Page 486 of Chaos has a Name
Ethan deserved it.
“Maybe we could have the kids make the birdhouses,” Gene offered. “They could be fun colors, and it will make the butterfly garden full of joy. From what you’ve told me about your mom, EJ, she was the kind of person who’d be cheerful and joyous.”
And she would have been.
Elizabeth wiped his cheeks with her thumbs, and Callen moved closer to rest his chin on Ethan’s shoulder.
When Elizabeth’s phone rang and she saw Chris on the screen, the man had perfect timing.
She turned it on so he could see all of them.
The second he did, he looked concerned.
“What happened?” he asked. “Do you need me? I can be there in fifteen minutes.”
Ethan appreciated it, and knew he was talking about him.
“Do you have some time?” Ethan asked.
Chris nodded.
Taking the phone, he turned the camera and showed Chris the space.
“It’s for my mom’s library. We’re going to put windows back there and a butterfly garden. We’re thinking bird houses. What do you think?” Ethan asked, sharing his mother with all of them.
For the longest time, he couldn’t.
Now, he could.
He was home.
“That will be so beautiful,” Chris offered. “Maybe a little water feature with some koi fish. Kids love things like that, and it will bring joy.”
That broke Ethan.
Just not for bad reasons.
“God. I never thought I’d get to this point,” he whispered. “I never thought I’d heal, but I am. Each of you put me back together again in your own way.”
Yeah, and they’d keep doing it.
Forever.
“I love you,” Chris said. “I wish I could have met the woman who raised you, EJ. She did a beautiful job.”
He wished that too.
“Timothy raised me more, mostly.”
Chris shook his head, and when he was focused on him, he was to the point.
“She gave you life. She filled you with love and joy, and she had you for twelve years. Timothy only had you for six. There’s no doubt that under that pain, there’s Catherine’s joy. You should start living it.”
It was so profound.
Because he was right.
“I think I will,” he admitted. “Thank you, Christopher. I love you too. I love all of you.”
