I know. Its almost unbelievable. Ive been praying for this for so long, I cant believe its finally here.
It puts a different meaning to the word blessings, doesnt it?
The four of them together in the same house. Danielles throat ached with gratitude. How very easily this moment could have never happened.
Katherine washed her hands and reached for a towel. Oh, I can hear Tyler.
They both strained to listen to the little boy in the neighboring room, his voice clear and sweet. Daddy, thats the picture where you hit your knee when you was climbin up the steps, and you hopped around. Your whole foot tingled so Mom had to drive until we saw the moose.
You remember all that? Jonas asked in his resonant baritone.
Yep. I remember lotza stuff. I got lotza brains.
Danielle put her hand over her mouth to hold in the giggle.
Go on. Katherines eyes were sparkling with mirth as she dried her hands. Get back to your husband. Ive got it covered here.
I owe you. Expect retaliation when you least expect it.
Oh, that would be wonderful. You know how I love your lasagna.
I know. One evening soon, shed make sure to pay back Katherine for her thoughtfulness tonight, but it couldnt be enough. Nothing could be. It had been twelve long months that her entire family had been rallying around her and pitching in with the housework and the child care. As much as she appreciated itand she did very muchthe weight of the guilt over inconveniencing them choked her. It was time to start paying back.
She put her hand on her daughters soft downy head and gently turned her in the direction of the living room. They went a few paces before Madison suddenly stopped chatting, wrapped one arm around Danielles knee and dug in her heels.
Strange. Danielle knew that the little girl hadnt seen Jonas since their brief trip to Seattle for Christmas. Cmon, baby, lets go see your daddy.
No. Madison dropped her phone and buried her face in her hands.
Danielle knelt downwhich was awkward since Madison still had one arm tightly around her kneeand realized Jonas was watching them from the couch. Tyler was camped down beside his dad on the cushion, his feet tucked beneath him, shoes and all.
Cmon, Madison! Tyler called out. Mom made the fudge cookies.
Fudge cookies? Madison spread two chubby fingers to peer out and verify the truth of her big brothers claim.
And right before supper, too, Danielle thought. Only one, both of you, or youll spoil your dinner.
It was tough being the mom, because she had to face Tylers groan and Madisons gasp of distress at such news. She gently nudged her daughter forward a step. Go on, sweetie. Tyler has a cookie for you.
No. Madison removed one hand from her face, held up two fingers, reconsidered, and held up three, which meant she wanted three cookies. Her adorable little chin jutted.
Danielle knew that look. Ah, the terrible twos were such a joy. She took a breath and gathered her courage for the impending battleknowing shed come out unpopular in the endand then she felt Katherines hand on her shoulder.
She reminds me of someone, Katherine said innocently. Who could it be?
Not me. Danielle started to laugh, even as she denied it. Im not stubborn and never have been.
No, not you, Katherine agreed, laughing, as she opened the refrigerator door.
Yep, her mother had warned her this day would come. She figured the best way to deal with having a daughter just like herself was to embrace it. She unwrapped Madison from her knee. Its too bad you dont want a cookie.
No! No! Bring me some!
Danielle sighed and turned her back, unable to ignore the fact that her sister was silently laughing as she gathered condiments from the refrigerator.
Just you wait, she told Katherine as Madisons outrage was about to start. This is what babies turn into.
Not that she minded, but Madison could really screama sound best avoided. Im going to have to invest in some earplugs.
Or something. Katherine was still laughing.
Hi there, Madison, came Jonass deep and gentle voice from across the room. You want a cookie?
Danielle turned to see their daughters reaction. Madisons face, red with the beginnings of a typical two-year-old tantrum, scrunched with thought. Her chin stayed up a notch, and slowly she shook her head side to side.
No! Madison uttered that word with impressive force. She held up four fingers.
Suit yourself, Jonas said, good-naturedly. Tyler and I will eat em.
Madisons jaw dropped in surprise. Shed been startled out of her tantrum.
As Danielle knelt to retrieve Madisons plastic pink phone, Jonass gaze fastened on hers. She smiled a thank-you to him, and he nodded in acknowledgment. By the time shed handed Madison her play cell, Jonas had gone back to studying the album.
His steady baritone was warm with kindness as he asked their son, Whats this here?
Tyler, brimming with happiness, pointed to the picture. Thats where we got to make a campfire. And we had to make sure we had buckets of water and dirt ready in case it went out of control, so we didnt start a forest fire.
You did a good job.
Yep, I did. I made sure there was no forest fires! Then, after we did the smores
Mores? Jonas asked, and was rewarded with Tylers explanation of the huge smores theyd made together, the biggest ones in the whole world.
Danielle heard Katherine behind her.
Its going well, Katherine whispered, and there was a smile in her voice as she padded by on the way to the dining room table.
It was going well. She took one last look at her husband and son, side by side on the couch, already buddies again. No matter what theyd lost, and with the remaining challenges of Jonass injuries still standing between them, they had a little bit of their normal family life back.
Lord, this means everything. Thank You.
Danielle straightened Madisons pink rhinestone tiara before she opened the closest cabinet door and counted out enough plates for everyone. Madison stood in place, watching her father with wide staring eyes.
Want to go in and see your daddy, sweetie?
She shook her head, still staring.
Katherine returned from the dining room and took the plates. Shes still shy around him?
I suppose thatll eventually stop. Danielle pulled out knives and forks and then closed the drawer with her hip. Pastor Dan said to not force anything, especially with her so young, but
It will be just fine. Look at Tyler. Katherine scooped the bags of food from the counter. Hes practically floating hes so happy.
He is. Danielle smiled across the width of the house, where Jonas had gone back to watching her again. This is Katherine.
Katherine, Jonas repeated. The older sister.
Yes, that would be me. Katherine began passing the plates around the table. Im not staying for very long, she told him. Tomorrow youll meet all of us. Are you ready for that?
Ready. Jonas nodded once with his lopsided smile.
Were a scary bunch, but not dangerous. Katherine smiled at him. Jack, my husband, is looking forward to seeing you again.
Jack. Jack from up the street in Glendale. Jonas smiled. I was the new kid in third grade and he let me play basketball with him. I can remember going to high school and drivers education and all kinds of things like that. But not this. He looked around him.
Danielle saw the pain in his eyes when he turned toward her. Itll come, Jonas. One step at a time. I have faith you will remember everything. You just cant push it. Youd better come to the table, both of you. Do you need help?
I can do it. He put down the photo album and began to struggle with his walker.
Tyler, such a good little boy, grabbed the walker by the handle. Let me help, Dad. Im real strong.
Real strong, Jonas agreed, kind even when pain lined his pale face. Thanks, buddy.
Danielles vision blurred and she finished setting the table. The man toiling with his walker, scooting forward one slow step at a time, reached the table exhausted.
Ill let myself out, Katherine said quietly from the kitchen. Jonas, Im going to keep praying for you.
Th-thank you. He looked weary as he eased into the chair.
When she laid her hand on his big shoulder, Danielle could feel the tension corded up like hard ropes. How difficult this had to be for him, coming to a home and a life and a family he could not remember. He was weak and wounded and not the man he was. He must have been able to see that, she realized now, seeing himself in the photo album.
A downside she hadnt anticipated.
Aching for him, she left her hand on his shoulder and kept the contact between them. Goodbye, Kath, and thanks again.
Katherine glanced over her shoulder as she snagged her designer purse from the counter. Ill see you all tomorrow. Good night, and, Jonas, its so good to see you home.
Danielle felt her husband nod in acknowledgment, but her heart was too full of emotions too complicated to sort out. Tyler was climbing into his chair at the table, and Madison was mutinouslyalthough adorablyrunning after her departing aunt, then looking at her parents, who were not acknowledging her mutiny, and her lower lip stuck out farther.
All right! Mexi-fries! Tyler pumped his fist in victory. I getta say grace. Can I? Please?
If its all right with your dad. It felt fantastic to say that again, but Jonas only looked at her bewildered, as if he had no idea why it would or wouldnt be his call. So she answered in his place. I guess it is. Let me get Madison to the table.
No. Madison looked pretty determined as she studied her father. She clutched her cell phone tightly.
Cmon, ple-eeeeese. Tyler was about to burst with so much excitement. Daddy, shes been like this a lot. Im tryin to be a good big brother, but its hard.
I can see that, Jonas said quietly with a wink.
Not willing to scoop the child up and risk a meltdown, Danielle knelt to size up the situation. Dont you want Mexi-fries?
Madison bobbed her head once in a serious nod. Her tiara winked as it caught the overhead light.
Then come to the table, princess. Danielle held out her hand, palm up, hoping for a little toddler cooperation.
Madison turned her serious gaze to her daddy on the far side of the table. I wanna sit by yew, Mommy.
Over the top of their daughters head, she could see the hurt on Jonass face. As little as Madison was, she knew there was something differentmuch differentabout the father whod come home to them. Tyler was too excited to truly notice, but would his security be blown apart when he did?
Ill cross that bridge when I get there, she reminded herself. Prayer, tonight, would help as it always did. With the Lords grace, perhaps Jonas would recover quickly enough that Tyler wouldnt realize it. Jonas had already defied the doctors dim prognosis so far. Yes, she decided, steeling her spine, she would rely on her faith. God would make this right.
Ill scoot your chair closer to mine, hows that? Danielle waited for Madison to consider this. When the toddler placed her sticky little hand on hers, Danielle sighed with relief. One tantrum avoided. Good girl. Lets get you up. Look at Tyler. Youre making him wait.
Hurry, Maddy, Tyler added, helping out. Were all gettin shorter. We need Mexi-fries now!
A family joke, but Jonass forehead furrowed as if he were trying to make sense of that. Shed tell him later about the joke of how the deep-fried Tater Tots kept a person from shrinking, she thought, as she buckled Madison in.
The instant she dropped into her own seat, she could feel the exhaustion in her muscles and bones. She folded her hands and bowed her head just in time, for Tyler was already sayingor more accurately, shoutinggrace.
Thanks for the eats, Lord! God bless us every one! Tyler, proud of himself, added, Amen!
Volume, kiddo, she reminded him after shed added her own amen. You dont need to shout. God can hear you just fine.
Yeah, but Hes all the way up in the sky. When Uncle Spence was on the roof cleaning the gutters, remember how loud I had to talk sos he could hear me? Tyler helped himself to the tub of Mexi-fries. He dumped a generous portion on his plate. The sky is really far up.
How could she argue with that? She took the tub from him and added Mexi-fries to her and Madisons plates, before she realized Jonass plate remained empty.
Ill help you, too, she said quietly. Let me get the kids dished up.
He looked away, his eyes veiled, his face like stone. Tyler was chatting away, trying to decide from the options of tacos and nachos and burritos. Madison talked over the top of him, wanting her taccas.
As she unwrapped Madisons chicken soft taco and cut it into quarters, and then helped Tyler search through the bags for the tacos that were his, she tried to keep the sadness from her heart. Shed known it would be like this. The doctors had been clear and had been warning her through the long journey of Jonass recovery.
Everything had changed. There were no more loving looks across the table between them, and no more knowing looks that meant they were storing up cute things the kids were doing to be talked about and laughed over afterward. There were no mutual conversations about his day at work or hers at home with the kids, the way there always used to be. There was just silence and the typical noises that came from having two small children at the table.
She hadnt realized the depth of their love, and the importance of the meaningful bond that linked her spirit to his, until it was gone. Until there was nothing but silence between two strangers, with their children between them. That meant the love theyd shared was gone, too.
She quietly circled the table and unwrapped the two chicken burritos for Jonas and added a heap of Mexi-fries to his plate. Her footsteps echoed in the silence as she retraced the path back to her chair.
No! No! No! Noooooooo! Madisons declaration of independence rang in the main bathroom at high enough decibel levels to break city ordinances. I kin do it!
Danielle slumped onto the closed lid of the toilet, dripping wet from helping her daughter with her bath. The steam had frizzed her hair, and she felt wilted as she rested her face in her hands. Steam swirled around her, driven by the current from the door swinging open and a half-clad Madison pounding across the hall to her bedroom. There was a yanking sound as she dragged open the lower drawer in her little white dresser.