play with him. He wasn’t sure if his dad had even answered. All he’d remembered was the side door closing with a thud. And if that memory had stuck with him all these years?
He got up from his chair. “You’re on, Cor.”
Sammy said, “Okay, big guy, show your old man some moves.”
They threw for more than an hour. Jack hadn’t lost his touch from high school. And Cory, after a few dropped balls, started catching everything that came his way. Jack could see the athleticism showing through his son’s chubby, prepubescent frame. Jackie, and even Mikki, finally joined them, and Jack ran them through some old high school football plays he remembered.
After everyone was sufficiently exhausted, Cory said, “Thanks, Dad, that was great.”
Jack rubbed his son’s head. “Nice soft pair of hands you got. Wish I had you on my football team in high school.”
Cory beamed and Jackie squealed, “Me too?”
Jack snatched Jackie up, held him upside down, and ran to the water. “You too.”
Hours later, the sun started to set while the kids were still running around in knee-deep water, building castles, chasing wide-butted Sam Jr., and throwing a Frisbee that they’d also found in the house. Sammy and Jack sat back in the tattered beach chairs, Jack with a Coke and Sammy with a Corona.
Sammy finally tipped his baseball cap over his eyes and leaned back, settling himself so deeply in the chair that his butt touched the sand. Jack drew the letter out of his pocket and opened it. In spidery handwriting, Cecilia sent her love and hope that Jack and the kids would find as much fun and contentment from the house as she and Lizzie had. As Jack read the letter it was as though Cecilia was talking to him in her richly soothing, southern cadence.
She wrote:
My life on earth is over of course, or else you wouldn’t be reading this letter. But I had a fine, old run, did everything I wanted to do, and, hell, the things that might’ve got left out I didn’t need anyway.
I’d never seen a little girl who loved the ocean and sand more than Lizzie. And she loved this old house, even though, as you know, it carries some bad memories. And Lizzie’s Lighthouse, as she called it. That child was always up there. I think Mikki, Cory, and dear Jackie will love this place too; at least that’s my hope. And I feel sure that you, Jack, will find some comfort and peace in the place where Lizzie grew up.
I know it has been a most difficult and heartbreaking time for you. I know that you loved Lizzie more than anyone could. And she loved you just as much back. Fate dealt you a terrible hand by separating you two long before you should have been. But remember that every day you wake up to those three darling children, you are waking up to the most precious things that you and Lizzie ever made together. Because of that, you will never be apart from the woman you love. That may not seem like nearly enough right now, when you want to be with her so badly. But as time goes by, you will realize that it will actually make all the difference in the world. It’s not so much that time heals all wounds, honey, as it is that the passage of the years lets us make peace with our grief in our way.
I know they called you the miracle man after you got better. But just so you know, I considered you a miracle from the moment you came into Lizzie’s life. And I know she felt the same way. You got a second chance of sorts, son, so you live your life good and well. And Lizzie willbe waiting for you when your time has run too. And I’ll probably come by for a cup of coffee myself. Until then, keep hugging those precious children and take care of yourself.
Love,
Cecilia
Jack slid the letter back in his pocket, drew a long breath, and wiped his eyes. Even though he had never been to this place before, he felt like he’d just come home. He rose, took off his shoes, and jogged out toward the water to be with his kids. When they were tired out and headed
He got up from his chair. “You’re on, Cor.”
Sammy said, “Okay, big guy, show your old man some moves.”
They threw for more than an hour. Jack hadn’t lost his touch from high school. And Cory, after a few dropped balls, started catching everything that came his way. Jack could see the athleticism showing through his son’s chubby, prepubescent frame. Jackie, and even Mikki, finally joined them, and Jack ran them through some old high school football plays he remembered.
After everyone was sufficiently exhausted, Cory said, “Thanks, Dad, that was great.”
Jack rubbed his son’s head. “Nice soft pair of hands you got. Wish I had you on my football team in high school.”
Cory beamed and Jackie squealed, “Me too?”
Jack snatched Jackie up, held him upside down, and ran to the water. “You too.”
Hours later, the sun started to set while the kids were still running around in knee-deep water, building castles, chasing wide-butted Sam Jr., and throwing a Frisbee that they’d also found in the house. Sammy and Jack sat back in the tattered beach chairs, Jack with a Coke and Sammy with a Corona.
Sammy finally tipped his baseball cap over his eyes and leaned back, settling himself so deeply in the chair that his butt touched the sand. Jack drew the letter out of his pocket and opened it. In spidery handwriting, Cecilia sent her love and hope that Jack and the kids would find as much fun and contentment from the house as she and Lizzie had. As Jack read the letter it was as though Cecilia was talking to him in her richly soothing, southern cadence.
She wrote:
My life on earth is over of course, or else you wouldn’t be reading this letter. But I had a fine, old run, did everything I wanted to do, and, hell, the things that might’ve got left out I didn’t need anyway.
I’d never seen a little girl who loved the ocean and sand more than Lizzie. And she loved this old house, even though, as you know, it carries some bad memories. And Lizzie’s Lighthouse, as she called it. That child was always up there. I think Mikki, Cory, and dear Jackie will love this place too; at least that’s my hope. And I feel sure that you, Jack, will find some comfort and peace in the place where Lizzie grew up.
I know it has been a most difficult and heartbreaking time for you. I know that you loved Lizzie more than anyone could. And she loved you just as much back. Fate dealt you a terrible hand by separating you two long before you should have been. But remember that every day you wake up to those three darling children, you are waking up to the most precious things that you and Lizzie ever made together. Because of that, you will never be apart from the woman you love. That may not seem like nearly enough right now, when you want to be with her so badly. But as time goes by, you will realize that it will actually make all the difference in the world. It’s not so much that time heals all wounds, honey, as it is that the passage of the years lets us make peace with our grief in our way.
I know they called you the miracle man after you got better. But just so you know, I considered you a miracle from the moment you came into Lizzie’s life. And I know she felt the same way. You got a second chance of sorts, son, so you live your life good and well. And Lizzie willbe waiting for you when your time has run too. And I’ll probably come by for a cup of coffee myself. Until then, keep hugging those precious children and take care of yourself.
Love,
Cecilia
Jack slid the letter back in his pocket, drew a long breath, and wiped his eyes. Even though he had never been to this place before, he felt like he’d just come home. He rose, took off his shoes, and jogged out toward the water to be with his kids. When they were tired out and headed
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