heart—the only place it truly mattered—this was his grandfather.
His heart recognized him even if his mind or memory didn’t. Jesse felt another chill race over him, followed quickly by a shiver that had him clenching his fists tightly.
Something deep inside him, in that place where there had always been this mysterious ache of longing and yearning, slowly seemed to fill.
He could only remember crying once in his life, when his mother passed on, but now he felt the quick burn of tears against his eyes, dampening his lashes. Jesse had to swallow, then clear his throat to speak.
“Grandpop.”
That one precious, welcoming word had the strength and energy draining from Tommy, had him blinking in joy, leaving his heart racing, his knees shaky.
“Aye, lad, ’tis me, Grandpop.” Tommy’s legs were so shaky he feared they wouldn’t hold him up. He reached out his free hand toward Jesse, and for the first time in memory truly felt his age. His hand, gnarled now with age and arthritis, shook like a sapling in a storm.
“Jesse.” His grandson’s name came out a hoarse, broken sob as Tommy’s knees buckled and he almost went down. Strong arms reached for him in much the same way he had once reached for, rescued and protected the young lad.
“Grandpop.” Alarmed, Jesse caught his grandfather and held him in his arms. “I’m here, Grandpop. It’s okay, I’m here.” Jesse simply held his grandfather, letting his eyes close and letting the emotions he’d tried to ignore all these months roll over him in a wave of love, loss and longing.
Shaken to the core, Tommy clung to his grandson. The lad’s arms were strong and muscled, he thought proudly, letting his eyes close again. He just needed a minute, he told himself. Only a minute.
Tommy took a slow, deep breath to calm himself and the storm of memories and emotions marching wildly through him, shaking him to the core. His life in all its glory passed swiftly through his mind, and he knew in his heart of hearts this would be the crowning moment, the jewel of the joy in his wonderfully blessed life.
No man could ever want or need more.
Tilting his head back, Tommy’s eyes opened and he looked into the blue eyes of his beloved grandson, unashamed of the tears that coursed down his cheeks.
“Aye, lad, how I’ve missed you.” Tommy continued to cling to the lad’s strength, needing to actually touch Jesse, to feel him, to know he was real. This moment was real and not just another dream where he’d awake disappointed and heartsick. Tommy wanted to savor every single second of this and bury it in his heart forever.
“I know, Grandpop.” Jesse blinked back his own tears and held on to his grandfather tighter, not wanting to let him go just yet, feeling the enormous surge of love flowing from Tommy to him, leaving him awash in feelings so strong he wasn’t certain his own legs would hold.
Lifting his head, Jesse let his gaze absorb his surroundings. They seemed achingly familiar, yet evoked no distinct memories.
At the moment he didn’t need the actual memories. He had the feelings, and for now that was more than enough. Taking a deep breath, Jesse looked back down at his grandfather.
“Welcome home, lad,” Tommy said with a brilliant smile that shimmered through tears. “Welcome home.”
“Mama, why are you peeking out the window?” Riley asked, giving her grape Popsicle another lick, trying to catch a drip before it splattered on her top as she stood behind her mother in Tommy’s kitchen.
Startled, Hannah gave a little shriek. The wooden spoon covered with remnants of the chocolate mousse she’d been making for the celebratory dinner this evening went flying, splattering bits of gooey chocolate all over the counter, the floor and a part of the wall.
“Riley.” Whirling on her daughter, Hannah pressed a hand to her rampaging heart. “You scared the life out of me.”
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Riley said, taking another lick of
His heart recognized him even if his mind or memory didn’t. Jesse felt another chill race over him, followed quickly by a shiver that had him clenching his fists tightly.
Something deep inside him, in that place where there had always been this mysterious ache of longing and yearning, slowly seemed to fill.
He could only remember crying once in his life, when his mother passed on, but now he felt the quick burn of tears against his eyes, dampening his lashes. Jesse had to swallow, then clear his throat to speak.
“Grandpop.”
That one precious, welcoming word had the strength and energy draining from Tommy, had him blinking in joy, leaving his heart racing, his knees shaky.
“Aye, lad, ’tis me, Grandpop.” Tommy’s legs were so shaky he feared they wouldn’t hold him up. He reached out his free hand toward Jesse, and for the first time in memory truly felt his age. His hand, gnarled now with age and arthritis, shook like a sapling in a storm.
“Jesse.” His grandson’s name came out a hoarse, broken sob as Tommy’s knees buckled and he almost went down. Strong arms reached for him in much the same way he had once reached for, rescued and protected the young lad.
“Grandpop.” Alarmed, Jesse caught his grandfather and held him in his arms. “I’m here, Grandpop. It’s okay, I’m here.” Jesse simply held his grandfather, letting his eyes close and letting the emotions he’d tried to ignore all these months roll over him in a wave of love, loss and longing.
Shaken to the core, Tommy clung to his grandson. The lad’s arms were strong and muscled, he thought proudly, letting his eyes close again. He just needed a minute, he told himself. Only a minute.
Tommy took a slow, deep breath to calm himself and the storm of memories and emotions marching wildly through him, shaking him to the core. His life in all its glory passed swiftly through his mind, and he knew in his heart of hearts this would be the crowning moment, the jewel of the joy in his wonderfully blessed life.
No man could ever want or need more.
Tilting his head back, Tommy’s eyes opened and he looked into the blue eyes of his beloved grandson, unashamed of the tears that coursed down his cheeks.
“Aye, lad, how I’ve missed you.” Tommy continued to cling to the lad’s strength, needing to actually touch Jesse, to feel him, to know he was real. This moment was real and not just another dream where he’d awake disappointed and heartsick. Tommy wanted to savor every single second of this and bury it in his heart forever.
“I know, Grandpop.” Jesse blinked back his own tears and held on to his grandfather tighter, not wanting to let him go just yet, feeling the enormous surge of love flowing from Tommy to him, leaving him awash in feelings so strong he wasn’t certain his own legs would hold.
Lifting his head, Jesse let his gaze absorb his surroundings. They seemed achingly familiar, yet evoked no distinct memories.
At the moment he didn’t need the actual memories. He had the feelings, and for now that was more than enough. Taking a deep breath, Jesse looked back down at his grandfather.
“Welcome home, lad,” Tommy said with a brilliant smile that shimmered through tears. “Welcome home.”
“Mama, why are you peeking out the window?” Riley asked, giving her grape Popsicle another lick, trying to catch a drip before it splattered on her top as she stood behind her mother in Tommy’s kitchen.
Startled, Hannah gave a little shriek. The wooden spoon covered with remnants of the chocolate mousse she’d been making for the celebratory dinner this evening went flying, splattering bits of gooey chocolate all over the counter, the floor and a part of the wall.
“Riley.” Whirling on her daughter, Hannah pressed a hand to her rampaging heart. “You scared the life out of me.”
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Riley said, taking another lick of
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