38.2 Alexander

"How long have you been watching us for?" Ella asked, and Mom smiled.

"Enough to see you graduate high school and go to college, Ella," she replied. Ella licked her bottom lip at the confession. "I wish that I had had the guts to go up to you on your big day. But like I said, we didn't want Margaret and Angelo to know that we were alive. Not yet, anyway."

"You were there." It was more of a statement than a question, and my mother nodded.

"And I couldn't have been more proud of you, Eleanor. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would. I would have had the chance to watch all of you grow up and become the amazing, incredible people that you are today. But I can't. What I can do is my job as your older sister," she looked at Vanessa, Ella, and John before turning to me and saying, "and as your mother, I will be there for you and support you—something I should've done a long time ago. I will forever be sorry that I missed everything in your lives for being a coward and hiding in the shadows. But you have to believe me that if I had any other choice, I would've taken you from them and given you the life you deserve. But how could I do that when I knew that if I did, I would be putting your lives in danger?"

The door to the room opened once again, cutting off Ella or anyone else from speaking, and the waitress made her way over to the table, setting our drinks down before taking our orders and leaving us alone once again. The sound of the door clicking shut as it closed behind the girl was all that was heard in the room, aside from Savannah's light snores.

My mom stood up and walked around the table, crouching beside Ella, who was silently crying across the table. Vanessa and John, not knowing what to do or say, sat watching their older sister and younger sister. "Everything I've done up to this point was to protect the people that I love above everything else in this life, Ella. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it again in a heartbeat, no questions asked, because knowing that you, your siblings, my son, and his family were safe will give me the strength to go through hell and back."

I felt a hand slide into mine and looked down to see the familiar diamond ring of Kat's ring. I gave her a light squeeze that she returned as we watched Ella practically launch herself into my mother's arms, sobbing. All Mom did was wrap her arms around her and whisper that she wasn't going anywhere—not anymore.

"You're my family, and I will never leave you again," Mom said after she pulled away from Ella and looked at us with tear-filled eyes. "I am proud of every single one of you for being as strong as you have been through all of this mess."

Dinner went by quickly after that, with the table erupting in laughter as my parents told stories from over the years, reminiscing before talking about mine and Kat's wedding.

"So the big day is coming up, isn't it?" Dad asked, and we nodded, with Kat saying,

"It's in four months, and you two better come, or else we'll cancel!" The look my parents gave her was hilarious, and we all burst out laughing, which made Savannah—who had woken up half an hour ago—jump before screaming. Kat sighed, and we gave her an apologetic look when she glared at us. "But seriously, the wedding wouldn't be complete without the groom's parents."

"We wouldn't miss it for anything," Dad promised.

"We've missed enough moments in his life already, and we will not miss another one," Mom agreed.

"You'll be joining us for the rehearsal dinner a week before the wedding here at Queen," I said, and they nodded.

"Just give us the date and time, and we'll be here," Mom replied. Dinner ended not long after that, with Vanessa asking if Mom and Dad would like to join her, John, and Ella for dinner on Friday night, to which they agreed. We wished them goodnight before going our separate ways.

"You forgot to invite them over for Thanksgiving," Kat said once we were in the car. I widened my eyes before climbing out of the car and running towards them before they could get into their car.

"Wait!" I called, and they looked over with raised brows. "I forgot to ask you something."

"What is it, hon?" Mom asked with a smile.

"Would you like to join us for Thanksgiving?"

"Are you sure? We wouldn't want to impose," Dad said, but I shook my head, looking over my shoulder at the car where Kat was staring at us with raised brows and waved her hand. I turned back around.

"You won't be imposing on anything. You're my parents, and I want you to be there. I think it would do you, Ella, Vanessa, and John good to get to know each other more, even if you are joining them for dinner on Friday," I said, and they nodded.

"Then we'll be happy to join you for Thanksgiving," Mom said with a warm smile. I grinned before pulling her into a hug, making her chuckle as she wrapped her arms around me and gave my cheek a soft kiss once we pulled back. Dad patted my shoulder.

"Now go on ahead. Your fiancé and the others are waiting for you to get home. We'll see you soon."

"Okay, see you guys soon then," I said. They nodded with smiles before climbing into their car and driving off, waving goodbye to me before I made my way back to the car.

Maybe dinner wasn't so bad after all.