This is one of the best stories I have read. It has an uplifting theme even in the midst of destruction and turmoil which is a lesson of enduring encouragement for everyone everywhere. It also says to me that family (past, present, and future) is so important, and love endures forever no matter what else happens. I also loved the "romance" in the story. Excellent!
Sean's Mother was very wise with the statement "The best cure for worry is work." Very well said.
There were a few things that I noticed which did not seem entirely clear, in my opinion, and may need some extra proofreading, etc., and they are:
In paragraph 5, the sentence .. "She let the soil fall through her calloused fingers
a back onto the resting place of the mound’s inhabitants."
Note: Should that be "and"?
In paragraph 6, the sentence..."The girl smiled; whatever his reasons for coming here were, he had
least demonstrated a level of respect to this place and its original denizens that had not been seen in about two decades."
Note: Should that be "atleast"??
In paragraph 12, "As she had expected, the place had been indeed seen to by human element, and recently at that."
In paragraph 16, "She heard the squishy sound of water being squeezed out of the material as
the moved."
In paragraph 23, "He wiped the thick beads of goo formed from his sweat mixing with dust off his face with his cape."
Note: May need some commas as it seems to all run together.
In paragraph 44, "She cupped her
head around his head and pulled it toward her lips."
Note: Should that be "cupped her hands"??