After dropping off the cookies, Helen decided to take Griffin to the best spot for the fireworks display, the hill that looked right over the lake.
“The kids and I would always get here early and stake out the spot,” Helen explained as they walked toward the rise. “It’s probably already taken, but you can see practically the whole town from there. The fireworks would reflect over the water, and it made them look twice as spectacular.”
As they reached the rise Helen shaded her eyes from the setting sun to see who had taken over their spot this year.
The tears she had held at bay earlier threatened again when she saw a large blanket spread out and all three of her children and their spouses sitting there.
Lily looked ecstatic, her pregnancy giving her a glow that no makeup could replicate. Marc sat behind her, rubbing the small of her back and whispering something in her ear. Steven and Sammy were playing a card game and arguing over who was going to “pay up” when they got home.
And Evelyn was showing Logan how to make daisy chains out of the wild flowers growing all around them.
Helen just wanted to drink in the sight of her family, happy and together, for a moment. The image brought forth a rush of emotions that threatened to swallow her whole. Unsure what to do, with her tears or herself, Helen turned to walk away, but was stopped by Griffin, who was blocking her escape.
“It’s now or never, Helen.”
“I’m just not ready.”
“But I am.”
Startled at the sound of Logan’s voice, Helen turned to look at her firstborn, unable to deal with whatever disparaging remarks he had for her now. “Logan, I don’t want to fight with you.”
“And I don’t want to fight with you.” Logan flushed a bit, as if reading the doubt on her face. “Honestly.”
“Then what do you want?”
Logan looked away for a moment in Evelyn’s direction, as if seeking her strength to go on. When he turned back to look at Helen, his perturbed face reminded her so much of when he was a child that for a second she wanted to smile. “To stop being so angry all the time?”
Him and her both. “I can’t go through the rest of my life, no matter how short it might be, fighting with you over things in the past. There are no words of apology I can utter that will change the past, nor is there a way I can wave a magical wand and make it all disappear.”
“I know. I just … hell.”
Logan squeezed his eyes tightly together, and a part of Helen died inside. Things weren’t going to be better. He still hated her. Unable to deal with it, Helen turned to walk away, but was brought up short at his words.
“Mom … I’m sorry.”
Out of all the things he could have ever said to her, “sorry” was the last word she would have expected. Hopeful, Helen turned back to him, wanting more than anything to pull him into her arms.
“Sorry?”
“Yes, but not just sorry, I’m grateful, thankful to you for all that you did.”
“We all are, Mom.” Steven walked up from behind Logan with a smiling Lily right on his tail.
“I can understand sorry, because to be honest, you all were behaving like a couple of shits, but I don’t think I understand what you’re thankful or grateful for.”
Logan actually blushed as he explained. “We know you did a lot for us growing up, probably a lot more than we ever knew. We never appreciated you and what you did, and we never said thank you. So even though it’s almost twenty years later, we want you know we are thankful and grateful.” Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek and awkwardly hugged her.
Helen was reeling from all the revelations.
She didn’t know how to respond to Logan, other than to hug him in return.
Steven pulled Helen into his arms, giving her a quick hug.
“So, do you forgive us, Mom?”
Helen laughed shakily. “You always were the one who tried to cajole me into a generous mood. I ought to make you suffer some. Besides, you haven’t apologized to Griffin yet.”
Logan stepped forward and offered Griffin his hand. “I was an ass. I apologize.”
Griffin took his hand and shook it. “Yes, you were. I accept your apology. But if you ever hurt your mother again, I might have to hurt you.”
Logan nodded seriously, obviously taking Griffin’s words to heart.
Steven and Lily quickly added their own apologies.
Helen stood in amazement at all that had happened in the scant hour since she and Griffin had arrived at the lake. She had been ready to run like a coward, but because of Griffin’s support and belief in her, she had faced her fears and was once again reconciled with her family.
“Happy?” Griffin asked as he guided her over to the blanket and helped her find a seat before joining her.
Helen looked around, surrounded by family, and smiled back at Griffin. “Do you even have to ask? You are the best.”
“Me, I didn’t do anything.”
“Bullshit. I know you had a hand in this. I don’t know how, and I don’t care. I’m just happy. I’ve got my family and the man I love. What more could I want?”
Griffin leaned forwarded and whispered in her ear. “If you can’t think of anything, I can.”
“Really?” Interest piqued, Helen leaned back into him, smiling to herself as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Oh, yeah.”
“Like what?”
“I think that after we’re done watching these fireworks we should go back to my house and create some fireworks of our own.”
Blushing, Helen glanced around to make sure no one could overhear them. It was a silly fear, of course, because everyone was either watching the lightning show or snuggling themselves. “I think I can grow to like that idea.”
“I’m positive I can make you love it.”
“Like you made me love you.” Helen looked up at him, with all the love she was feeling shining in her eyes.
“You made me love you first.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did. I loved you from the moment I saw you. I was just waiting for you to notice me.”
“Sorry it took so long.”
“Didn’t you know? All the best things in life are worth waiting for.”
Helen moved in his arms until she was kneeling in front of him. Although it had taken over half a century to find this man, Griffin was right — the wait had been worth it. Worth all the years of heartache and hardship, because those days were over and she had a future to look forward to, a future filled with laughter and love with this wonderful man.
“I promise you, I’ll make sure you think I was worth the wait.”
“I already do.”
THE END
Liz Andrews
I am an Ohio native who loves rooting for the home team. When I can manage to unlock myself from the ball and chain that connects me to the Internet I enjoy reading, going to the movies and hosting dinner parties for my friends. In the real world I have my MBA and work in the hospital business. However, I much prefer to escape into the world of books. I have admired and read various writers for many years and am happy to have finally joined the rank of author.
Visit Liz on the Web at www.lizandrews.net.
Lena Matthews
Lena Matthews spends her days dreaming about handsome heroes and her nights with her own personal hero. Married to her college sweetheart, she is the proud mother of an extremely smart toddler, three evil dogs, and a mess of ants that she can’t seem to get rid of.
When not writing she can be found reading, watching movies, lifting up the cushions on the couch to look for batteries for the remote control and plotting different ways to bring Buffy back on the air.
Visit Lena on the Web at www.lenamatthews.com.
chive.
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