Page 7 of Meet Me in the Stars

“Don’t use that word. What were you supposed to believe? Can we talk about this after the video? I don’t want to miss anything.”

“Sure,” Duke said.

Lotus was glancing at her lap again when the family link fell quiet.

“Lee Knight-Hemlock, I leave you all my Grim Howler’s memorabilia. I would say to share with your brother, but since he’s mated to one of them, he can get his own,” she smirked at the camera and both brothers laughed behind us. “I also leave verbal and written consent for you to access my medical files from birth to death to an autopsy, if there is one. Anything that will help future research you may have. I’ve spoken with my father and while he is still alive, I’ve practically begged him to do the same. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t let Relik tell you and Bane that it was me that was sick.

“Remember, even when you think something is impossible, someone will always be there to help. Never lose your faith again, Lee Knight-Hemlock. You’re one of the bravest people I’ve ever known.”

“Blake Knight-Hemlock, I leave you every sketch of yours I ever stole from your notebooks because I thought they were cool,” she laughed. “I leave you my copy of the family painting from when Duke was seven and we somehow managed to get him to sit still long enough for it. Unfortunately, I also leave you my husband and egg brats to guide through this mess. We’ve co-parented together for a long time and there’s no one else I’d trust with them the way I trust you. I leave you and your brother various other accounts and personal affects, but that will be handled by my lawyer at a later date. Mostly, I leave you both my love and what’s left of my courage. Thank you both for sharing with me what you knew about the Other World over the years. You’ve made this so much easier without ever knowing it.”

Another sob came from behind us, and Jonah slipped out of his chair to go to his mate. I tightened my grip on Duke’s hand so he knew he wasn’t alone even if Jonah wasn’t sitting beside him at the moment.

“Zoey Hemlock,” Lotus flashed a sad smile on the screen, “you’re not there are you? I know you’re not. I know you, sis. You’re at home screaming, wailing, and howling. I’m so sorry, sis. Someone will get a copy of this to you when you can handle it. I’m so sorry to leave you. I’m so sorry that I’ll never be there when you and Xander marry Hattie, because I know you will. I’m so fucking sorry, sis. Save me a seat anyway. Maybe there’s some pass I can get in Other World to visit for the wedding.”

On screen, Lotus wiped her eyes and I tried again to swallow down the stuck in place fire ball.

“There’s other stuff too. So much of it. The attorney will handle that. I love you sis. I love you so much.”

She was right. Zoey wasn’t here. She was at home, a hot mess, who couldn’t pull it together. I didn’t blame her one bit. I barely got it together to be here. Earlier in the day, I overheard Jonah saying they hoped to come in for the funeral. I hoped to high Frost she made it because the woman would never forgive herself if she didn’t.

“Oh, my babies,” Lotus said a second later, her gaze turning intense. “My little egg brats.”

A sob ripped from Teddy, and I flinched. When I recovered a second later, I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and scooted in close. I missed a few lines of what Lotus said, but we could watch it again later when everything and everyone wasn’t so raw.

“It’s gonna be okay, kiddo,” I whispered to him. “We’ll figure this out.”

He nodded, still crying. I tried to swallow down the fire ball again. Part of me wanted to stand up and demand whoever had the remote pause the video, but then it stopped. I glanced around to see the remote in my father-in-law’s age-marked hand. He leaned heavily on his cane and squinted at the remote.

“How do I rewind?” he asked, his voice sounding so far away.

“I got it,” Jonah said. “Let’s give everyone a minute.”

Jonah sprinted across the room to help the elder Cromwell back to his seat. Duke stood up and rounded to Teddy’s other side to hug him. Over my shoulder Sequin and Daliah looked like glass.

“You okay?” I mouthed in their direction.

Daliah didn’t move, but Sequin nodded, holding tight to his sister’s hand. Even Old Man Cromwell had given up any illusion of poise. He held onto his wife with shaking hands and whispered about how a parent should never have to put a child into the grave.

It took a few minutes for Teddy to gather himself up, but no one tried to rush him. I would’ve burnt them down to the ground, if they tried. My dragon was dozing, but his fire blazed brighter and hotter with each passing second. Maybe my ancestors scorched villages to the ground because otherwise the fire of grief would’ve eaten them up from the inside out.

“My babies,” Lotus said again. “My little egg brats. Quit giving your eldest brother dirty looks, you two.”

Sequin and Daliah squirmed low in their seats behind us, but everyone else chuckled. She knew her kids well.

“You two can be sad too. You’re allowed. If you asked me, all this poise and illusion came from when we tried to blend in with human governments. So, as your mother, the last bossy thing I’ll say to you, Sequin and Daliah, is to run wild. No more poise. No more grace. No more worrying about what grandparents will think. Run wild and feel everything you can. That’s what we’re born to do. I’d tell you that, Teddy, but I think like your father, you can’t not feel a lot of the times. That’s not always a bad thing, either. If more people thought with their hearts than their wallets, things would be better. I keep thinking about all the things I’ll miss – true-mate meetings, grandbabies, if you have them, so many things. So, take lots of photos, because I’m coming back. I’m so coming back. I mean it! And you too Duke! Hell, Travis? Millie? Are you there?”

They weren’t.

“Someone tell them that’s what they can record now,” Lotus said on the screen and everyone laughed.

I hugged Teddy and Duke closer to me. Jonah stood at the side of the screen, remote in hand ready to pause for another breakdown in any direction.

“You four – be happy. I love you and the world is so different now than when I was younger. Just be happy. Don’t run around trying to make anyone proud. Be happy and we’ll be proud of that.”

The screen cut and when the picture came back into focus, she was wearing a green sundress.

“Had to take a break yesterday. Freddie, you came home early. That’s always a nice surprise, but now I have to remember where I left off,” she laughed. “I just don’t want you to know I’m working on this. It feels so final. It is so final, but I have to leave something. I have to try to answer all the questions and give all the love I can. I don’t know how long these words will have to last you all. I hope I can say enough. I hope I can give enough. I hope it’s all enough when I’m gone. I’ve read so much about the Other World. We all know it’s real. I’ve read so many accounts of doors showing up. I’m not afraid of what’s over there. I’m afraid I didn’t leave you all with enough to be okay.”

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