Page 125 of The Carideo Legacy
This launched a flurry of questions, and Patrick began another tale—this one about a ghostly piper who was said to walk the battlements on foggy nights.
I leaned my head against Patrick’s shoulder, contentment washing over me. In the courtyard below, I could see Michael and Shelly walking hand in hand. Mrs. Kowalski sat on a stone bench nearby, supervising Eoin and Aspen as they played with a ball.
Twelve kids. Two companies. Homes on two continents. It was a lot to manage, a constant juggling act that sometimes left us exhausted. But looking around at our family now—happy, thriving, together—I knew it was worth it.
Patrick finished his ghost story to a chorus of delighted squeals. Then he turned to me, his expression softening.
“The Carideo Legacy,” he said, “and the McCrae Legacy.” He waved his hand to encompass the castle and lands beyond. “I think we’re going to need a bigger castle.”
I laughed, stretching up to kiss him. “I think this one will do just fine.”
As our lips met, I heard Paris make a gagging sound, followed by Rome’s dramatic retching noises. They laughed, and even Alec cracked a smile.
Patrick pulled back, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Perhaps we should continue this discussion somewhere more private,” he murmured.
“Later,” I promised, squeezing his hand.
For now, I was content to stand here with him, looking out over the land that had shaped him and would now be part of our shared future. The journey that had brought us here—from grief and loss to this new beginning—hadn’t been easy. There had been moments when I’d thought I wouldn’t survive the pain of losing Marco, when the weight of single parenthood and running a company had seemed too much to bear.
But standing here now, with Patrick by my side and our family around us, I felt a sense of completion, of coming full circle.We had built something beautiful from the broken pieces of our previous lives.
“What are you thinking about?” Patrick asked softly, his lips close to my ear.
“Just how lucky I am,” I replied. “How lucky we all are.”
He nodded, his eyes taking in the horizon before returning to my face. “We are,” he agreed. “Against all odds, we found each other.”
“You and me against the world,” I whispered, repeating the words I had once written to Marco, words that had taken on new meaning in this new life.
Patrick smiled, understanding in his eyes. “You and me,” he confirmed. “And a crew of twelve.”
“A crew of twelve,” I agreed with a laugh.
As the sun began its slow descent toward the western hills, casting long shadows across the ancient stones of Eidheann Castle, I stood with my husband and our kids, watching the future unfold before us—bright, promising, and filled with love.
THE END
