Chapter 11

Helen came in from the late shift at the diner. Paul and Lydia were still up. Jill and Kris were up with them. Both of them had taken showers to wash off the horse and manure smell, and were in clean pajamas.

"Hi, girls! What are you doing up so late?" Helen asked as her girls hugged her.

"We wanted to see you. You're always working. And when you're not working, we're in school," Jill complained. "It wasn't like that at home."

"I know, and I'm sorry. Right now, it can't be helped. "

"We tried to send them to bed, but as you can see, it didn't work," Lydia told her.

"It's Ok. I'll put them to bed myself tonight. I'll even read your Hansel and Gretel book to you, Kris."

"Yay!"

"Go on in, girls. I'll be there in a minute." Helen watched them go, then turned to her sister and brother in law. "Were there any calls for me?"

Lydia and Paul sadly shook their heads. Helen sighed and followed her girls into the bedroom she shared with them. The girls were in their bunk beds, waiting for her. Helen put down her purse and sweater, and sat down on her bed. "My feet are so tired!" she said as she kicked off her shoes. "Come on over and sit next to me. We'll snuggle while I read." Kris bounced out of her bed and toward her mother's. Jill climbed down from the top bunk and went over to Helen's bed. All three of them cuddled as Helen began the story. "Once upon a time..."

They heard the phone ring in the other room. Helen continued with her story. There was a knock on the door. "Yes?"

Paul poked his head in the door. "Helen, it's James." Helen sat in stunned silence for a moment.

"Get back in bed, girls. We'll finish this later."

"But I want to talk to Dad!" Jill protested. "I miss him so much!"

"So do I!" Kris added.

"Not this time," Helen said firmly. "Get in bed. Now." Both girls obeyed reluctantly. Jill sat up in bed and folded her arms, pouting. Helen followed Paul out to the kitchen. She picked up the reciever. Paul and Lydia discreetly retired to their bedroom. Jill and Kris had slipped out of bed, and opened their door a crack so that they could hear. Helen lifted the reciever to her ear with a shaking hand.

"James?"

"Hi, Babe!" James said enthusiastically.

"How are you?" Helen was cautious.

"Helen, I'm great. I have a job now!"

"You do? Where?"

James took a deep breath. "In a sporting goods store. I've had since just after you left. "

"James! That's great."

"And..."

"And what?" Helen pressed.

"Helen, I've stopped drinking. Completely." James was met with stunned silence.

"Have you? Really?"

"Yes, Helen. I have. I got some help. I dumped out all of the booze. I've been sober since you left... I didn't want to tell you right away in case I failed. It's been two months. I've made it this far, I think...no, I know I can handle it the rest of the way, especially if you and the girls are here to cheer me on. When can you come home?"

Helen smiled through her tears. This was the news she had been waiting for for so long. "Right away, James. Right away!"

"Helen?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Please tell the girls I love them."

Helen looked towards the bedroom door just in time to see two blonde heads disappearing. "You can tell them yourself. Hold on." She went into the bedroom. Jill and Kris had gotten back into their beds in a split second, and were pretending to be asleep. "I know you two are awake. Your dad wants to talk to you." Helen had to jump back as a couple of blurs ran past her. Jill got there first. She grabbed the phone.

"Dad?...Hi, Dad! I miss you! I want to come home."

James choked back tears at the sound of Jill's voice. "I miss you too, sweetie. You're coming home soon."

Jill smiled through her happy tears.

Kris jumped up and down and tried to grab the reciever. "Let me talk! Let me talk!" Each girl got to talk to their dad for a moment, then Helen took the phone back

"Ok, back to bed, you two. You can see your dad in a couple of days." The girls ran back to their room. "We're going home!" Jill yelled.

Helen watched them go. She waited until the door closed behind them. "Are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm here. When are you coming?"

"I'll need to quit my job at the diner, pull the girls out of school, and pack. I think I can do all of that in a day or two. We'll be home by the weekend. "

"You've been working?"

"I had to. But we will talk about all of that when I get home."

"Ok, sweetheart. I'll see you in a couple of days."

"Bye, honey."

"Bye, Babe."

Helen and James both hung up, happier than they had been in a long time.

The car was once again packed for a long trip. Jill and Kris happily helped their mother get ready. There was so much to do. Helen gave her notice at the diner, and collected her last paycheck. She cashed it and bought gas and groceries for the return trip. Helen withdrew the girls from school. Jill was not unhappy about that. "We're going home!" She told everyone she came across. The big day arrived. Boxes and suitcases were stuffed into the car. Jill made sure she had her trading cards and ball equipment, while Kris looked after her Raggedy Ann, Koala bear, and Hansel and Gretel book. Helen gathered her things. Finally, they were ready to go. Helen hugged her sister and brother in law. "Thanks so much for everything. You will never know how much this meant to me."

"Glad to help, and I am sure you would've done the same for me," Lydia told her as she hugged her again. Helen nodded. She hugged each of her nephews. "Thanks for putting up with us, boys. And Gordon, thank you so much for letting us use your room. We left it just the way we found it."

The boys smiled and hugged their aunt back. Helen gave Paul an extra big hug.
"Thanks, brother!"

"Anytime, sis."

The girls hugged their aunt and uncle, and bid their cousins farewell. Then they climbed into the car. Helen got into the driver's seat and started the engine. The car rolled out of the driveway, and back onto the road, going back the way it came two months earlier. Once again, the girls rolled down the windows and waved. Helen told them to sit back down. The girls obeyed their mother.

"Do you know the best part about going home, Mom?" Jill asked.

"Seeing your dad?"

"Besides that."

"I give up. What?"

"I don't have to clean up after the horses anymore!"

Helen laughed as the car continued on in a northwest direction, towards San Francisco and home.

Once again, Helen drove all day, and all night. Early in the morning, the familiar sights of San Francisco came into view.

"It's the Golden Gate!" The girls exclaimed as they saw the landmark bridge. Home was getting closer every minute.

James woke up early that morning. He had had the previous day off from work, and had spent it cleaning and straightening up the place. He happened to look out the front window as the car pulled into the driveway. He ran out the front door. Helen screeched the car to a stop in the driveway. The car was barely off before Jill was out of it. She flew at James. Kris was right behind her. Helen was right behind both of them.

"DADDY!" The girls tackled James. They ended up on the lawn. James disentangled himself and then hugged each of his daughters tightly. It had been so long! He finally let them go, and then turned to Helen.

"Hi, Babe!"

She flung herself into his arms. Nothing else needed to be said.

After the girls went to bed in their own beds with smiles on their faces, James and Helen sat up talking for a long time. They made plans for their future, and for the girls'. James promised that he was through with alcohol, and Helen promised to support him every step of the way. Things were looking brighter.