Page 82 of The Storm
“I don’t know.”
“They should come back to visit Peter. Bring the baby to visit Peter.”
“You should tell them that.”
Artis shrugged. “They will do what they want.”
“You should tell them anyway.”
Kyra hummed along with Renata’s song. The night was cool, but Leo had draped a blanket around her shoulders. Between the blanket and the fire, Kyra was comfortable.
“What should we talk about?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Artis said. “I think we have talked about everything important. Maybe that is how you know when you are ready to go.”
“You will see Evelina again.”
A true smile crossed Artis’s face. “Yes.”
“And Lauma. And Stasya and Ivo.”
The old man nodded.
“I don’t know if you will remember the things of this world when you are in the next. But if you do, tell them about their magnificent sons.” Kyra’s eyes filled with tears. “Tell Lauma and Stasya and Ivo their sons are loved and celebrated. That Leo is going to be a father and that Max has found peace.”
“I will tell them.”
“Tell Lauma…” Kyra cleared her throat. “Tell Lauma that even if Leo doesn’t come, I will bring the baby to visit Peter. That he won’t be alone.”
Artis turned to her, and there were tears in his eyes. “I will tell her.”
“Good.” Kyra sniffed. “That’s good.”
“And if I see your father in the heavenly realm, what should I say to Barak?”
Kyra took a deep breath. “Tell him… thank you for saving the other half of my heart. And tell him I am happy.”
* * *
They slept outsideon makeshift pallets of blankets and straw mattresses. Renata lay on her back with Max’s head on her breast, staring at the stars that dotted the sky.
“You’re not sleeping,” Max murmured.
“I’m not tired.” She blinked when a star crossed the sky. “I’m not ready to say goodbye to him. We don’t have enough elders in our world.”
“We have plenty of cranky old men. We’re lacking women though.”
“Do you understand, Max?”
He lifted his head. “What?”
She blinked away tears. “He’s leaving us. I just met him, and he’s leaving us.”
“He decided over a century ago how this would be. He’s already fading. Would you keep him from his mate?” Max brushed a thumb over her cheek. “From his daughters? You know better than I do how he must be missing them.”
She nodded.
“Then we say goodbye,” he said. “It is not forever.”
