Page 252 of The Seven Rings
“This is your house, all of you, all or anyone who’s stayed and wants to stay, for as long as you want.”
“We knew you’d say that, but we wanted to ask. You should start with Astrid this time, okay?”
With a nod, Sonya walked down to Astrid, held out her hands. “Take yours.”
Astrid slipped it off Sonya’s finger, onto her own. “Thank you. Grief is over, and Collin waits for me in the manor.”
She walked through the open doors.
Sonya held out her hands to Catherine.
“No one waits for me, but this has always been my home.”
“It always will be,” Sonya told her as Catherine put on her ring.
“I had strong, beautiful babies.” Marianne slipped on her ring.“Hugh and I had a strong and beautiful love. We’ll be happy here again.”
Agatha took her ring. “I was to be mistress here, and that was taken from me.”
“You’re welcome here as long as you like.”
With a regal nod, Agatha walked into the manor.
“I can’t have Edward, but I want to stay, at least for a while.” Lisbeth took her ring, admired it, then slipped it on. “I was really happy here.”
“I’m glad.”
Sonya stopped at Clover, and this time took the twined heart ring off, put it on Clover’s finger herself. “My favorite of the seven.”
“Aw. It’s really sweet, isn’t it? So’s my Charlie. I really love you, Sonya. Now I’m going to go kiss Charlie until his eyes roll back!”
She raced to the house, and shouting for Charlie, ran in.
And Johanna smiled. “She helped me through the first terrible fears and grief. And then you.” She took both Sonya’s hands, then looked past her to where the others waited. “All of you.”
She took her ring.
“Because of all of you, I’m the last who’ll know those terrible fears and grief. Thank you.”
She kissed Sonya’s cheek, then walked into the manor.
Trey bolted forward when Sonya swayed.
“Whoa. I’m okay, just… The rings, they really packed a punch. All gone now. Except mine.”
“And you’re chilled again. Let’s go in.”
“Yeah. Who’s for breakfast?”
“Owen.” Cleo laughed, linked her arm through his. “Only you.”
“Actually, I could eat. I’m empty,” Sonya admitted. “Eat, sleep for thirty or forty hours, hope it seems real after that.”
“It’s real,” Trey assured her. “Nothing’s left of her, not even back where she started.”
“I know it, I saw it, I feel it. But before we do anything else?”
“The Gold Room.” Cleo looked at the stairs as they went inside. “I feel the same way.”
