16 Goodbyes

Constance wept and the other women gathered around her. Olive held her and patted her, telling her everything was going to be alright. Constance's father had been killed. Without her father and with no brothers, Constance and her mother and sisters would no longer be able to live on their estate unless the male relative that would inherit it allowed them too. Constance said it was her younger cousin and he had quite a lot of siblings so she didn't think there would be room for them all.

"It'll be alright," Olive had assured her, "You'll stay with me at my parents, and then you can live with Bernard and me after we're married. Or maybe you'll find a husband of your own by then! Don't worry we won't let you be homeless."

Constance had smiled weakly and thanked her before going back to crying. Later on, she had gone from being sad to angry at her parents. How could her parents have not bothered to find husbands for any of them, her or her sisters? Then on top of that how could her father have gone off to fight and risk leaving them in this position.

"It was stupid and selfish," she snapped, pacing back and forth, "He probably thought he'd do something and get some kind of glory. It's ridiculous!" But the anger eventually reverted back to sadness.

The next morning it was decided to go ahead and send everyone home for the summer. In the case of Delaney and the others, it was for good. They all packed slowly, looking around the school that had been their home for years, and now they would likely not see again.

Delaney walked through her classrooms, brushing her hands over the books and letting memories play in her mind. She thought of all she had learned and how she and her friends had grown inseparable. Selina had worried everything would change when they had started to spend more time with their men but Delaney realized it wasn't then, it was now. Nothing would ever be the same after they left their school.

Her heart ached as she walked down through the kitchen one last time and followed their familiar route out of the school.

Before she realized what she was doing, Delaney found herself in front of Uncle Win's club. She knocked and the ever-faithful Cecil was there to open the door. She hugged him tightly before he could say anything, tears escaping her eyes at last, and told him goodbye. Cecil gave her a tight hug before mumbling a gruff goodbye and sending her toward Uncle Win before dashing at his eyes.

"Ah come here girl," Win said with a sad smile, opening his arms for her, "This isn't the end. We'll see each other again. I expect I might get an invitation to your wedding won't I?"

Delaney had laughed through her tears and nodded, assuring him he would. He hugged her tightly and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe away her tears and then his own. He smiled and told her what a great future she had ahead of her. Hearing him say the words, Delaney decided to tell him about her future the witch had revealed.

Win nodded, his brows furrowing as he thought over what Delaney had said. "I think it's important you make the decisions you think will make you most happy girl," he'd said seriously, "But it's also important to choose to be happy even if life might not look so bright at the time. Things will always get better if you want them to."

His words struck Delaney in how simple they were but also just how much they made sense. She had worried so many decisions she'd been making might not be the right ones and she might not be setting herself up for a happy future. But what if the way to solve that was just deciding her future would be happy no matter what it was?

She looked at Win seriously before giving him one last hug and thanking him. "I lost my father when I was young," she whispered, "But I think you've been the best replacement I could have ever asked for."

"And you've been the best daughter I could've ever dreamed of having," Win replied, his voice going hoarse as he held her, "Now you go out there and live a wonderful life."

"I'll try to make you proud Win."

"I'm already proud of you girl."

The next morning Delaney and the others quietly got ready as the carriages were loaded. They all gave one last tearful goodbye to Headmistress Warren and each other, promising they would all see one another as soon as they could. Then they each got into their carriages and said goodbye to their school for the last time.

Delaney got home and felt safe again. Being with her Aunt and Uncle made all the bad of the dragon war seem far away. Unfortunately, no matter how far they went, the bad could still reach them.