Page 165 of Delivery After Dark
“I’ll always believe your dad was looking out for all of you when he connected Alex with Jenny and me with you during the hardest time in your lives.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. Taking care of his family was always his top priority.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
“I learned from the best.” After a long pause, he said, “Can I tell you something kind of weird?”
“You can tell me anything.”
“I didn’t expect to be this sad when she finally passed.”
“You’re sad for the mom you knew before her disease progressed, and probably a little extra sad now that both your parents are gone. I’ve heard that can be a difficult transition, even when your parents are very old. You lost both of yours far too soon.”
“That’s true. Thank you for understanding. Mixed in with the sadness is a lot of relief, for her and for us.”
“Which is totally normal, too.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, Paul, it’s normal to feel relief that a terrible ordeal has ended and that your mom is finally at peace—and reunited with your dad, which is all she ever wanted.”
“She missed him so much. Sometimes I wonder if losing him didn’t somehow cause the dementia, like her brain was protecting her from his absence or something like that.”
“I suppose that’s possible.”
“Now that I have you, I have a better understanding of what it was like for her to lose my dad. They were madly in love like we are.”
“Are we madly?”
“I am.”
She squeezed his arm. “So am I, and you know it.”
“And I’m thankful for that every day, but especially on days like today.”
Ethan arrived with heavy footsteps on the porch a few minutes later.
Hope got up to greet her son and waved to Seamus from the door. “Thanks for bringing him and have a great trip!”
“Will do,” he said. “We’ll send pictures.”
Hope took Ethan’s coat and hung it on a hook by the door as he went to hug Paul.
The boy’s shoulders shook with sobs, as if he’d held in his grief until he got home to them.
“I’m s-sorry,” Ethan said. “I don’t mean to make it about me. She was your mom.”
Paul held him close. “And you were her very special friend. Of course it’s about you, too.”
Hope ran her fingers through Ethan’s hair. “You brought her so much joy, honey. From the first day we were here, she adored you. Remember?”
Ethan gave a short nod. “I was her first grandchild.”
“That’s right.” Paul’s gaze met hers over Ethan’s head. “And she loved every minute of being your grandma.”
“I won’t forget her.”
“That’s good to know, buddy. Thank you for the many ways you honored her while she was still here and for honoring her again by remembering her.”
