*Jasper*
We pulled up outside Rowan and Hannah’s house, Daphne’s grandparents. They heard we would be in town and invited us to bring Aster and Tarik by.
Eva was quiet in the passenger seat and Daphne, Rion, the twins, and Lucian followed in the car behind us.
“We’ll just stop by for lunch and then continue on to the dorms,” I said, cutting the engine. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see Lumina was just waking up.
Tarik had been quiet for the whole ride, but Aster was practically buzzing with excitent.
We t up with Rion, Daphne, and their kids. Daphne looked a little flushed.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here,” she said, her eyes roaming over the old mansion.
Hannah and Rowan lived just outside the city in a large white mansion with white columns in the front and a massive stretch of land out back. Their driveway was shaded by willow trees.
Rion put his arm around Daphne. “We should co visit more often.”
I turned to Eva. She had a distant look in her eyes. I took her hand and pulled her close.
“What’s on your mind, love?” I whispered against her hair.
She sighed, leaning all her weight on . “This day ca a lot sooner than I expected.”
I chuckled and kissed her temple. “Our boys are growing up. That’s nothing to be sad about.”
“It’s still hard for to let them go after losing them for so long when they were young.”
I hugged her tightly. “You’re not losing Aster this ti.”
We followed the others inside. The house was quiet, and the lights were out.
“They knew we were coming,” Daphne muttered, flipping the foyer lights on.
“SURPRISE!”
My heart jumped into my throat and Eva grabbed onto , clinging like her life depended on it.
Hannah and Rowan jumped through the living room doorway into the foyer, arms wide.
Behind them, more people flooded in and suddenly, Rion, Daphne, Eva, and I were captured in a tangled web of arms and hugs.
“What is all this?” Eva gasped as the craziness died down.
“We heard your eldest was going to college, and we wanted to celebrate with a little surprise get-together,” Ciana announced. Her husband Theo was there with her and their kids.
Lucas and Sasha joined in, along with their children. Even Xander and Lena were there with Rhys.
It was a whole extended family gathering. Before I knew it, lunch was served, and the grandparents were peppering Aster with questions about his upcoming school year at university.
We all sat together at a long banquet table in the dining room.
I took Eva’s hand under the table and squeezed.
“We have a lot to celebrate, you know. Aster is an amazing young man. And look how much family support he has around him.”
She smiled lightly and nodded. “At least there are people close to him in Winter Forest. He won’t have to go far if he needs help.”
Even though I kept telling Eva we had so much to be grateful for, I kept a close eye on Aster. So far, he’d been excited about going to school in Winter Forest. As he answered questions from Hannah and Rowan, I could tell he was hiding sothing.
After lunch, most of the family mbers had to head back ho. They all hugged Aster and wished him good luck. So of the younger ones were even jealous that it was his ti to leave the nest.
He handled it all with such grace and professionalism. Aster really was becoming an amazing man.
***
I pulled the car up in front of Aster’s dorm just past noon the next day. Hannah and Rowan had insisted that we have a big breakfast and packed so lunch to eat on the road.
Ayla, Selene, and Lucian ran up to the car and pulled the doors open.
“Co on, let’s see where Aster is going to live!” Selene bounced on the balls of her feet as she grabbed Tarik and pulled him from the car.
Lumina and Lucian paired off as usual, following closely behind.
Eva and I got out more slowly and stood with Aster at the curb.
The college campus was already bustling with students running all around. Cars pulled into the lot stuffed full of dorm room furniture, and everywhere parents and families helped their children get settled in.
I put my arm around Aster’s shoulder.
“How are you feeling?”
He grinned. “I’m here and I’m really glad to be here. I can’t wait for the next four years!”
“Good. Let’s get you unpacked, then.”
Ayla, Tarik, Selene, and Lucian were so excited. They ran back down from Aster’s dorm and started unpacking the cars.
“It’s huge!” Tarik said.
“Like his own little apartnt, only with a microwave instead of a stove,” Ayla teased, sticking her tongue out.
Aster scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I won’t be eating in there anyway. The student center has all the food I could want.”
“I can’t believe it,” Eva whispered. She went to Aster and took him in her arms.
He stepped away. “Mom, can we wait until we’re inside? I really don’t want my future classmates to see my mom crying over .”
Eva sniffled. “Oh, fine.”
I put my arm around her waist. “He’s grown up now. It’s not cool to have parents who care about him.”
She gave a humorless laugh but didn’t argue as I guided her inside.
The kids took it upon themselves to help carry all the boxes up from the cars.
They stacked them in the hall outside Aster’s room, and the rest of us started unpacking.
Aster’s dorm was a single unit. It had a typical twin-size bed, one window, a desk, a dresser, a closet, and a mini fridge with a microwave on top. He also had a private bathroom, which was uncommon in freshman housing.
“This isn’t so bad,” I said.
“No, it’s great! I finally have my own space without any siblings or cousins around.” Aster flopped on the bed and propped his head up with his arm.
“Are you going to help us unpack your things?” Rion asked, carrying a box in from the hall.
“In a minute. I just want to enjoy this.”
Eva sniffled beside , and the waterworks finally started. She ran over to the bed and sat on the edge. Aster sat up and she took his hands.
“Mom, please don’t cry.”
She shook her head. “I can’t help it. I’m so proud of you.” She hugged him, and this ti he didn’t pull away.
“All the boxes are unloaded. Can we go check out the campus?” Lucian asked, motioning to his sisters and Tarik.
“Be back in an hour,” Daphne instructed.
“Aweso!” Lucian and Tarik high-fived and the kids took off.
“These boxes won’t unpack themselves, you know,” Rion muttered as he brought another one in.
Eva finally let go of Aster and we all worked on getting the boxes inside and unpacked.
Daphne and Rion made the bed and started hanging up the wall decorations.
Eva made sure to fill Aster’s mini fridge with a bunch of snacks and sandwiches Hannah had packed for us.
Aster and I unpacked his clothes, folding them into the drawers of the dresser. His excitent from earlier wasn’t as palpable.
“This is a great dorm. I think you’ll have a lot of fun here.”
Aster nodded.
“But not too much fun. Your studies need to be your priority.”
“I know. “ He dipped his head.
“Aster, what’s wrong?”
He sighed and threw a half-folded shirt into the drawer. I pulled it out and folded it more neatly.
“I’m really excited to be on my own and everything but—” He sighed. “I’m just realizing how far I’ll be from everyone.”
“You know we are just a phone call away. Besides, soon you’ll be learning so much and having more fun than you know what to do with. You won’t have ti to miss us.” I smirked, but Aster didn’t return my smile.
“The last ti I was away from ho... well life was very different then.”
I knew he was talking about when he lived with Varge and had been taken from Eva.
I covered Aster’s hand with mine. “This isn’t the sa thing. You aren’t being kept away from your family. Trust , you’ll adjust quickly.”
With the dorm room squared away, we t up with the other kids at the student center for a late lunch. There were a lot of other students and their families there, too.
“I an, the campus is nice and all but Aster, why do you have to be so far from ho?” Tarik asked, poking at his al with a plastic fork.
The student center had a lot of al options, but it was typical college campus food, not fine dining.
“Yeah, the Queen’s schools are closer, and you wouldn’t have to live in a dorm,” Selene added.
“Guys, I told you this already.” Aster groaned. “I just want to be a normal guy for the next four years, where no one knows who I am or about my past.”
“Pfft.” Ayla dismissed him with a wave. “That’s not possible, Aster. You’ll never be normal.”
“She’s right. Don’t you still have to carry a dampening charm around, just in case?” Lucian pointed to Aster’s pocket where I knew the charm was tucked safely away.
“Then maybe I just want other people to think I’m normal.”
“Everyone, that’s enough. Aster made his decision, and it is his to make,” I stepped in.
He gave a grateful smile and a nod.
It was one of my greatest accomplishnts in life to have raised Aster and Tarik. They weren’t my sons by blood, but they were still my sons.
Their start had been rough, a lot like mine, but I was thankful every day that I had a friend like Rion in my life, one who believed in and led to Eva, led to love and the family I had now.
After lunch, we left the busy dining hall and headed back to the cars. Aster stood on the sidewalk to the dorm and the rest of us stood in the parking lot.
“We’ve got to get on the road. It’s a long drive back,” Rion said. He shook Aster’s hand and clapped him on the back. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks, Uncle Rion.”
The kids all took turns hugging Aster and wishing him good luck. It was clear their excitent had dwindled, and they were feeling the reality of leaving Aster.
Eva hugged Aster last and held on tightly. “You’re going to do fine! I know I have to let you go so you can learn to stand on your own. I know you can, but I will still miss you every day.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll miss you too.”
Ayla and Selene decided to ride back with us. They didn’t want Tarik to feel lonely.
As I pulled away from the curb, I listened to them chattering about the differences between the university and their boarding school.
I glanced at Eva. She had a far away, glassy look in her eyes as she gazed out the window. I reached over and took her hand, squeezing it.
“You know, the house will feel pretty empty now,” I said.
“I know.”
“We could redy that... if you’re ready to have another.”
Eva whipped around and stared at like I had five heads.
I winked at her and kissed the back of her hand. Her face split in a smile and she laughed.
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