11:30 pm

“I should have come, I just should have come.  I need to be there for my family.”  James lowered his head as he gripped the phone with both hands briefly, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, we were trying to do the right thing, but…I miss you.  I don’t want to be here.”  Heather paused, “Little man is lost without Daddy.  He had a hard time falling asleep since he is not at home and he misses you.”

“You have no idea how much I just want to drive out there right now.  It’s too quiet here, and lonely.  I just should have come, what was I thinking.”

“Even if you left in the morning, you would miss the funeral.  Then after that, basically, it’s just the reception and taking the kids swimming.  We have only one more night after tonight and we are on our way home.”

“You’re right,” James sighed, “I better let you get some sleep honey, I love you.”

“I love you too, honey.  Call me in the morning.”  Heather said quietly as the tears began to fall.

                                                                     ~

7:30 am

Searching her heart for as much strength as she could find, Heather reluctantly got out of bed.  As she looked over to her children, sleeping soundly next to her, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she thought about how much they are going to miss out on not having their grandmother, her best friend, around.  

There was a knock at the door.  Heather threw her head back and rolled her eyes and she swiped at her tear, “Already?”  She went to the door with heavy feet, pausing only to shake her head before opening the door ready to deal with whatever was on the other side.  Careful not to wake the children, she slowly opened the door.    

“Oh my god,” she exclaimed as her face softened into a smile, “you’re here!”

“I told you I had to be with my family,” James said grinning.

Heather threw her arms around James and giggled, “How did you…when did you leave?  You must have left right after we talked.”  She pushed him back with her hands on his arms, “Wait, you didn’t call me first.  What if something happened?  No one would know that you were on your way here.”

Still grinning he said, “I told Cory and Tyler.  They knew, so I was safe.”

She pulled him close again, “I just can’t believe you are here, I’m so happy, thank you.  Oh, come in,” she said laughing as she opened the door further.

James pulled her in the hotel room by her hand and softly closed the door, “I just had to be with you and the kids, it just wasn’t right that we weren’t together.  The house was so quiet and I couldn’t stop thinking about you guys and I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

“It’s just so…romantic; you drove all night just to be with us!

James tipped his head a little, “Well, actually, I just didn’t want to clean the house!”

“My husband ladies and gentlemen, the man who will drive 5 hours to get out of cleaning the house!”

They both started laughing as they kissed.