Chapter 19 - The New Matriarch
Thanksgiving arrived, marking exactly three years since the night Maya had collapsed.
This time, the holiday was hosted at Liam and Maya’s house. The dining table was covered in food, but there was no stress. There were no impossible standards. If the rolls burned, they laughed and ordered a pizza as a side dish.
Maya stood at the head of the table, holding their newborn daughter, Lily, who had arrived just a month prior. Leo, now three, was running circles around Arthur’s legs.
Liam looked at his wife. She was the heart of this house. She ruled with warmth, grace, and an open heart. She didn’t demand respect; she earned it through love. She was the matriarch this family deserved.
“To family,” Arthur proposed a toast, raising his glass of cider. “The ones we are born with, and the ones we choose.”
May you like
“To family,” Liam echoed, clinking his glass against Maya’s.
Maya smiled, leaning her head against Liam’s shoulder. The house was loud, chaotic, and perfect.
