Page 98 of Sharpen Your Claws

Arthur audibly swallowed. “I fear I do not have a say in the child or children we have, my dear.”

“Unfortunately for you.”

“Twins do run on your father’s side of the family. I was always shocked I didn’t have a pair,” said Matilda, taking joy in putting a little fear in her eldest eyes. She considered it payback for the many years her boys caused such a ruckus, although she wouldn’t change any of them for the world.

Richard came in for a hug while Eleanor reassured her sister-in-law, “Oh, I was much bigger than you at this point, Amara. I believe it is safe to assume that you are growing one little baby.”

“Thank you, Eleanor, for apparently being the only one on my side here,” said Arthur, shaking his head.

“Although the babes could be quite small,” Eleanor continued, causing Arthur to grumble about the attacks on him. Richard definitely didnt come to his help. He was having too much fun watching the trouble unfold.

Alice followed her parents to the dining room, where Robert waited to pour drinks. He loved to catch up one on one before dinner, seeing as the table became so full, it was difficult to do so otherwise. Not that any of them complained. Matilda so loved when the family came to visit. The manor had such life about it, constant chatter and laughter in a way she feared they wouldn’t have again. She had, thankfully, been proven entirely wrong, and by the last reasons she would expect.

Next, Charmaine entered arm in arm with Evera, their dresses matching in color but not style. Evera would show more skin if there weren’t children present, and Charmaine preferred bigger skirts for “twirling reasons.” Matilda understood. When she came of age to debut, she wanted a dress with the largest skirt, so when she danced, she would feel like a princess.

In fact, she gave Charmaine a fair few of her older dresses to study and tear apart. She much rather they be put to use and Charmaine created new garments as well as bring new life to what once was out of style. Her work was magnificent to watch on the days she invited Matilda to the shop.

“Welcome, my girls,” said Matilda, her arms open for a hug that both gave. Evera had been hesitant, as were the rest of the Vandervults, all those years ago. It took nearly two years for the fae to be open to any form of endearment from them.

Henry and Arden came next. She wasn’t too close to the peculiar fae that came and went as he pleased. However, Henry took a liking to him since Arden became essentially a Faerie tour guide. He enjoyed going on adventures as much as Henry did. Matilda appreciated a fae kept her boy company when he traveled. She asked once if there was anything between them, to which Henry laughed so hard he snorted. Arden, on the other hand, became so offended that he cursed the flowers in their garden to die. Nicholas fixed them the next day. She didn’t ask for further elaboration.

“I’m so glad the two of you could make it. I worried you’d be lost in Faerie on one of your adventures,” She hugged Henry and shook Arden’s hand. She never chanced hugging that one. He was like a stray cat who determined when, where, and how he could be put. It was best to keep a respectful distance.

“We were. The magical society has been very interested in my findings and has agreed to further my funding for another two years,” Henry proclaimed proudly. “But I was due a break, and I promised Arden that we would attend more mortal gatherings. He’s very interested in our parties.”

“People rarely die at your events. I am curious why you throw so many when they sound so dull,” said Arden, which would have shocked Matilda years ago. Now, she found the comment rather tame.

“The gossip at our gatherings is of most interest. I am sure you will find yourself completely enthralled once you find the right people to converse with,” she said, then patted Henry’s shoulder. “And this one knows exactly who to introduce you to.”

“They are typically the ones I avoid,” Henry said while the two of them wandered to the dining room.

That left Matilda waiting for their last guests, who arrived minutes later after a long journey that risked them not making it to dinner at all. Her heart swelled when William and Nicholas entered, the latter of whom took her into his arms and spun. One day, she expected her bones to creak and crack, so she enjoyed the theatrics while she could.

“Good evening,” Nicholas declared, having yet to detach himself from Matilda’s person.

She hugged him, finding that he had been the one most open to any form of physical affection. In fact, he craved it more than her sons. After learning about his upbringing from William, she was insistent on attempting to make up for what he hadn’t been given.

Nicholas never complained, always more than eager to hug or offer his arm during an afternoon walk. He was sweeter than she thought fae could be, though he had his moments, the same as the others. Those moments meant little to her anymore. Rather, she would be troubled if the fae in her home didn’t bring up a tale of dismemberment once or twice upon their visits.

“Good evening. I’m relieved the two of you could make it.” She kissed both of Nicholas’ cheeks.

William came upon her next. He no longer smelled of the hospital, having finally been convinced to take a vacation. She found herself oddly okay with William traveling in Faerie for three months, then continuing that journey through Terra for another three. They wrote and, at times, she had panicked worrying that he wouldn’t come home, but those moments were brief, and nothing compared to what they once were. The journey had been an arduous one for all of them.

“Luckily, our carriage wheel broke not far outside of town. We were able to get there and have the carriage worked on quickly enough,” William explained. He kissed her cheeks then looped his arm with Nicholas’, the right arm no longer hidden under a glove, even if it was a noticeable off gray.

The first year after William returned to explain how he lost his arm, he refused to have anything done with it. She and Robert offered to call a doctor to have a prosthetic made, but he always said he wasn’t ready. He needed time to mourn, as he didn’t have initially. They respected his decision, including the next one, after Nicholas secured a prosthetic for him in Faerie.

“I want to make the choice myself,”he said when she asked what made this route so different from what initially happened. There were things she could never understand because she hadn’t gone through what William did, but she always wanted to respect his choices, and it had been the right one.

William didn’t hide his arm or pretend not to be bothered when someone made a crude remark. He healed a part of himself that he feared would never change. That brought a sense of joy to him that had been previously lost.

“Will you be journeying anywhere else?” She walked toward the dining room with them in tow.

“I’ve been away from the clinic long enough. I can’t believe I am starting to miss the scent of disinfectant,” William answered.

“I’m not, nor do I miss the way your patients are so needy of you.” Nicholas’ eyes took on a faint violet hue that came and went. The color forever stayed around his irises, year by year, growing ever so slightly.

William kissed his cheek. “You will be there with me, so long as you behave yourself.”

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