Chapter 14

My parents and Sara’s parents arrived at about the same time. Fortunately, I’d had a chance to clean up and the hospital gave me a smock to wear.

Sareen ran right over to her grandparents, and they took turns holding her on the other side of the room while I told them what happened.

The doctor came out with good news. While the wound was deep, and Sara had lost a lot of blood, it wasn’t serious otherwise and she should make a full recovery.

She was still unconscious in Recovery, but should be able to have limited visitors soon.

Sareen wanted her mother, but she was very tired. My parents lived closer, so they took her home, and Sara’s parents and I sat down for our nervous vigil.

It was only a couple of hours before a nurse came out.

“Is there a Mr. John here?” she asked.

“I’m John,” I said, but it’s just John, that’s my first name.”

“Well, John, Ms. O’Keefe is awake and she’s asking for you.”

I stood up to follow the nurse; as her parents stood up the nurse said, “The patient only wants John for the moment.”

Her parents weren’t thrilled, but complied with Sara’s wishes.

As I looked into the room, she looked all washed out, but when I walked in, she brightened right up.

“Oh, John,” she said, “I’m so glad you’re all right. I was so worried about you.”

“You were worried about me?” I asked, flabbergasted. “You took that slash on your arm for me, I was afraid that I was going to lose you again.”

“John, the only way you’re ever going to lose me is to run away again.”

“Sara, I’ll never run away from you again. I still love you; I’ve always loved you and never stopped loving you. I tried to stop, to make the pain go away, but it didn’t work. Now I love you more than ever. All I want is for you and Sareen to be in my life.”

“John, I hope by now you realize that I’ve always loved you. I haven’t always been smart, or acted like a grownup, but I’ve always loved you. All that I’ve ever wanted is a second chance to show you just how much I love you. I’ll never love anyone else or leave you again.”

I leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.

“Sareen went home with my parents, but yours are here, and I know that they would love to see you. I’ll send them in, then I’m going to get some rest and bring Sareen and my folks in in the morning.”

“Okay, John, just promise me that you’ll come back.”

I gave her another kiss, a little harder this time.

“You can count on it, babe,” I said with a wink.

I went back to the waiting room to give her parents the news. I called my folks, and then went home to clean up and get some rest.

I got up early, had a quick bite and went to my parents’ to pick up Sareen.

My parents followed us to the hospital, and we had a nice visit with Sara. The look of pure joy on her face when she saw Sareen gave me a thrill.

That little cherub went running across the room and threw herself on her mother. “Mamma, I was so scared,” Sareen said.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Sara said, “Mamma didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s all right; Nana and Grampa made me feel better.”

Sara mouthed, “Thank you,” to my parents.

Sara was going to have to stay in the hospital for another day, so I excused myself to take care of some business.

I went down to the police station, but it was just a formality: between the mall’s security cameras and all the witnesses, they had Conley dead to rights and he was going away for a long time.

I got together with her parents to make my arrangements, then went back to spend the afternoon with Sara, Sareen and the constant stream of visitors.

As we drove to the hospital to pick up Sara the next day, I turned to Sareen.

“Remember, baby, this is a big secret, okay?” I made a “zip the lips” motion, and Sareen giggled and copied me.

The nurses brought Sara to the car in a wheelchair, and as I helped her into the car, Sareen couldn’t seem to stop giggling.

“Okay, you two,” Sara said, “what are you up to?”

Sareen just giggled, and I smiled like a sphinx.

I had told Sara that she would be staying with me during her recuperation, so she wasn’t surprised when we pulled into my driveway.

As we approached my door, Sareen said, “Close your eyes, Mamma.”

As soon as I closed the door, Sareen told her to open her eyes.

Sara gasped and broke down as she saw our parents standing in front of a big homemade sign:

“WELCOME HOME!!”

Sara looked around, and saw many of her things placed around the living room, and Sareen’s handprints on the sign.

She hugged her parents, then mine, and I saw my mother whisper, “Welcome home” with tears in her eyes.

I cooked up some burgers and dogs on the grill, and after we ate, our parents congratulated us on getting back together and left.

Sareen was getting sleepy so we put her to bed and since it was a special occasion, we let Tomy up on her bed.

We sat in the darkened living room sipping our wine, alone in our thoughts; Sara snuggled into my shoulder.

“Tell me the truth, Sara,” I said. “Did you ever really think that we would get back to this?”