined it. For the first time, he could remember the joy of that morning—Davi bouncing around their home, barely able to contain his excitement as he presented his gift—without the agony that usually followed it.

He looked at their small family—Gemma’s understanding smile, Liam’s boundless energy—and realized that loving them didn’t diminish his love for those he’d lost. Instead, it honored their memory. His brother would have wanted him to find happiness again.

Liam tugged at his arm, drawing his attention back to the present. “Can we put it in your workshop now?”

“Of course,” he said immediately, his voice still rough with emotion. He stood, keeping the pot carefully cradled in one hand while the other held onto Liam. The weight of his grief had lifted, making room for the joy of the present moment.