Reunions Plentiful
Reunions Plentiful
A month later, Peter and Sharon's Jacksonville home buzzed with anticipation, sunlight streaming through lacy curtains. The twins' baptism today, an at-home ceremony with Sharon insisting, the priest due soon. Roses and fresh coffee scented the air, tables laden with pastries for visitors.
Sharon adjusted a blanket over Victoria, her heart full, though Addicus’s shadow lingered faintly, a whisper of his final plea.
Peter entered, grinning mischievously. “Ready for today?” he asked, kissing her cheek.
“As I’ll ever be,” Sharon said, smoothing Debora’s tiny dress.
“Feels right, doing this here.”
Before the priest arrived, the doorbell chimed, unexpected. Sharon opened it, freezing as Victoria—her friend, not the baby—stood there, radiant in a sundress, Hector and Pedro beside her. “Hola, Mama,” Victoria said, her smile wide.
“Cómo estás?”
“Victoria!” Sharon cried, rushing into her arms. “Mi hermana!” They hugged tightly, tears mingling, the years apart dissolving. “Hector, Pedro—you’re here too?”
Peter smiled. "Surprise! I wrote them months ago about the pregnancy, invited them to the baptism.
"We wanted to surprise you."
Sharon's eyes fell on a spark on Victoria's finger—a ring. She grabbed her hand. "No way…"
"Pedro proposed," Victoria said. "We're getting married!"
"Oh my God!" Sharon hugged both of them, happiness overflowing. "Congrats, Pedro! Best surprise ever."
"It's better," said Peter, his head bobbing up and down as a second knock struck the door. He opened it, and Sharon's breath caught. Roseline stood there, with Bright, Jefferey, and Vikky, their dog, all smiling.
"Roseline?" Sharon whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
"It's me, dear," said Roseline, flinging her arms wide.
Sharon sprinted to them, sobbing, hugging each in turn. "I missed you so much," she said, stroking Vikky's fur. "Jefferey, you're so tall!"
"I picked them up," Peter exclaimed, his voice filled with pride. "Knew you were missing them, so I brought them with me."
Sharon and Peter introduced the twins, assigning Victoria to her namesake and Debora to Roseline. "This is Debora," Peter said, his voice laden. "And Victoria," Sharon added.
"You named her after me?"
Victoria asked, her tears flowing as she cradled the baby.
"Of course," Sharon answered. "I hope she's as hard as you."
"They are pretty," Roseline said, stroking Debora's cheek. "Like their mother."
Douglas walked behind Mrs. Karen, followed by Sharon's girlfriends, their giggles making the house warm. The living room, where the flowers and candles filled it, felt like a sanctuary, Jacksonville's sea breeze blowing through open windows. The priest arrived, his vestments sharp, ready to begin, but Sharon held back, her gaze still on the twins, a spark of fear surfacing—Addicus's estate, now an orphanage, was a success, but the growl of the edge of the cliff haunted her, a reminder of something still unresolved.
The baptism preparations went on, guests oohing and aahing over the twins, the atmosphere charged with laughter. Sharon's sleeve was pulled by Jefferey.
"Vikky had puppies," he exclaimed, smiling. "Five, but they're not old enough to travel."
"Show me," Sharon replied, messing up his hair.
"Wait," Victoria interrupted, looking at the dog. "Is this Vikky my namesake as well?"
Sharon guffawed, getting choked up. "Guess so."
"Not funny," Victoria huffed, though her smile betrayed her. Pedro laughed, "You two resemble each other, you know."
"Pedro!"
Victoria playfully slapped him, the room bursting out in laughter. Sharon's heart was full, Zig Ziglar's words proving true—happiness was not simply pleasure, but this victory, this family being together.
But, outdoors, a shadow moved—a man, unseen, standing before the house. His left hand struggled with car keys, his right arm a stump. He struggled to open his car door, the engine's growl low as he pulled away, driving one-handed, his presence a stealthy question mark, disturbing restless ghosts of the past.