Page 76 of He Will Always Love Me

CHAPTER 40

LIBBY

“Isee the shuttle!”

Turning around, I step closer to the edge of the balcony to see where my daughter Lea is pointing. A smile forms on my face when I see the shuttle she’s pointing at.

They’re home. My children are home.

Lea is all but bouncing. “Can we go meet them?”

I laugh. “Of course we can! Just don’t get too close until they’ve landed.”

“I know, I know. We do this every year.” And then she’s off, rushing down the stairs and racing towards the shuttle.

At least she didn’t jump off the balcony and fly there. I think to myself.

The first time that Sarai had done something like that, it had nearly given me a heart attack. Logically, I knew they could fly just fine and weren’t as breakable as humans. But the mom in me absolutely panicked at seeing her baby suddenly launching themselves off a flight of stairs.

Once I had sufficiently calmed down and made Sarai promise to never do something like that without warning me, Hyx had a good laugh. “They’re all going to do that.”

From then on out, it had been a house rule to not jump off high places. Most of my children had listened to that rule.

For a long time, I was so worried about my kids flying around the property. It almost knocked me over when they began flying the nest, though.

Somewhere in my heart, I knew not all of them would want to stay here. As much as it was a place of rest for me, they hadn’t had the chance to experience life beyond Jwoon III. And so, as much as it hurt, I let them go and hoped they returned safely.

We’d raised our kids to be strong, and they prevailed. They’d become explorers, scientists, doctors, teachers, mothers, fathers, and so many other wonderful things. As a mother, I couldn’t hope for more.

Well, maybe except to see them come home every now and then. And thankfully, they did. Some came back more than others, but they all came at least once a year. On the anniversary of the day we were given this safe haven and left here in peace.

We call it Gathering Day.

I walk quickly to try and keep up with Lea and reach the shuttle. As we walk, I look around and take in our growing home.

More houses had been built up as the children had gotten older. Some of them had decided to come home for good, while others only stopped by.

There were also other structures like the dining hall and schoolhouse and communications tower. That last one had been built by Osian and I to better reach our family wherever they may be in the galaxy.

The landing pads and small shuttles had been another great feat of ours. Raylia had recruited some of her friends to come back with her and help us build it all. We really looked like a cozy port town now. It might sound like a lot, but with our Ishani lifespan, we have time to accomplish great things.

“Come on, Mom. Everybody’s already there!” Lea shouts.

It’s true. Most of the family is already gathering around, with Sarai at the front shouting out instructions. Though Hyx and I will always be the patriarch and matriarch of our little paradise, Sarai handles most of the day-to-day leadership by this point.

When there is a problem, Sarai has a solution. When there is a squabble amongst siblings, Sarai sorts them out. When we need supplies from somewhere else in the galaxy, Sarai makes some calls.

Lea and I reach the landing pad just as the shuttle touches down. It is one of Kai’s ships, one he always uses to take the family back home for Gathering Day. He owns a whole fleet of shuttles and has made a small fortune for himself hauling cargo.

The ramp opens, and my children start coming off the shuttle one by one. And some of them even hold their own children in their arms or by the hand.

Grandchildren. I have grandchildren. I think in awe. How many lifetimes had I dreamed of having something so wonderful?

We all rush to greet each other in a flurry of hugs and shouts of greetings. I squeeze all my children and son-in-law’s and daughter-in-law’s and grandchildren tightly as I can, savoring every second.

As much as I hate seeing my children leave me, I’m so glad so many of them have found their fated mates. Seeing them as happy as I am always brings me joy. And, of course, it means more grandkids for me to spoil.

And it’s not all just family that my children bring home. Sometimes it’s friends, too.

---