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The large Merryweather clan settled permanently in Las Vegas, although Bev, the matriarch of the family, could never be convinced to permanently leave Sheffield.
Besides her own grandchildren, she had five grand-nieces and grand-nephews thanks to Ayla’s sister, Amy, and brother, Allan. Despite being eighty-seven, she could recite all eleven children’s full names and birthdates, as well as what was on their ever-changing Christmas and birthday wish lists.
Mick had risen to head of corporate security for Watterson Gaming International, a goliath casino conglomerate with properties on three continents. His seven-figure salary meant that Ayla had given up her pre-dawn shifts at NPE long ago to be a stay-at-home mom for her beautiful brood.
Preston had been named to the United States Olympic rugby team for the 2036 games, prompting The Sheffield Telegraph to interview Mick and Preston and pen an article about the athletic legacy of the Merryweather family, focusing on Frank and his tragic death, all those years ago. His mother was quoted in the article, “Preston is my son come back to me.”
His statue still stood at Bramall Lane, where mourners still covered it with flowers each year on the anniversary of the accident.
Preston’s wife, Mya, was a Sheffield girl he’d met while visiting his grandmother prior to his senior year at Stanford. They were wed within a month of meeting, against the advice of all their family and friends. Preston knew better.
Love doesn’t wait.
Their first-born, Harry, arrived two weeks after Preston’s graduation.
Mick had tried to broker peace with Ayla’s family, but to no avail. He had the door shut in his face when he knocked on it and introduced himself, and although he sent Christmas cards and birth and graduation announcements, they received only silence in return.
The entire extended family, all of Amy and Allan’s kids, as well as Ayla’s, spent a traditional week at Disneyland every year during Christmas break, financed by Mick and Ayla. Bev attended each and every one, the sweetest, most loving grandmother and grand-aunt imaginable.
Ayla and Mick poured themselves into their own children, raising four girls and two boys who shared the beauty and grit of their momma, the courage of their daddy, and a single-minded obsession to bring glory to the Merryweather name, and never bring it shame.
THE END
