Three weeks later, we returned to the churchyard.

Despite no reports of Grandfather's body being recovered from the suspect sinking site, Uncle Zachariah had arranged for a headstone to be placed in his family plot so we had our own, private place to go when we mourned him. The headstone had been made out of marble with a very simple inscription carved into the stone. Father said that Grandfather had always wanted something small.

I stood beside Father, reading over the inscription and wondering whether Grandfather would like it. Grandmother hadn't been mentioned, not even in a fleeting passing, but since they hadn't spoken in so long, I doubted that he would have minded. Uncle Zachariah had made sure that the inscription included a brief comment about his patients and all the people whose lives he had saved during his time as a Doctor.

Grandfather helped far too many people for them not to at least be mentioned. He took such pride in his work and what he did, a legacy Father hoped to continue.

"I think he would like it," I said, breaking the silence that had settled over us. "The tree gives plenty of shade and Grandfather always said he preferred the shade."

"I agree, Izzy. The spot is perfect." Father placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "He would think it a perfect place to read a book on a hot summer's day."

"Do you think he's with Mother?" Florence asked. She turned around and looked at Uncle Zachariah who readjusted his grip on Hannah and tried not to let his face falter.

"Yes, I believe so."

"Good. I don't want them to be lonely."

"I don't think they're lonely, Florence," I said.

I crouched down beside Florence and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her against me and balancing my chin on her head. She giggled but didn't try and wrestle her way out of my grip instead she leaned into me and wrapped her small fingers around my wrists. We both stared at the gravestone, my eyes roaming over the words engraved on the stone and hoping Grandfather would have liked it.

The grave had been put in the family plot, alongside his parents and Aunt Emily. All four stones sat together, a child reunited with his parents and a mother waiting to be reunited with her family. I liked the idea Florence had of all of them being together again, it gave me hope that one day I would be able to see Grandfather again and we could all be together. That wouldn't be for a while yet, I wanted to make him proud.

The debate at school had been the first step in trying to make him proud of me and I intended to do a lot more than that over the coming years. Grandfather used to tell me that I could do anything if I believed I would be able to, and I firmly believed that to be the case. If he thought I could do it, even if he wasn't there to witness it, I had to at least try.

"Are you alright?" Father asked as we walked through the churchyard and towards the car. Anna and John ran further ahead, weaving in and out of the gravestones as they went.

"I'm fine, just thinking."

"That's dangerous.

I smacked him lightly on the arm. "Don't be rude."

"Alright, alright. You have a painful slap, Missie," Father rubbed his arm. "What are you thinking about?"

"Whether or not Grandfather would be proud of me."

"He would be. After your performance in the debate, the way you decided for yourself that you wanted to get up and deliver the speech. That took a lot of determination and he would be so proud of you for doing it."

Father wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him, giving me a light squeeze before releasing me. I smiled and took off at a light jog to try and catch up to Anna and John who were still zipping around the gravestones like their life depended on it. Since my ankle had healed, or at least Father had given me the all-clear, I had tried to have a little more fun with the younger ones. I would play dolls with Anna and Florence or help John to climb a tree just so I could have something to do to distract myself from my own thoughts. Father said distractions were good.

We reached the car and I scrambled into the back with Mother, Father taking the seat up front next to Marsh who had been with us in the churchyard but had decided to hang back. When we were all seated, and the road clear, we headed back towards the house to set up for a small celebration we were giving in honour of Grandfather. Father had promised no interruptions this time, we could be certain of since we hadn't heard a thing from Grandmother or Aunt Matilda since our day at Mr Greenway's office.

When we arrived home, I returned to my room to change out of my black dress and in favour of something a little more suited to the weather. I changed into a white blouse and pale blue skirt that stopped at my mid-calf. Around my waist, I secured a black belt that had a silver clasp in the centre but I decided not to change my shoes and wore my plain, black boots downstairs and out to the back where Mother waited for me.

"I don't think I have ever seen those clothes before," Mother said.

"Uncle James made them for me since I don't like tea dresses."

"Hm, they suit you. I thought we might ask him to make you a walking suit, for when you're a little older, obviously."

"Really?"

Mother nodded. "If you want to be a lawyer, you need an outfit to go with it, do you not? Or if you just want to wear it when you win your next debate."

"I don't think I'll be doing another one until everyone else has had a turn."

"Not that anyone would want to go against you, they wouldn't stand a chance," Uncle Christopher said, sliding up to us with a drink in hand.

"How would you know? You weren't there."

"No, but I've heard all about it and saw you in action at Mr Greenway's. The world better be ready for the moment you're allowed to step into a courtroom."

"Go and have some fun, Izzy. I expect your cousins are waiting to play a game of tag with you."

"Alright. I'll see you later."

I kissed Mother on the cheek and took off across the grass to play with the younger ones, all of them preparing to try and beat me. Harry and Frank had been coerced into joining in by Aunt Charlotte and even Sebastian, Cole, and Oliver had decided to join in. There were very few occasions in which we all spent time together and just played a game since the older boys were always so busy with work.

The younger ones declared that Sebastian would be the person to start the game since he was the oldest out of all of us and it would make the game less unfair that way. Of course, Sebastian had never been about being fair and would immediately target the younger ones because he knew it meant he could just stand in the corner the entire game.

Almost immediately, Sebastian made a b-line for Anna who just managed to avoid Sebastian's hand but changed direction at the last minute. Annoyed that his plan hadn't worked, he changed tactics and went for John who wasn't paying attention and didn't move out of the way in time. Sebastian touched him on the shoulder and then took off in the opposite direction before John could tag him back.

From there, the game became John running around the grounds and everyone avoiding him by moving just before he could reach them. It seemed a little unfair to me so eventually, after I joined in a few times, I allowed John to tap me lightly on the arm before I charged after Oliver to try and get him to join in. Oliver, although faster than me, wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and appeared to forget that I had two arms. He tried to dodge when I reached out with my right hand so I just hit him lightly with my left instead.

"I think I'm done," I called, "My ankle aches a bit."

"Liar," Sebastian yelled.

"Coming from a cheater."

"Takes one to know one."

I laughed and walked over towards the food table in search of a glass of lemonade, or anything to help cool me down. It hadn't been a complete lie, my ankle did hurt a little, but it wasn't enough to pull me from the game.

At the food table, I found Mother deep in a conversation with a childhood friend, Mrs Lucy Ainsworth. I grabbed a glass of lemonade and took a sip, allowing the bubbles and cold sensation to help cool me down. Along with the drink, I grabbed a small slice of cake from the table and shuffled my way over to the conversation unfolding between Mrs Ainsworth and Mother.

"How did she even find out that Mr Ealing was on the ship?" Mrs Ainsworth asked.

"Robert believes she might have found out from his aunt. He wrote to her telling her that his father would be away, she must have read the letter," Mother said.

"Ingenious, if you ask me. She had determination, at least. Pity, it didn't work."

"We think she's returned up north, Robert has written to his aunt to tell her everything. She might not have a place to live any longer."

Mrs Ainsworth laughed. "Sneaky, very sneaky." She peered around Mother. "And how are you doing, Miss Isabel?"

"Fine. I have two working legs now, which is progress."

"One more than your mother."

"At least she still 'as 'er's," Mr Ainsworth said, joining in with the conversation. He waved his prosthetic arm around and grinned.

"I think Mathias wins this one."

"Don't say that, he'll never let it go." Mrs Ainsworth shook her head. "A little birdy told me that you want to go into law, Izzy."

"The little birdy talks too much."

I took another sip of my lemonade and stared over at the game of tag which was still ongoing just a short distance away from us. Even though I had become pretty set on the idea of becoming a lawyer, I didn't want anyone to know just yet. There would still be a long way to go until I made it to that point, including a complete law change to allow women to practice. I may have had the dream, but I needed to achieve it first and I didn't want the expectations to be placed on me.

"You're overthinking again," Father said, nodding his head towards me and taking a sip of his wine.

"She takes after her mother there."

"Unfortunately true," Mother said, smiling a little.

"Do you think that was the last time we'll see Grandmother and Aunt Matilda?" I asked, turning to Father.

"I hope so. They'll stay away if they know what is good for them. With any luck, you won't have to see them ever again."

"Good. We don't need them."

Father smiled and placed his glass down on the table. He stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around me the same way I had done to Florence at the churchyard. "Definitely not."

I pressed my back against Father and watched the game unfold in front of me. Sebastian continued to toy with the younger ones, Oliver chased down Frank, Jon continued to stand there without a care in the world and Anna grew increasingly more frustrated. Elsewhere, Uncle Zachariah rocked Hannah back and forth in her pram with his foot and scribbled away on sheets of paper at the same time. Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Jasper were speaking to Father's cousin and Mother's old friend.

Uncle Christopher stood off to one side with Mr Dietrich who I hadn't even known had attended the party. Uncle Matthew, Uncle James, Aunt Lily, and Aunt Kitty all stood together in conversation with one another, laughing and joking.

The sun beat down on us and I glanced up towards the sky and the few clouds that passed by us. I couldn't help but smile.

Grandfather would be proud of the family we had created.

I knew he would.

~~~

A/N - And that is the last chapter of Will and Testament! Thank you all for coming along on this journey with me, I really enjoyed writing this story and I hope you enjoyed reading it! No updates on the sequel as of yet, but I will update you all in the new year!

Thoughts on the final chapter? What would you guys like to see in a sequel?

Comment below!

First Published - December 21st, 2021