Cheyenne walks over to Danny, hugging him tightly.
She puts her hand on his, and he looks up at her, smiling.
“Boys,” Cheyenne says. “I’m moving back home. I’ve read up on everything he needs and talked to the surgeon. I know his post-operative care like a songbook.” She smiles proudly. “I’m going to help your father recuperate.”
“Great,” Patty says. “We appreciate the help.”
Danny shakes his head. “You don’t understand,” he says. Cheyenne puts her hand on his shoulder, and for a second, they look like a team. “Your mother wants to be the one helping me through my recovery.”
“Completely,” Cheyenne adds. “We got a home health nurse we can call in case of an emergency, but Danny and I have talked, and this is something we both want.”
Sean’s laughing, his eyes wet. “Really, Mom? You’re really coming home?”
A sob escapes her, but it’s half laugh, too. “I’m back, sweet boy,” she says. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Sean laughs again, throwing his arms around his mom and then his dad.
The way he loves so openly is a beautiful thing.
But then Patty nods, clearing his throat, and emotion rises like a tide in me. This subtle show of emotion is every bit as beautiful.
“It’s good to have you back, Mom,” he says, his shoulders shaking, his arms around me, his body humming with unspoken emotion.
Then he gives his parents a watery grin that makes me sniff.
Cheyenne’s demeanor, her body language, her countenance—they’re all so different from when we met only a few weeks ago.
She’s a changed woman.
And she looks so much happier for it.
“I appreciate every sacrifice you boys have made for our family, for the bar. But you’re still young. You have lives of your own,” Danny says, holding his wife’s hand in spite of all the yearsof heartache. He looks at his sons, his eyes overflowing with love and pride. “And we want you to live them. Your mother and I will be just fine.”
I don’t go home immediately, even though I need to pack for the wedding. I can’t go now, when Patty and his family are talking, laughing.
Healing.
We sit around the family room sharing stories and catching up, and the feeling gets more open, more beautiful as the minutes turn to hours.
When the subject of my tour comes up, Cheyenne gives me a glowing smile.
“What you did for your Daddy was so touching,” she says. “Danny sent me the video that night. I already wanted to come home, but it made me realize we ain’t never too old for redemption.”
“Never,” I say. “We’re never too old, too far gone, too grumpy,” I add, elbowing Patty.
“Too handsome,” he shoots back.
“Never,” I grin.
“Too handsome?” Sean teases. “Have you seen that guy?” His phone rings before Patty can retort.
Sean sticks out his tongue and gets up from the table.
“Hello,” he says.
His eyes pop.
“Yes.”
