Page 131 of The Splendor of Fire
Wails rose from Gabriel as he buried his face in Léo’s chest. Léo’s heart broke as he sank to his knees and rocked him, dissolving into sobs himself.
Gabriel pushed away from his chest and wiped his runny nose on his sleeve. “Where were you, Papa? I’ve been waiting for you.”
Léo put his hands to Gabriel’s cheeks and kissed his wet face. “I’m here, my baby, I’m here. I’ll never leave you ever again, I promise you.”
In the doorway, Gabriel’s Méméappeared and rushed forward, wiping her hands on her apron and colliding with them both on the pebbled path. “You’re home. Thank God, you’re home and safe. I didn’t know you were coming, why didn’t you send word?”
Léo kissed her soft cheek, the likeness to her daughter evident in her brown hair and bluebell eyes. He tightened his arms around Gabriel. “I am sorry, Mémé.We left Scotland as soon as we could. I didn’t even think to send word ahead. I wanted to get here and see him.”
Mémé rubbed Gabriel’s back, then put a hand to his cheek as it rested on Léo’s shoulder. “He’s done nothing but talk to your likeness every day for almost two years. He’s brought it with him everywhere, waiting for you. I wouldn’t let him lose hope. When we had word you were successful in your mission, I told him that you’d likely be here soon. He’s been watching out the window for days. Thank God in Heaven, you’re here.”
Mémé’s eyes looked behind Léo, and she smiled and pointed. Aileen’s face was crumpled with tears, and she wiped her cheeks and sniffed.
Remembering himself, Léo held out his hand and motioned Aileen forward. “My manners. What am I thinking? Gabriel, I have some exciting news.”
“What is it, Papa?”
He raised his hands and began to sign as he spoke in French. “While I was in the Isles, I met a woman who can turn into a bird.”
Aileen crouched down beside them, a smile lifting her peach lips.
Gabriel’s eyes went wide with curiosity, and he looked exactly like the sketch Aileen had created in Cràdh.
“She does not look like a bird.”
Léo smiled. “Oh, but she is. She can fly through trees and turn in the wind. She can whistle songs and makes the world beautiful.” Aileen pursed her lips and made a perfect imitation of the dunnock’s call.
Gabriel laughed a belly laugh, and Léo planted a kiss on his son’s head. “I’ve missed that sound more than anything else.”
“What are you doing with your hands, Papa?”
He continued to sign as he spoke. “I am speaking her language. You see, she cannot speak. So she made up a way to talk with her hands using signs.”
Gabriel watched each sign with great excitement and began to bounce in his lap. “That’s right, birds can’t talk. I want to talk with bird signs.”
Léo spoke to Aileen in Gaelic. “Can you show him ‘nice to meet you’?”
Smiling, she brushed her palms and then brought her two index fingers together. She mouthed the French word.Enchanté.
Gabriel’s little hands formed the signs. “Enchanté, mademoiselle.”
Aileen put a hand over her heart and gave a silent laugh.He’s a little charmer, just like his Papa.
Drinking in his son’s joyful face and the perfect arch of his eyebrows, just like his own, he chuckled. Yes, he was beginning to seem more like him, though his peaceful trust was all Théa.
He tickled Gabriel’s belly. “Do you know, though, she is a madame, not a mademoiselle?”
Mémé’s eyebrows went north, and her mouth fell open in a happy smile. “No!”
“Yes.” Taking Aileen’s hand, he showed them the band of gold on her finger. “I decided that a man such as myself could not live without such a remarkable creature. Half-woman, half-bird. I discovered that she is funny and kind, and that she loves me. What a prize. What a beauty. And so, as soon as I got out of the bad place, and had vanquished the bad men, I married her.”
Gabriel nodded with deep approval. “You married a bird, Papa. That was a good choice.”
Léo smiled and interpreted Gabriel’s French for Aileen and she gave a chuckle of relief and wiped imaginary sweat from her brow.
Gabriel’s eyes filled with a hopeful expression. “What do I call you?”
Léo made the signs, then translated her response to Gabriel. “You may call me whatever you wish. My name is Aileen, but you may call me Birdy if you like.”
