Exton

Alise carried Tara outside of the cottage. The night was warm and cloudless, the moon and stars shining bright. Tara had been upset at being left behind when papan took Tomas with him. She wanted to fly too.

Alise had held her close and promised papan would take her when he got back. “Look at the stars little one. Arent they pretty?”

Tara looked up at the bright shining spots, her mouth a perfect 'O'. She looked back to her mother and pointed at the sky.

“Stars, étoiles ...” Alise tells her as she sits on the bench near the front door. Alise watches the sky, waiting for Stoney and Tomas to return.

As she waits Alises thoughts turn the week spent at the Manse with Raina and Pandora, Silk and Mortuis. She missed the Manse in a way that was hard to explain. It had been her 'home' for so long. She thought of Grace and how Rowan said she probably would not see the end of summer and tears sprang to her eyes. She was such a kind soul and full of wonder and curiosity about the world around her despite her age. The baby moved, startling Alise.

“Mon dieu. Tara, your sister must be getting crowded in there. Soon she will be with us and you will have a baby sister. Should we ask Grandmere Grace if we can give the new baby her name? Sarah Grace...it sounds beautiful, does it not?”

Tara laughs, and Alise can feel her daughter's approval. She can also sense a warm contented aura from the baby.

As Alise smiles and runs her hand over her belly she looks up. The sound of Stoney's wings are loud and clear in the silence of the evening.

“There is papan now. We can ask him what he thinks of the name and Tara can get a turn at flying.”