Full Circle
Chapter forty-four
As the first snowflakes drifted down from a brilliant blue sky, Juliet stood by the terrace windows, her husband’s arms wrapped around her and her head resting against his shoulder.
“I love this house in winter,” she murmured, snuggling closer into his embrace.
“It is so peaceful and warm, cut off from the rest of the world as though it doesn’t even exist.”
She felt Christopher smile, then place a kiss upon her temple. “I’m fond of the sprigs of mistletoe, in particular.”
Juliet laughed, glancing over to where such a piece of greenery was dangling from the ceiling. “Is that so?” She turned in his arms. “Do you need a reason to kiss your wife?” She lifted her brows teasingly.
Christopher chuckled while his arms tightened around her. Then he dipped his head and kissed her as he did often, even with no mistletoe in sight.
Sighing, Juliet melted into him, trying her best to remind herself that they were not hidden away in their chamber but in a room often frequented by the rest of her family.
Her nosy family.
“Perhaps…we shouldn’t,” she murmured before he kissed her again, cutting off her words.
His hands held her close to him. “Perhaps we should go upstairs,” he suggested meaningfully, placing another kiss upon her lips. “I am quite fond of doors that can be locked to ward off inquisitive visitors.” He chuckled.
“We can’t,” Juliet replied, pulling back as he tried to kiss her again.
A displeased frown came to his face. “Why not?”
Gently, Juliet brushed an unruly lock from his forehead, letting the tips of her fingers graze his skin.
At her touch, his eyes narrowed, and he held his breath.
“Because our visitors will be here soon. Or have you forgotten?” He tensed ever so slightly, and Juliet reached up to cup his face in her hands. “It will be fine. You’ll see.”
Sighing, Christopher nodded. Then he closed his eyes and lowered his head to hers, breathing in deeply. “If you say so, it must be true.”
Juliet chuckled, pulling him into a tight embrace. Oh, how she loved being in his arms like this! It was more than a simple hug or kiss. It felt as though they were drifting into one another, almost breathing as one, her heart beating in tandem with his.
“Snow! Snow!” It was Samantha’s voice that echoed through the closed door. “Bash, do you see that?”
“Yes! Yes! It’s snowing! It’s snowing!”
“Let’s go outside!”
“Oh, yes! Let’s!”
Pulling back, Christopher smiled down at her. “How long do you think it’ll be before they burst—?”
The door flew open with a loud bang and Bash and Sam rushed inside, their eyes wide and their cheeks flushed. “It’s snowing!” they cried in unison.
Juliet smiled as her husband sighed rather theatrically before he glanced out the window. “It’s only a few flakes,” he pointed out with a frown. “I’m afraid there’ll be no snowman building today.”
The children’s smiles dimmed a little; yet the exuberance that had begun bubbling in their veins was not easily swept away.
Within moments, they had alerted the entire house to the fact that it was snowing.
Of course, Harriet immediately joined their little cries, her face flushed with excitement as she dragged her husband along.
Coats, hats, gloves and scarves were donned before they flung open the door and rushed outside.
A bit more slowly, the rest of the Whickertons joined in, delighting in the children’s—and Harriet’s—joy.
Bundled up, Juliet and Christopher walked down into the gardens watching Bash and Sam twirl in little circles, their faces lifted to the sky as they tried to catch the occasional snowflake upon their tongues.
“Do you think Harry will ever grow up?” Christina asked with a laugh as they watched their sister join the two youngsters. She grinned at her husband, then at Harriet’s, who just sighed, a rather enchanted smile upon his face.
Juliet knew that Harriet’s Jack did not want his wife to be any different from the way she was.
She was wild and unconventional, and although they were like fire and water, day and night, they were a perfect match.
Was that not what a good marriage was based on?
That one loved the other precisely the way they were?
“Very well,” came Louisa’s slightly annoyed voice from up the path. “But only a short walk. You do not know how exhausting it is to be this…” She extended her hands around her round belly, the look upon her face making it clear that she was searching for the right words.
“Large,” her husband foolishly suggested; yet the wide grin upon his face indicated he was far from foolish but rather enjoyed teasing his wife.
Louisa’s eyes narrowed. “Watch it,” she warned, a hard edge in her tone. “Or this one will be our last. Heir or no heir.”
Completely unperturbed, Phineas pulled her into his arms and placed a deep kiss upon her lips.
“Who said I wanted an heir?” He grinned, then murmured something that made Louisa blush and then laugh, not even a spark of anger remaining in her eyes.
Indeed, they, too, were an unusual couple, Juliet thought.
However, they were perfect for each other as well.
As her eyes swept over her sisters and their husbands as well as her mother and father, Juliet knew they were all incredibly fortunate. In all fairness, today was a rather uneventful, ordinary day—despite the snow!—and yet it felt utterly precious.
This was life, was it not? To be with the ones one held dear, to join in their joy and sadness, to simply be there and watch their lives unfold.
As though her thoughts had called them, Juliet turned to see Christopher’s mother and sister head toward them in that moment. Lady Lockhart’s steps seemed a bit hesitant as her eyes moved to her son…a moment before they were suddenly drawn to the children, still dancing in a swirl of snowflakes.
To the boy whom she had never met.
The boy who was her grandson.
Seeing the tense look upon her husband’s face, Juliet squeezed his hand and then pulled him along.
Together, they greeted his mother and sister, and Juliet could not help but notice the way Nora’s gaze swept over the assembled Whickertons.
Indeed, as she found Troy absent, the look in her eyes dimmed and she sighed.
What had happened between them? They clearly cared for one another; why then could they not admit to it?
That, however, was a question for another day.
“Welcome to Whickerton Grove,” Juliet said kindly, smiling at her mother-in-law. Clearly, the woman was nervous, a look that suited her, for it made her more approachable. “We were drawn out of the house by the first signs of snow.”
Christopher’s arm beneath her hand felt tense, and Juliet understood that despite the step mother and son had taken toward one another, a great distance yet remained.
She glimpsed hope in her husband’s eyes but also unease and a hint of concern.
Did he worry for Sebastian? To see his son hurt as he himself had been?
Indeed, the memories were still too fresh, too painful, years of doubt and self-reproach having taken their toll.
Remembering her grandmother’s words, Juliet knew that Christopher needed her.
Here. Now. He needed her to be strong and navigate their way through these stormy waters until he felt calm enough to take over the wheel once more.
Yes, she would protect her family and see them safely through this storm.
With an almost imperceptible nod, Juliet answered Christopher’s silent request, a reassuring smile upon her face. Then she turned to look at her new mother-in-law. “Shall we? ”
Lady Lockhart smiled, and Juliet released her husband’s arm, stepping forward to pull her mother-in-law’s through her own.
Together, they walked down the small slope to where the children—and Harriet!
—were trying to catch snowflakes. “We told him you would come today,” she said with a sideways glance at her mother-in-law.
Lady Lockhart swallowed, her face tense.
Juliet stopped and turned to her. “Sebastian knows nothing of what happened. It belongs to the past and has no bearing upon your relationship with him.” She smiled at her. “This is a new beginning.”
Relief softened Lady Lockhart’s features, and she blinked back tears as her eyes moved to the little boy.
“He looks just like them,” she mused, tears still glistening in her eyes as she watched Bash with a mix of awe and disbelief.
“When they were little, they all looked so much alike.” Her gaze moved to Christopher and Nora and perhaps to the empty spot where her eldest son ought to have been.
“When they grew older, they all…went their own ways, their faces taking on their distinct expressions.” She sighed again, clasping her hands to her chest. “He looks so much like them.”
Juliet placed a hand upon her arm. “Would you like to meet him?”
Unable to speak, Lady Lockhart nodded.
As before, Juliet slipped her arm through her mother-in-law’s and urged her onward, her hesitant steps a clear sign of how deeply this moment affected her. Tears streamed down Lady Lockhart’s face, and she quickly wiped them away.
“Bash,” Juliet called, trying to catch his attention as he and Sam were twirling round and round, hands clasped together to keep them from being pulled apart. “Bash!”
When he finally heard her, he looked up, lost his balance and the two children flew apart, rolling across the lawn as laughter spilled from their mouths.
“Juliet, did you see?” Bash asked excitedly as he jumped back onto his feet and rushed toward her.
“We were twirling so fast, I thought I could not hold on a moment longer.”
Grateful to see Harriet draw Sam’s attention elsewhere, Juliet kneeled down in front of Bash and took his hands within her own, delighting in the little jolt she always felt when she did so.
He was her son! Her son! Sometimes, she still had trouble believing her luck.
“Bash, I want you to meet someone.” She glanced at Lady Lockhart, who looked ready to faint, her breath coming fast as she stared down at Bash.
“This is your father’s mother, your grandmother. She has come here today to meet you.”
Bash’s wide eyes moved to the tall and currently rather pale lady. “Another grandmother?” he asked in that innocent and absolutely endearing way children often had.
“Yes,” Juliet confirmed with a reassuring squeeze of her hands. “She does not live far from here, and you will most likely see her often. Would you like to show her around? I’m certain she would love to see the tree you and Samantha picked out for your fort.”
At her suggestion, Bash lit up, excitement glowing in his young eyes.
Then he stepped forward, curiously peering at his new grandmother.
“It’s the best tree I’ve ever seen,” he muttered under his breath, casting a careful glance around as though fearing that if he spoke too loudly someone might hear and come and snatch his tree away.
“It’s tall and has thick branches that don’t all go straight up. It’s not good if they do.”
As Bash went on discussing the merits of tree growth, Lady Lockhart fell into step beside him. Her hands were still clamped together, but a small smile shone upon her face as she tentatively asked a question here and there, slowly getting to know the grandson she had tried her best to ignore.
Juliet watched them, completely entranced by the sight, her heart beating fast against her ribs as more and more pieces of her life slowly fell into place.
“Do you think she means what she says?”
At the sound of her husband’s voice right beside her ear, Juliet flinched.
Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest, and she drew in a deep breath as she turned to face him.
“Have you always been this stealthy?” she chided with a grin, reaching out to him at the same time, well aware that he needed her close right now.
As expected, Christopher wrapped her in his arms, not for her benefit, but for his own. A tentative smile tugged at the corners of his mouth; yet his gaze remained fixed upon the two figures walking slowly side by side toward the small grove. “Do you think she means what she says?”
Juliet looked up at him. “I believe so, yes.” She reached out and gently cupped a hand to his cheek, waiting patiently until his gaze fell and he looked at her. “You know as well as I do that Bash is irresistible. Even if she tries, no one is a match for that sweet smile of his.”
An older, more mature version of that sweet smile spread over Christopher’s face before it suddenly seemed to pause.
It was like a blossom slowly opening up to the sunshine before it halted as a storm threatened to break overhead.
His gaze darkened, and he swallowed hard.
“No matter what I did,” he murmured absentmindedly, his gaze once more traveling to the little boy and the tall woman, “nothing ever melted her heart.”
“That had nothing to do with you,” Juliet said in a firm voice.
She grasped his chin and gave it a little pinch until he once more looked at her, his brown gaze full of sorrow and pain and regret.
“Her heart was closed off then. I suppose it had to be after what happened. It was her way of protecting herself.” She offered him a careful smile.
“Now, however, she dares to feel again. And slowly, with time, I have no doubt that she will be as devoted a mother as you always wished she had been. Trust me.”
The smile that now came to Christopher’s face held no hint of hesitation or doubt.
It all but lit up the world, so radiant was it in its intensity.
“I always have,” he whispered, holding her tightly wrapped in his arms, “and I always will. You have been the one constant in my life I could always count on, and I have never once regretted it.”
Sighing, Juliet rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, savoring this beautiful moment. “Thank you for coming back,” she whispered, feeling his heart beat strongly in his chest. “I think deep down I always hoped you would.”
And she would forever be grateful to Grandma Edie for meddling in her life, for ensuring that she did not marry another out of some foolish notion—to avoid becoming a spinster, out of duty, or a desperate wish for love.
Now she knew it would never have worked.
She had given her heart away a long time ago, and without it, she could not possibly have ever loved another.
Yes, they were meant to be. Was it not like this in all the great love stories? Trials and obstacles before love triumphed? Yes, perhaps it had to have happened like this. Life had certainly tested her, tested them, but they had prevailed…
…and it had been well worth it.