"We have to tell them."

Chloe soon joins you having been banished from the kitchen as well as Patty and her daughters were cooking and chatting up a storm. The smells coming from the hall were tantalizing.

"Hey there Chloe doll, come join us." Grandpa says.

Chloe seeing the three of you snuggled together takes a moment to figure out where she can squeeze in. In the end she just walks straight up and curls up on his lap, tucking up sideways so that she can see the screen. You and El take the hands that were held in front of him and now put them around Chloe as she settles down onto his body. Luckily she was small enough to pull this off. It couldn't have been comfortable for your grandpa but he seemed oh so happy as the four of you watched the light wholesome family show together in one big cuddling mass.

At one point your mother comes in to ask something but after seeing the scene she simply smiles and fades back out of the room.

It wasn't a long movie and by the time it was over dinner was ready. In high spirits you all make your way to the kitchen table. Once more chairs are brought from around the house and you all crowd around to behold the feast on display. Steamed mixed vegetables, a perfectly done beef wellington, sauteed mushrooms, a side salad, and...to Chloe's absolute joy...a big ol bowl of simple steamy creamy mashed potatoes. An apple crumble was on the counter cooling for dessert.

Your grandma talks about what a nice change it was cooking with Western ingredients again, and having a proper stove and oven to work with. She tells you about the little rudimentary range in their hut and how they often just eat stuff fresh and raw or cook out on the beach over an open flame. Even as she talks about it you see her and your grandpa share a contented glance to one another. They had truly found their place in life.

The meal stretches through the evening, no one was in a hurry for it to end. Your grandparents do a lot of the talking as they tell you all about their life and adventures. But they are also eager to hear about your lives too. They marvel at how none of their beautiful daughters and granddaughters besides Chloe have a boyfriend and encourage you all to be a bit more bold.

"I know it's tough, with the secret. But..." Your grandma looks at her partner with pure love. "...but when you find the right guy...or girl...the secret just doesn't matter. Peggy, Helen...you're not getting any younger you know."

Your mother and aunt look at each other like two schoolgirls caught passing notes in class. They share a little smile. They'd each found someone, they just couldn't say.

The night continues and by the time dessert was being served Fiona had returned. She passes your grandma a sizable baggy of ganja. Your mother wasn't crazy about it but just says. "Open a window at least." They both nod.

"I thought you were going to be late." Your grandpa says, a knowing twinkle in his eye.

She shrugs. "Eh, not everyday you guys are here." They both go and give Fiona a big hug.

The night wore on and the talk and catching up and family bonding was just wonderful. So much laughter and stories. Ever since your discovery about yourself these family dinners had just gotten better and better. It was easy to forget that not too long ago these had almost become a lost tradition. These had now become so important to you that you could hardly dream of living without them.

You notice grandpa scanning around the table with a look of such deep contentment that it touched your heart. You could sense such pride and fulfillment coming from him as he looked at his beloved Bailey women, his soul-mate and his progeny all gathered in one place. He closes his eyes a moment then looks to his wife. "We have to tell them."

The conversation and noise comes to stop. The pair of them were looking at each other as if they had just fallen in love that day. Your grandma nods.

He looks back and says. "My girls. We weren't going to say anything but...this is going to be our last trip home." He pauses a moment before adding. "Or more precisely...this will be my last trip home."

There is complete silence as the true meaning of those words slowly sink into those gathered around the family table. Your mother whispers. "Papa?"

The two of them sit side by side, serene smiles on their tanned weathered faces. He reaches across the table and takes your mother's hand. He laughs. "Time's up for this old body." He adds. "I've got a year, maybe two..."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Elsie whimpers. "Grampy, no!" From deep within you felt her cry out. Nooooo!

He smiles tenderly. "It's okay my little flower, we all have our time in the garden. It's time I make space for a new blossom to bloom."

Your mother was fluctuating between grief and denial and ire. "You were going to keep this from us! That's awful to keep such a thing to yourself. How long have you known? Keeping secrets from your own family..." She suddenly stops with a gasp. She bites her lips as she realizes the pure hypocrisy of what she was saying. Tears run down her plump cheeks.

Aunt Peg sat up taller and had a look of sheer determination on her face. "You can't go back! You have to stay. We've got the best facilities in the world here in the States. Can you have your doctor send me your files? Maybe I can..." Fiona was nodding in agreement, wanting desperately to fight this somehow. Your sister angrily wipes a tear from her eye.

He looks at his eldest daughter and shakes his head slowly. "Peggy my love...no. Stop. Just stop." He has a gentle but resolute expression. "I'm not going to spend my last time on this wonderful, beautiful living planet in clinics and labs and operating rooms. My place is with the sun and the surf and the wind." He looks around, making eye contact with each of you in turn. "When I look around at you guys I see six vibrant, strong, smart, and utterly amazingly unique women. You are each a spark of perfection itself and I am so blessed to have had the pleasure of sharing time with you in this life. When I see how you get along, the bond you have together, the love that is in this room...I know I did my job right." He looks at his wife. "We did our job right." As he looks back and as his eyes meet yours he concludes. "I am proud of each and every one of you." He continues his gaze on to the others. "You are my greatest treasures and a legacy far beyond which I deserve. I am so very blessed. I love you all so much."

There is another moment of silence, this one punctuated by sobs and weeping.

He slowly gets to his feet. "I am sorry to have dropped this on you...it's heavy I know...but I thought you should know. You deserved to know the truth." He pauses a moment once more as sniffles are heard and tears are freely flowing from every eye but theirs. "Hey...let's enjoy this visit okay? This isn't my funeral yet, I've got a lot of living to do in the meantime. The morning will be a brand new day, let's treasure it." Your grandma stands and comes to his side.

She says, sensing his fatigue. "We're so tired, it has been a very long day."

Your grandpa nods. "I'm beat." He checks his pockets and finds some matches and rolling papers. Your grandma shows him that she has their bud. They look at you all once more with that serene contented proud look and bid you good night. They had obviously made peace with all this. Now they were going to leave you, to give you time and space to make yours.

Your grandma turns to her eldest and says. "I'm glad you're staying the night Peggy. All of us under one roof. That's nice. Hopefully we'll see you in the morning before you go to work."

Peg gives her a sad cringing little smile. "Uh..yeah...staying the night." You were sure the lie tasted like bitter ash in her mouth.

With that the two of them make their way down the hall and upstairs to bed. The group of you sit looking at each other's tear filled eyes feeling absolutely despondent, grief stricken, and, even worse, guilty. Not guilty about your forbidden love for each other, but about the deception associated with it.

Not knowing what else to do or say Chloe looks up. She was blubbering, her big eyes raining tears, her pouty lips trembling. Overwhelmed with emotion she just cries. "I love you guys!"

The lot of you all get up and gather around her and hold each other tight. Together you weep.