Sander didn’t know what to do with Elias’s obvious agony. He could read it in every line of his son’s body, see it in every angle of Elias’s face. Instinct made him leave Chey’s side to go closer, prepared to ask Elias what was on his mind.

The reflection in the glass showed him that Elias was still suffering. A sharp frown marred his son’s brow and Elias’s mouth had pulled into a tight line.

And then their eyes met.

Elias’s expression shifted from distress to . . . something else. Sander watched the metamorphosis with his breath caught in his throat. It was an amazing sight to see as enlightenment brightened Elias’s eyes and turned the distress into wonder.

When Elias turned around, Sander knew.

He knew Elias had finally regained his memory.

Instead of staring into a stranger’s eyes, he stared into his son’s. The difference between the two could not have been more obvious.

Sander threw his arms around Elias and hugged him tight. Relief surged through him at such a rate that he grew light-headed.

Finally. Finally. Thank God.

Chey joined them with a small sob of happiness and Sander opened his posture to accept her in. Elias kissed Chey’s forehead in lieu of a hug due to his cast. Sander knew Chey wouldn’t care.

Elias was back.

That was all that mattered.

“Do you remember everything?” Sander asked when they parted.

“Yes. I can’t really describe what the sensation of remembering was like. It was just strange. All of it. Like I knew who I should be, but none of the memories were there. In the beginning, when I first woke up, it was all foreign to me. Everyone was a stranger. Imagine not knowing anyone or any part of your past. It was so alien to me that I just wanted to be away from everyone,” Elias said.

He even sounded different. It was as if the amnesia had taken away the familiar things about Elias. His tone, the cadence of his speech. Sander couldn’t believe the differences now that he’d interacted with both sides.

“I’m glad we never got to that point, because I was ready to follow you everywhere you went, you know,” Sander said. He left his arm around Chey while one hand remained on Elias’s shoulder.

Elias laughed and it was the sweetest sound Sander had ever heard.

“And I was ready to cook as many of your favorite dishes as possible,” Chey added with a shaky laugh. Tears collected in her eyes, though none spilled over.

That would come later, Sander knew, in the privacy of their bedroom. She had agonized over Elias’s condition just as much as he.

Elias hugged Chey with his good arm, grinning.

Sander clapped Elias lightly on the back, a show of solidarity and amusement.

“Your brother and sisters will be beside themselves with relief as well. We should call them in as soon as you’re ready,” Sander said.

“And Uncle Mattias. Leander and Jeremiah, too,” Elias said. “Also, I need to find Inari as soon as I clean up. She has suffered enough. I’m embarrassed at how dismissive I was toward her the entire time.”

“Not you, Elias,” Sander reminded him. “Remember that it was out of your control. She’s strong and compassionate. I’m positive she’ll understand.”

“Inari and I spent some time discussing the complexities of amnesia,” Chey added. “She gets it, you know? She understood from the beginning.”

“Thanks. It’s good to hear positive things. I’ll find you two in a little while, after I clean up. Gather everyone?” Elias asked.

Sander forced himself to release his son. It was difficult after just getting him back, so to speak.

“Of course. We’ll be here waiting.”