I should have realized that they’d be here, he thought as he stood rooted to the spot. It never even occurred to me. Yet here they are, my parents, my mother and father…
He smiled widely and gratefully, looking them both in the eyes. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you both again,” he said quietly.
“Lucien,” his mother replied, “I thought… well, I never imagined I’d see you again, even before you went missing.” She walked over to him slowly, looking up to his face. “You were always so busy.”
“Mom,” he said, “I want to apologize. There are so many things I regret now, not the least of which was shunning the ones who loved me most for my own selfish desires. I have changed, and I never intend to be that way again.”
She smiled, choking back a sob. “That’s good to hear,” she replied. Hesitatingly and awkwardly, she held out her arms to Era. In return, he wrapped her in a warm embrace.
“My baby, don’t you ever go away on me again,” she said as they gently swayed in their hug. “I don’t regret anything as much as I regret sending you to that horrible school. It took you away and turned my sweet little boy into a man I didn’t recognize until now.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m here now. I don’t hold any ill will towards either of you. I love you both so much… and you wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through to find you again.”
“Sweetie, we were always right here,” she said, finally pulling away. “We’d never go anywhere on you.”
He smiled. “I understand. I have quite the story to tell, though, when we have the time.”
“Apparently so,” his father said in a deep, unnerving voice. “There are rumors abound that you were connected with your sister’s death.”
“Owen!” his mother protested. “We see our only son for the first time in ages, and you immediately start with the accusations!?”
“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important, Daniella,” he said gruffly.
“You’re just unbelievable,” she snapped. “How dare you—”
“Mother!” Era interjected quickly. “What he says is true. I did… have a connection to her death.”
Shocked, she looked back up to him. “What connection? What happened?”
“I’ll explain everything,” he promised, “but not until we get somewhere away from prying ears.”
“Then right after the service is over, we’ll go home,” she assured him, “and we’ll clear all this up over a hot meal.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Era sat in silence before his parents, his story told and his anxiety building as the moments passed without words. Gabriel accompanied him, sitting on his right side for support.
Daniella sat with her eyes down and her hands in her lap, contemplating all that she had just heard, while her husband sat straight, tall, and emotionless at her side. After what felt like an eternity, she looked up, locking eyes with Era.
“Lucien,” she said, “you’ve been through a great deal these past months.”
He nodded. “I will understand if you don’t believe even half of what I told you, mother.”
“No,” she said with a smile, “I believe you. And I also don’t blame you for… for what happened to Crisilla.” Her voice cracked slightly.
He looked at her with incredulity that melted into gratitude, reaching out and grasping her waiting hand. “Thank you, mother,” he said quietly, “thank you so much.”
“It’s alright, honey,” she said, smiling. “I’m glad to have the full story now as well, on both you and her.”
Era stood up and walked over to where she sat, wrapping his arms around her. “I love you, Mom.”
She choked back a sob. “You haven’t said that to me since you were a little boy.”
“I mean it, too.”
She grinned broadly, tears in her eyes. “I love you too, Lucien.”
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