Page 76 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron
"She'll come," Byron said finally. "When she's ready."
Deaglán followed his gaze. "Is Ma up there?"
Byron nodded once. "Yea"
The boy's eyes lit up. "Can we go see the surprise under the tree?"
"Soon, lad. Soon. The time has to be perfect."
But patience wasn't his strongest trait. Deaglán let out a sigh shaped like the wind. "Iwanna play catch!"
So, Byron scooped up a nearby stick and turned it into a game. "Go long!"
Laughter echoed across the field as they played. The chill lingered beneath the sunlight, autumn pressing its cool fingers into the bones of the day.
Then a voice called out, soft and carrying in the chilly breeze like a dream. "Dea!"
They both turned.
A woman walked down from the hill, her white sundress catching the light, a denim shirt knotted loosely at the waist. Her arms swung, and there was colour in her cheeks. Her dark hair now sprinkled with silver here and there, was pulled back, strands blowing loose in the breeze.
"Moooom!" Deaglán shouted, already running. "You came down! You came down!"
Byron watched, breath caught, as it always did when he looked at his wife.
Ana knelt, catching the boy in a warm embrace. Her eyes met Byron's over the tousled head, and something passed between them, tender and unspoken.
He joined them, wrapping his arms around both.
Deaglán wriggled excitedly. "Can I have the surprise now?"
Ana smiled. "Come on, then. Let's go see."
They walked hand in hand up the hill. The plaque beneath the tree gleamed in the sunlight, half-hidden by wildflowers and the daisy chain Ana had woven with Deaglán's help.
***
To our beloved son, Conley.
A spark that lit our lives.
Forever in bloom. Forever in our hearts.
***
Ana bent beside the plaque, her fingers grazing the cool metal. "Before we had you," she said softly, "we had another little baby boy in Mummy's belly. His name was Conley."
Deaglán stared, blinking. "Where is he?"
"He couldn't stay. But we love him just the same."
"Was he nice?"
Ana's voice caught. "He was. And he would've loved you so, so much."
"But why'd he go?"
"He had a quest," she said, with a wobbly smile tugging through her sadness. "Lots of fun adventures he had to go on. But I think we'll meet him again someday."
