The Mother's Day Masterpiece

"Well, everyone's here," Vince announces, seemingly oblivious to the drama unfolding before him.

Lirael clears her throat, "Right then, since we're all here..." She exchanges a meaningful look with William, whose struggling to contain his bubbling excitement. "We thought Mother's Day would be the perfect time to share our news."

Mae catches the subtle way Joanna's fingers tighten around her teacup. This ought to be good.

"William and I are expecting," Lirael announces, grinning widely, "Twins, actually."

The room explodes with diverse reactions. Joanna shrieks with joy and rushes to embrace her daughter. A rare, authentic smile spreads across Vince's lined face. Even Theron can't hide his pleasure.

"Oh darling!" Joanna's already got tears in her eyes. "Twins! How absolutely wonderful. When are you due? Have you thought about names? We simply must start planning the nursery—"

"Mum," Lirael interrupts, though not unkindly. "I'm only twelve weeks along. There's plenty of time for all that."

"Nonsense! These things take careful planning. Oh, this calls for champagne!" Joanna waves over a hovering staff member. "Not for you, of course, dear," she adds quickly to Lirael.

Mae uses the commotion to edge away from where she'd been using Joanna as a human shield, aiming for one of the plush armchairs near the window. She's barely taken two steps when Eli's hand closes around her wrist, grip firm but not painful.

"Going somewhere?" he murmurs, voice pitched low enough that only she can hear.

"Just thought I'd let the family celebrate without the spare Chamberlain cluttering up the scene," she replies with forced lightness.

His fingers tighten fractionally. "You're a Parrish now. Or have you forgotten?"

Right. On paper, at least. Mae thinks but doesn't voice it aloud. Instead, she opts for diplomacy, "Well then, as a proper Parrish, shall we go congratulate your sister?" With a twist, she slips free of his grip and approaches the couple with a smile. "Congratulations! I'm absolutely thrilled for you both."

"Thank you, Mae darling." Lirael glows, her blue eyes twinkling with joy. She's the spitting image of Joanna in her youth, save for the dark hair she inherited from her late father Alaric.

Eli embraces his sister briefly before pulling away with his trademark smirk. "You're going to be massive."

Lirael responds by landing a swift kick to his shin, earning a hearty laugh from Theron. "Oi, I was about to say that myself!"

Eli shoots Lirael a withering look while rubbing his leg, then claims the seat beside his grandfather, and, Mae notes with resignation, deliberately close to her own position. She's certain he's doing it to make her squirm, the prat.

"Sorry to hijack your day, Mother." William says, his arm draped proudly around Lirael.

"Don't be ridiculous," Joanna dismisses his concern with a wave. "You've given me the greatest gift imaginable."

"Well, that's convenient," Theron quips with a grin. "Though unlike our Lils here, I've got you a proper pressie, Mum." He retrieves a burgundy jewelry box from the table where Mae had placed her gift. "The Fallen Star—one of a kind, just like yourself."

Joanna gasps in delight. "Oh, it's divine, my darling boy." She plants two enthusiastic kisses on his cheeks.

Theron settles beside Delphine, radiating satisfaction at his mother's reaction. He exchanges a loaded look with his fiancée, some silent communication passing between them that ends with Delphine's resigned sigh. In response, Theron steals a quick kiss from her cheek, looking pleased with himself.

Eli's turn comes next. He produces a set of car keys from his coat pocket with his usual flourish. "Colls-Coyce Midnight Thorn Sovereign," he announces, as though he's unveiling the Crown Jewels. "Custom-made in champagne—your favourite. It's waiting in the garage." Mae watches with suppressed amusement as he visibly braces himself for the incoming assault.

"Oh, Eli dear!" Joanna clutches her chest, looking suspiciously misty-eyed. Mae finds it rather comical that after sobbing over the baby announcement, Joanna's still got tears left for a car. Then again, maybe its less about the vehicle and more about Mr. Frosty showing a glimmer of thoughtfulness.

Right. Her turn then.

Mae's palms are embarrassingly sweaty as she presents her gift to Joanna. "It's something I made," she explains, trying not to fidget. "Inspired by that photo album you shared the other day."

Joanna accepts it with surprising enthusiasm, especially for someone whose gift collection rivals a royal treasury. Mae retreats to her seat beside Eli, fully expecting her contribution to warrant polite appreciation at best. Instead, she watches as an impromptu audience forms. Lirael and William peering over Joanna's shoulder, Theron abandoning his perch to get a better look as Joanna unwraps the canvas.

The gasp that follows is expected, maybe from horror? The tears that suddenly stream down Joanna's face—silent and unbidden—are not.

"What the hell did you give her?" Eli mutters, looking as baffled as Mae feels.

"I... nothing horrible, I swear," Mae whispers back, totally wrong-footed by this reaction. "It's just a painting."

Theron lets out an impressed whistle.

"You made this, Mae?" Lirael asks, sounding genuinely surprised.

"Er, yes?"

"It's marvelous," William offers, studying it with a critical eye.

Even Delphine deigns to look, her mask of indifference cracking just enough to reveal reluctant appreciation. The coup de grâce comes when Vince himself rises, using his walking stick to maneuver behind the couch. "That's Eli as a baby," he states, then turns to Mae. "Isn't it?"

"Yes," Mae confirms, feeling her ears burn as Eli fixes her with an unreadable look.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Eli snags the canvas from his mother's grip. "I was never that pudgy," he declares, which is so quintessentially Eli that Mae fights to keep her face straight.

"You absolutely were," Joanna insists, but her eyes remain fixed on Mae. "This is... I haven't the words. It's lovely, truly lovely. I know I sound frightfully dramatic, but seeing this—it's like stepping back in time."

"A tad dramatic?" Eli arches an eyebrow, returning the painting.

Lirael's foot connects with his shin again, prompting Eli to growl, "You're lucky you're carrying precious cargo, or there'd be swift retribution."

"I preferred you when you were this size," Joanna muses, fingers tracing the painted lines. Theron and Lirael dissolve into laughter while Eli looks affronted.

"This needs pride of place in the main hall," Joanna declares. "It's more than worthy."

Vince nods his agreement, and Mae finds herself caught between embarrassment and bemusement. After all, the masterpieces surrounding them could clear a developing nation's debt. What she gave was hardly… she trailed off. Whatever. It's Joanna's gift, she could do as she pleased with it.