Jack went upstairs as fast as his healing legs would allow and took a shower. The water was ice-cold (he made a mental note to turn on the water heater) but he was too focused to care. He shaved and dressed in comfortable, familiar clothes – blue jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that smelled as if they had been freshly laundered.
He paused, his chest filling with emotion. Kathleen had been doing his wash, ensuring he had fresh, clean clothes. She’d been keeping his house, never faltering in her faith that he would honor his vow and come home to her.
Because she loved him.
The clothes hung more loosely on him than they once had, but they felt good. And for the first time in a long time, on some very small level, Jack Callaghan felt a little like the man he used to be.
Jack pulled the cover off the old Galaxie, saying a small prayer of thanks when the engine roared to life with just a bit of coaxing. Technically, he wasn’t supposed to be driving, but he’d be damned if he had to wait another minute to see his girl. She’d been waiting far too long for his sorry ass as it was.
He smiled and raised his hand in acknowledgement when he saw Mrs. Fitzsimmons waving at him from the window.
The drive to Birch Falls was just as he remembered it, though there were a few more houses along the way. It felt good to drive a real car again, smell the lingering scents of his father’s pipe smoke in the rich leather seats. That was nothing compared to the knowledge that each familiar twist and turn in the road brought him closer to Kathleen. Seeing her. Holding her. Kissing her.
With each mile, his anticipation grew.
After pulling into the parking lot of O’Leary’s diner, Jack cut the engine. He took several deep breaths; his heart was leaping against the walls of his chest, his palms sweaty. With one last check in the mirror, he pulled off the patch of toilet paper from his chin (it had been a rather quick shave), and headed for the front door.
He made it about half way across the lot when he stopped. There, in the window, he saw her. Kathleen. Looking even more beautiful than he remembered. She wore a powder-blue waitress uniform, her black hair pulled back into a clasp at the base of her neck. Pad and pencil in hand, she was taking the order of an elderly couple.
And then, as if sensing him, she looked up. Their eyes met, and time itself stopped.
The next thing he knew, she was flying out the door, skidding to a stop less than a foot away.
“Jack? Is it really you? Or am I dreaming again?”
“It’s not a dream.”
And then, just like he remembered, she launched herself into his arms. He tried to brace himself, but his leg gave out and he lost his balance. Grabbing her around the waist, he just went with it, falling backward with her on top of him. He never felt the impact; all his could feel was the warm, fragrant flesh of his croie.
She kissed him, long and hard, and Jack was certain he’d died and gone to heaven.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered.
“I missed you, too.”
He looked up into her face, her beautiful, perfect face, and saw the crystal droplets on her lashes. With the snow falling softly, the glow of the lamplight behind her, he was even more certain he was in heaven, because she looked exactly like an angel.
“Oi! Lass, what in name of—”
Conlan O’Leary’s deep voice boomed out from the front of the diner, where two dozen or so patrons were peeled to windows, watching the scene with great interest. “Jack? Jack Callaghan, is that you lad? Come on inside then, before ye both catch yer death.”
Kathleen leaned down and kissed him again (thank God!). She didn’t seem in any hurry to move. He wasn’t, either, but it was snowing and she was in just that little waitress uniform.
“Guess we should go in.”
“Guess we should,” she agreed, but made no attempt to move until he put his big hands around her waist and lifted. She was every bit as soft as he remembered.
She laced her fingers with his, and his heart soared. It was a good thing, because now that he’d seen her, he was quite sure he was never going to let her go again.
“Welcome back, son,” Conlan said, clasping him on the shoulder. “Come, sit. We’ll get ye something te eat.”
Food? Who could think about food? His thoughts must have shown clearly on his face, because Conlan gave a knowing chuckle. “Aye, I ken ye have some catching up te do, but ye can do so with something hot in yer belly.”
They moved to the round booth in the back corner, the most secluded table in the place. “Katie-belle, ye are officially off-duty. I’ll get ye both some coffee. And remember,” the older man said with a wink and twinkle in his eye, “this is a family place.”
Kathleen blushed as they slid in next to each other, but she kept her hand in his. “I knew you would keep your promise,” she murmured.
It was a heady feeling to know someone believed in him so absolutely. There were times when even he had his doubts, not for lack of effort, but because of circumstances beyond his control. And in that moment, he swore to never, ever willingly let this amazing woman down.
“I wouldn’t have made it without you,” he replied truthfully. “Knowing you were waiting...”