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Dax continued, “She was the sort of mom who worked long hours but never brought home any of it. I barely knew what she did until not that long ago, because all I remember of my childhood was her whole focus being on me and my brothers. When she was with us, we always had her full attention. We didn’t go on too many vacations, but sometimes our sports took us out of town. I had a tournament in Virginia once, and she spent the entire time we were there telling us how they’d named the place after her.”

Everyone chuckled.

Dax smiled ruefully. “Thing is, I loved her so much it didn’t even cross my mind that it might not be true.”

His voice cracked, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d had no idea about any of this, but a tear rolled down my cheek at his memories of her, and I wasn’t the only one. Several of the women around me had tears in their eyes too. Isabella openly cried, reminding me that Virginia had been a mother figure to her and Luca too, after working in their home their whole lives.

Dax stared up at the cloudy, wintery sky and blinked a few times, trying to get himself under control.

Everyone gave him grace, murmuring words of encouragement.

He sucked in a deep breath and gazed over at them again. “My mother did deserve to have a state named after her. But she also deserves to have her only grandchild named in honor as well.”

Stewart’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise. “Dax…I know your mother would be honored but…”

Roarke cut in with a grin. “Please don’t name my nephew Virginia.”

Everyone laughed, me and Dax and Lynx and Luca included. I nodded at Roarke thankfully because I suddenly felt like I could talk.

“His name is James Blue. James from the James River, and Blue from the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Dax put his arm around me and gave his brother a look. “They’re in Virginia, if you didn’t get the connection.”

Everyone laughed again, and Roarke grinned biggest of all.

“I got it, I got it. I remember that trip. We saw the river and the mountains. She loved them.” He raised his beer at his brother. “To James Blue, wherever you are. We hope you come back real soon, little buddy. Because we’re all waiting to meet you.”

Dax’s dad stared into his son’s eyes with watery ones of his own and nodded. “She’s watching over him, you know. Wherever he is, she’s there, keeping him safe. I firmly believe that.”

I couldn’t help myself. I crossed the yard, and Stewart stood. Without any hesitation, he folded me into his embrace, and I hugged him back, crying on his shirt for how much I missed his wife. For how cruel it was that Virginia and Stewart were the sort of parents I so wished I had, and that she’d been taken from us much too soon.

“My boy needs you,” Stewart whispered in my ear, releasing me.

And I needed him too. I went back to Dax’s side, and he enclosed me in his arms once more. Lynx raised the beer someone had given him, and everyone around us joined him.

“To James Blue,” we all said in unison.

And then I added, “And to Virginia.”

Everyone repeated her name, and I realized how wrong I’d been in not doing this before now. It felt good to say their names out loud. To talk about them both with love and hope, instead of fear and sadness.

Dax waved one hand in the air, motioning he still had something he wanted to say. “There’s one more thing I wanted to do today. And I’m springing this on Levi. Sorry, bud, I probably should have asked you about this before.”

Reaper rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Am I getting fired? Because if I am, this is a really awkward way to do it.”

Everyone laughed, and Dax shook his head.

“The exact opposite, actually. I’m hoping you’ll give me some new ink.”

Reaper raised his eyebrow. “You want me to tattoo you? Me, the apprentice…you want me to tattoo my boss?”

Dax sniggered. “Is that really so surprising? You don’t think you’re good enough?”

Reaper seemed doubtful.

Dax’s mouth dropped open in mock outrage. “I trained you!”

King and Roarke both looked insulted.