After a restful nights sleep in their comfortable room at Jake�s Hotel, Evelyn and Rick woke relatively early. After getting dressed they went down to the small restaurant run by Jake�s wife Betty, to have breakfast. As they were waiting for their food to arrive, they talked about Alex and Megan.
�I was thinking that perhaps you and Alex could spend some time together today, and I would,� Evelyn was cut off as an older woman entered the restaurant, and called out Rick�s name. She watched as her husband turned to see who it was, then watched as he stood and gathered her into his arms.
Lucy held Rick as tight as she could, then moved a bit away from him to see him. �Oh Rick I�ve missed you so much,� she said.
�Me too,� was all Rick could muster. He hadn�t realized, until this moment, how much he had missed his mother. Then he remembered Evelyn, and took her hand, leading her to the table. �Mother this is my wife Evelyn,� he said.
Evie stood up and hugged Lucy. �It is nice to meet you,� she said as they all sat down at the table.
Lucy told them about meeting Alex, and then about Robert�s reaction to finding out about them being in town. �He�s so angry and hurt Rick. I�m not sure if he will ever be able to move past that as I have, as your sister has,� she said as their food arrived.
�Well he won�t have to be angry for to long mother. Once Evelyn and I help Alex and Megan make a decision about what they want to do with their lives, we will be returning to London,� Rick said, feeling anger himself at her revelation.
Lucy nodded her head, knowing there was nothing more she could say. Rick was a grown man with a family, and there wasn�t anything she could do to convince either of her stubborn men that they were wrong to hold a grudge for so long.
The rest of breakfast was talk of what Rick had been doing with his life. They told Lucy how they met and about what he did in London. As they were getting ready to tell her she also had a granddaughter, Heidi herself ran into the restaurant.
�Mummy, I got to stay up really late last night with Alex and Megan,� Heidi said as Rick lifted her to sit on his lap. She noticed the woman sitting across from her father and rested her right cheek against his chest.
�Heidi this is your grandma, my mother,� Rick said.
�But my grandmothers are in Heaven,� she said. They had never mentioned to Heidi about Rick�s family and so the young girl had always assumed that like her mum�s parents, her father�s were with God.
�No baby, my parents are in heaven but your daddy�s parents live here, in this town,� Evelyn said, not sure how to explain to Heidi about all that had gone on in the past.
Heidi sat quietly on her father�s lap while the adults talked. When breakfast was over she went with her mother to have a bath and change into a clean dress, leaving her father and newly found grandmother time visit.
�Do you think Alex will be willing to go back to London with you?� Lucy asked as they took a seat out in the lobby.
�I�m not sure. That boy is so much like me it sometimes scares me. He has my temper and my stubborn determination. I think alot of that is what made him bring his wife here, just to get away. I�m guilty of smothering him, and having high expectations of him, maybe to high,� Rick said.
Lucy smiled and reached out patting his hand. �All parents have high expectations for their child. It�s not too late for you and Alex, and that you came all this way to find him should show him how much he is loved. I only wish your father would come around,� Lucy said with a tinge of sadness in her voice.
�When he threw me out that night I felt more alone than I had in my whole life. I was angry, scared and confused and I carried it with me until a few weeks ago when my own son ran away. Then I couldn�t stop wondering how many nights you sat awake wondering whether or not I was still alive,� Rick said. �Maybe I should try to talk to him, the worst he can do is shut the door in my face.�
�It�s best you let him be the one to decide to see you Rick. He has alot to work through and he may do more than just shut the door on you,� Lucy said. In his ranting Robert had threatened to use a shotgun if Rick stepped foot on his land, and that was the last think Lucy wanted. As she was about to say that, Heidi ran in wearing a powder blue dress with a pink sash which wrapped around her waste and tied in the back. Her hair was pulled back and a ribbon was tied in her hair, making her look like one of her porcelain dolls.
�Mummy and me are going to Alex and Megan�s,� Heidi said as she walked over to her father�s seat.
�Will you give her a kiss for me?� Rick asked.
Heidi climbed on his lap and kissed his cheek twice. �She said to give you one but I forgot,� Heidi explained. She allowed her father to give her two kisses then slipped off of his lap and walked over to Lucy. �May I give you a hug and a kiss?� she asked.
Lucy stood up then knelt down giving her newly found granddaughter a kiss, and a hug. �Perhaps sometime you can come meet your cousin Katy. She�s four years old and I�m sure both of you would have a wonderful time together,� Lucy said, hoping that maybe if Robert saw her he would come around.
�I need to stay with mummy today,� She said as she slipped out of Lucy�s arms and walked over to where Evie stood waiting, holding a satchel with some of Heidi�s toys inside. �We will be back for lunch,� Evelyn said taking Heidi�s hand in hers.
~*~
At the Hardware store, Robert was getting more supplies, as well as having a visit with his grandson. �Those fences you helped me put up are holding up nicely,� Robert said as Alex rang up what he owed.
�I�ve never really done anything like that before, well I make models of things like warships and planes, but thats not the same,� Alex said as he told his grandfather his total. He wanted to talk to his grandfather about his father, but wasn�t sure how well that would blow over. As he was bagging his purchases the door opened and Rick walked in with Lucy, neither one knowing that Robert was there until they saw him.
Robert turned around and his eyes narrowed when he saw his son. �Alex bring those by later,� he said as he walked toward the door. He pushed past Rick and was gone.
�I should be with him,� Lucy said as she too left.
Rick sighed looking down at his feet, feeling like a seventeen year old boy again, though the anger he had felt then, was replaced by an overwhelming sadness.
�Dad are you all right?� Alex asked as he walked over to where Rick was standing.
�Yeah pal, so show me what you do here,� Rick said changing the subject as fast as he could.
Alex looked at him for a moment, then led him to the register and explained his job, a very easy job and one which Alex was growing tired of. He couldn�t picture himself doing this for the rest of his life, nor could he picture himself staying in a small town.
~*~
On the drive back to their home in the country, Lucy sat quietly. She knew there was no way she could convince Robert to see Rick again, and her heart hurt for the two men she loved. Once they were home Robert headed out to the barn and inside the house she found her daughter and two other grandchildren in the den.
�Mother what�s wrong?� Mary-Elizabeth asked seeing the sadness in her eyes.
�Your father saw Rick today. I just want them to get along Mary, and I�m not sure I can take it if I never see Rick again,� she said, then ran past her daughter upstairs.
�Grandmama is sad,� Katy said as she gave Joseph a rattle to play with.
�Watch your brother,� Mary-Elizabeth said as she went upstairs to talk to her. When she arrived, she found the door to her parent�s room closed and when she opened it she found her mother laying lifeless on the floor. �MOTHER,� Mary-Elizabeth screamed as she ran to her mom. She knelt down and shook her but Lucy didn�t respond.
~*~
At Lunch Megan, Evelyn and Heidi met the men at the hotel and as they were eating Mary-Elizabeth ran in. �Rick it�s mother, she�s in the hospital. Daddy says you need to come now,� she said as her brother stood up. The two of them left the others without another word, making fast tracks to the hospital.
When they arrived at her room Robert was there sitting at her bedside. He looked up as they entered. �She has been asking for you,� he said to his son, then stood up to leave but felt her hand tighten on his. �Lucy I cannot stay,� he said as she held on to him.
Lucy opened her eyes. �You will stay Robert. This is nonsense. What happened between you and Rick is in the past where it should say. We all have each other again and you will forgive him Robert you will forgive him,� she said as she shut her eyes. He sat down as Rick came to the other side of her bed taking her other hand in his.
�The Doctor thinks she had a heart attack,� Robert said not looking at his son.
�I�m sorry dad, for everything I�ve done, for all the trouble I�ve caused. I�ll take my family and leave, and you and mom and Mary can get on with your lives,� he said as he stood up and left.
~*~
At their house, Megan and Alex kept Heidi with them, trying to explain to her about what was happening to their grandmother.
�Her heart�s broken? Well can�t the doctor give her a new one?� Heidi asked as her brother held her while they sat on the Sofa.
He grinned and hugged her closer. �It�s not as easy as that Pixie, but I�m sure she will be fine. She�s strong just like us,� he said as Megan came in with milk and cookies.
The three of them ate silently then went on a walk. For Heidi taking a walk was fun, for Megan and Alex it was a distraction for the worry they were feeling for Rick and their grandmother.
�I think it would have been better for us not to have come here,� he admitted. �Not because I don�t love you, it�s just that I�ve caused so much trouble with my parents and my dad�s parents.�
�I don�t agree Alex. I think even though things are difficult now, that eventually they will all start talking again,� she said, then to Heidi, �Not so far.�
~*~
When Rick returned to the hotel he had not been willing to talk about his parents and after several failed attempts to comfort him, Evelyn went to the hospital to try and speak with his father. In the room his mother was being kept in Mary-Elizabeth told her that her father was outside smoking his pipe, and a few minutes later that is where she found him. �Mr. O�Connell?� she asked as she approached the older gentleman. Evelyn noticed how much he looked like her husband, and hoped he would listen to her.
Robert turned around and looked at the woman who stood before him, not sure who she was. �Is it my wife?� he asked.
�It�s your son. I�m Evelyn O�Connell his wife,� she said.
Not wanting to think about Rick, Robert turned away from her. �Then there is nothing to talk about here,� he said as he sucked on his pipe then blew out two rings of smoke.
�We do need to talk. What he did was wrong, but from what I hear you didn�t give him much of a chance or incentive to return home. You told him he was no longer your son, and you didn�t even try looking for him,� Evelyn said.
Robert turned around. �He was out of control, and I had my wife and my daughter to think of. He knew I didn�t mean what I said,� Robert said as he sat down on a small bench in the garden where they were talking.
Evelyn walked over to him and sat down. �I don�t think he did Mr. O�Connell. It�s like with Alex. Our son is confused now like Rick was then. Going through this has made Rick realize that he put you through incredible sorrow and all he wants to do is make amends with you. I think if you did that the ache in your heart and your wife�s would go away. I cannot make you see him Robert, but we are staying at Jake�s Hotel if you change your mind,� she said. Before leaving she kissed him on his cheek, then went to see how Lucy and Mary-Elizabeth were doing.
~*~
The next few days which passed were touch and go. Then on a Thursday morning Lucy O�Connell was well enough to go home with her husband and daughter. Now in her own bed she rested while Robert put away her cloths.
�I met Richard�s wife at the hospital,� he said as he finished, and sat down on the side of their bed.
Lucy opened her eyes when he said that. �What did she say?� she asked.
�She thinks that if Richard and I talk, things will be better.� He reached out and took her hand. �How do I trust him?�
�By giving him another chance Robert. He came after his own son because he loved him, and he seems like a wonderful father. That�s something he learned from you I think,� she said. She shut here eyes then, needing to rest, hoping that her two men would learn to love one another again.
~*~
While Robert took care of his wife and considered seeing Rick, his son was busy making his own parental decisions. Rick and Alex had been talking alot and on the Thursday morning while Lucy was going home, Alex admitted that he didn�t want to spend the rest of his days working in Hampton�s Hardware store.
Now the two of them sat in a small cafe not far from the store talking about that very subject. �I guess I thought it would be easy to come out here and make a life for me and Megan, and I�m not even sure about that anymore,� Alex said as he threw his hands up in frustration.
Rick took a sip of the lemon water the waitress had brought for him. �Alex do you mind if I say something?� Rick asked.
�Yeah you might as well tell me how you think I�ve messed everything up,� Alex said as he looked at his grilled cheese sandwich.
�No, your wrong. I think what you did coming out here was the right thing. I�m likely to blame for placing expectations on you that were too high. What every father wants is for his kid to have it better than what he had, and I didn�t realize that I was pushing you too hard,� Rick said.
Alex looked at his dad. �You didn�t push me into anything. I was just so mad about Megan and me is all, and I thought if I came here and made my own choices, things that were right for the two of us, I would be happy. I wish I could just come home and go back to school, but I still want to spend my life with her,� Alex said.
�No one said you couldn�t come home Alex, but you have to make a choice. You have to decide if being a married young man is what you want. If so your mum and I will let you live in Jonathan�s part of the house, if he�s willing to give that up, and you can get a job in London. If you want to go back to school, then there will be some rules you will both have to stick too, part of which is to experience life and then decide if being married is what you both want,� Rick said. He was about to say something more when his father sat down in a seat between he and Alex.
�Hope you two don�t mind if I join you,� he said.
While Rick was left speechless Alex was not. �No Grandfather. Dad and I are trying to figure out what I should do with my life,� he said as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Robert nodded his head. �Richard I want to start over with you, and I want to say that I�m sorry. I was wrong to tell you that you are no longer my son. You are my son and I want to be a part of your life if you will allow that,� he said.
�I would like that,� Rick said.
Robert offered him a smile. �Good. I need to get some food for the house, then get back to your mom. Why don�t you and Evelyn join us for dinner this evening. Alex you bring Megan along with the three of you,� he said not knowing he had another granddaughter.
�You also have a granddaughter,� Rick informed feeling all the emptiness he had felt over the years in his heart vanish in an instant.
�Well then I will see the five of you tonight I hope,� he said as he stood up. He walked out of the cafe, and the other two O�Connell men finished their lunch and their conversation with Alex�s decision to move back home.
~*~
With Heidi playing outside in the fenced in backyard, Evelyn and Megan were carrying on a similar conversation about Megan�s marriage to Alex. �I�m afraid to be away from him, and afraid he will be angry with me,� Megan admitted.
�You have to do what is right for you Megan, and if Alex really loves you then he will respect your decision,� she said as her daughter ran in with a bouquet of wild flowers. �Those are lovely,� Evelyn said as she sniffed the violets and daisies her daughter handed to her.
While mother and daughter talked, Megan got a vase for them and filled it with water then took it to Heidi. �Here sweety try this,� she said as she knelt beside the small girl.
�That�s perfect. I want to give these to Grandmother,� Heidi said as she sniffed them, and settled beside her own mother.
�I think she would love some pretty flowers,� Rick said as he walked in the door with Alex following behind.
Evelyn saw a twinkle in his eye and after they kissed she asked him what had made him so happy.
�If you ladies are ready, my father has invited us to visit, and have dinner with them,� He said. He kissed Evelyn again and held her close, feeling years of anger melt away. �We should go back to the hotel and get something a little less dressy for Heidi. Alex says they have alot of land and I think it would do her some good to get some fresh air,� he said as they kissed yet again. When they parted he made up a time for Alex and Megan to meet them, then they headed back to their hotel to prepare for an evening with his parents.
~*~
Once his parents were gone Alex sat down with his wife ready to tell her what he thought they should do. �Megs I think we should move back to London and stay with my parents,� he said all without taking a breath. He looked at her, expecting her to be angry with him.
Relief flooded through her veins and Megan hugged him. �I want that too Alex. I need to say something else, something that feels right for me, and I hope you will still love me even after I tell you this,� she said.
He held on to her feeling his heart thud painfully in his chest. �You want to get and annulment don�t you?� he asked as he pulled away from her so he could see her while they talked.
Tears formed in her eyes. �Alex I love you but I�m not ready for this not yet. I need time to figure out what I want to do with my life,� she said.
A lump formed in his throat and he had to swallow several times before he could speak. �So this means you want to see other men?� he asked.
She shook her head. �No no, I just want time to find out about myself, like your mum found out about herself. She knew what she wanted for her life when she married your father, and that made their love more secure. I don�t know what I want and I�m afraid if we stayed married I would resent you or you would resent me,� she said as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
�Can we still be engaged?� he asked as his own tears fell.
Megan leaned forward and kissed his lips then found herself wrapped in his arms. �Yes I want to marry you one day and have a big ceremony but for now lets just stay engaged,� she said as they kissed again more passionately. When they parted both of them felt sad, but relieved that they would be returning to London with Rick and Evelyn. They prepared for dinner then made their way to Jake�s Hotel, both holding hands but not speaking a word.