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Chapter 36

Later that evening, as the garden grew quieter and the sun dipped lower in the sky, I found myself sitting on a bench next to Amalie and Sophia. The cool air was a welcome change from the warmth of the day, and the soft light cast everything in a peaceful glow. It was a rare moment of calm, a chance to breathe and just be.

I stretched my legs out and sighed, leaning back into the bench. "It feels strange, doesn’t it? After everything that’s happened, all the mess... I didn’t expect it to feel so... peaceful."

Sophia smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You’d be surprised how things can find their way into place, even after everything falls apart" she said, her voice warm and reassuring. "It’s like one of those things where you can’t see the end from the beginning, but once you’re here, you realize it was always meant to happen."

Amalie, who had been quietly listening, nodded in agreement. "It’s funny. I think people often forget that being part of a family doesn’t mean everything’s perfect it just means you’re there for each other, even when things are messy."

I smiled softly at her words. "I guess I’ve learned that the hard way." I glanced around at the family, everyone scattered in the garden or in the house, but all of them together in the same space, laughing, talking, being... there. "I never thought I’d have a moment like this. I was so sure I’d always be alone."

Sophia’s eyes softened, and she reached over to pat my hand. "But look at you now. You’re not alone. You’ve got all of us."

Before I could respond, I heard a loud thud from across the yard, followed by a series of excited shouts.

"Whoops!" Caelum’s voice rang out, carefree and full of mischief. "I may have accidentally knocked over the garden gnome. But hey, at least it’s not broken!"

I turned to see him grinning sheepishly, standing next to a toppled-over ceramic gnome. A few of my brothers were looking at him, but none of them seemed particularly surprised by the commotion.

"Caelum, for the love of—" Felis started, but Caelum was already bounding over to us, his long strides easy and carefree.

He leaned in with a wide grin and without missing a beat, said, "Don't worry, the gnome’s tough. It survived worse back in the day. But speaking of things surviving, how’s everyone doing over here?" He winked, plopping down beside me on the bench without waiting for an invitation.

Amalie and Sophia both raised an eyebrow, but their smiles betrayed the amusement they were trying to hide.

"Caelum, you do know there’s a way to exist in the world without knocking things over, right?" Sophia said, her tone teasing but fond.

"Who needs to exist like that when life’s way more fun with a little chaos?" he retorted with a dramatic sigh. "Honestly, the gnome should be honored to be a part of this whirlwind of a family." He leaned back, getting comfortable, as if he’d just claimed his spot for the rest of the evening.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Even after everything, after all the years of chaos, Caelum never changed. He had this way of turning every moment into something lighthearted, even when the situation didn’t exactly call for it.

Amalie shook her head, still smiling. "You’re unbelievable."

Caelum gave her a playful smirk. "Unbelievable? Yes. Unforgettable? Even more so."

Sophia and I both rolled our eyes at his antics, but there was something comforting about it all. This was family—messy, loud, and unpredictable. But it was real.

Amalie looked between the two of us with an amused expression. "So, now that the gnome’s made its dramatic entrance, what’s next? Any more surprise appearances we should expect?"

I smiled, leaning back into the bench. "Honestly, I think Caelum’s the only one capable of making a dramatic entrance like that," I said with a laugh. "But he’s right about one thing—it’s never boring with him around."

"That’s the spirit!" Caelum said, offering a thumbs-up as if he’d just been awarded a medal for his excellent performance.

Sophia shook her head, smiling softly. "I’m sure he’ll keep things interesting for all of us."

As the evening grew darker and the stars began to appear, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. There was chaos, yes. There were moments of laughter and moments of frustration. But there was also this overwhelming sense of connection, of having found something worth holding onto. For the first time in a long while, it felt like the pieces of my life were finally fitting together. And maybe, just maybe, I had the family I always wanted. Even if it included a few gnomes getting knocked over along the way.