Mike Longworth sat across from the young man who'd been forced to see a side of his father no one should have to face. Jeff Cargill had been quiet during the walk to the deli, and refused anything except a soda. There was no mistaking the turmoil in Jeff's eyes and demeanor, but he hoped they could talk things through.
"Why did he try to kill Jim? Mom told him she didn't love him anymore," Jeff whispered.
"Sometimes a man doesn't want to face the truth. If your dad had opened his eyes he would have seen how much Jim and your mom love each other. He chose to fight for what didn't belong to him anymore instead of embracing the fact that he had a son who loves him…"
"Loved him…maybe, but right now I don't think I do. He's dead and I should feel sad, but I don't. Not after what he did to Jim."
"I understand how you feel, but I can tell you there will come a time when you'll find a way to live with what he did and maybe even forgive him. He did love you, Son, and sometimes love has a way of making a man do crazy things."
"No, it wasn't love…he thought he owned my mom and me, but he didn't."
"No, he didn't, and the fact that you know that shows me you know what he did was wrong. Time has a way of healing, Jeff, and there will come a time when you will forgive, but you'll never forget. Love your father for the times when he treated you and your mom with respect and someday you will be able to let the pain go," Mike explained.
"Can I join you?" Jody Cargill asked softly. She'd heard most of what Mike had told her grandson and couldn't fault him for putting things in perspective, not just for Jeff, but for her as well.
"That's up to Jeff," Mike answered and watched the warring emotions on the young man's face.
"I guess." Jeff said.
"Can I speak with my grandson alone?"
"I guess that's up to Jeff."
"Whatever you want to say he can hear," Jeff told her.
"Jeff," Jody whispered and sat down. "I know you're angry at me, but I did what I thought was best."
"For who? You and him? It wasn't best for me or for mom and it almost killed Jim," Jeff snapped.
"I had that coming, but I know what I did was wrong. I want to make it up to you and Callie…"
"What about Jim? How are you going to make up for watching dad shoot him and then leaving him to die?"
"I didn't. I was going to call 911, but his friends showed up."
"Lucky they did or you might have had to make a decision you couldn't live with," Jeff said, anger evident in his voice.
"Jeff, I know you're angry with your grandmother, but she does care about you and I really hope she would have done the right thing even if Carlos hadn't shown up," Longworth observed.
"I don't know…she tried to help dad escape. Dad was wrong, Grandma, and so were you. You're lucky the police didn't charge you with helping him."
"I deserve that, but I hope someday you will forgive me for what I did," Jody told him and sighed as she reached for the tissue Mike handed her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Jeff, I came here to ask you something, but maybe now is not the right time."
"What?" the young man asked and took a drink from his soda.
"I want to know whether you want your dad buried here or should I take him back home?"
"I don't care," Jeff told her.
"Easy, Son, maybe you should take some time to think about this," Mike said.
"Why? I don't think I'll be visiting his grave," Jeff vowed.
"You might change your mind…"
"I don't think so, Grandma, but if I do then I'm sure you'll tell me where he is…where is grave is because he'll be in hell."
"Don't say that, Jeff…"
"Why not? It's the truth isn't it? If you believe in God then you believe in hell and people like my father don't deserve forgiveness. How many people has he killed, Grandma?"
"I don't know, but what about Jim? How many people has he killed?"
"I don't know, but he doesn't kill people just because they disagree with him. His job is to protect people…including me, mom, and you. He even protects people like dad because they have the right to a fair trial, but dad tried to kill him twice. I love you, Grandma, but right now I don't know if I like you," the young man told her and stood up. "Bury him wherever you want to, Grandma, because I won't be there."
"Jeff, please…"
"Let him go," Mike said when Jeff strode purposefully away from the table. "He's angry and he's hurt right now, Jody, but give him time."
"I know you're right, but I need him to know I really am sorry for what he's been through. I owe all of you an apology, but that doesn't come close to making up for what I put you all through. I never really gave Jim a chance, but I can tell he cares about Jeff and Callie…"
"Cares? No, Jody, he loves them."
"I know, but it's hard for me. Jeff is the only family I have left now that Callie married Jim."
"I don't think you're seeing the whole picture. Jim and Callie are married, but they didn't push you away…Jim tried to tell you he won't shut you out of their lives," Mike said and ordered them both a cup of coffee. "Ray is gone, and I'm sorry you lost your son, but you still have a grandson and Callie will always be a part of your family. Now that she married Jim you're a part of our family and that means we're tied together whether we want to be or not."
"What about your wife? Will she be as forgiving as you?"
"I can't answer for Joan, but I can tell you she'll listen if you ask her," Mike explained as the waitress brought their coffee. "What are you going to do about Ray?"
"I think I'll bring him home and tell Jeff he can visit anytime he wants to," Jody answered. "I know it's probably selfish of me to do it that way, but maybe Jeff will heal with time and distance. If he wants to visit me then we can talk about what he wants to do. I won't push him no matter what his reasons."
"Good, that's part of healing," Mike said as his wife came into the deli and he motioned for her to join them, surprised when she kissed his cheek and took his hand in his own. "Is everything all right?"
"Everything is fine. Jim was sleeping and Callie is with him," Joan answered, fighting to keep her emotions in check. She knew Jody Cargill would defend her son no matter what and she could hardly blame her for that, but it didn't mean she would feel sorry for her. The truth was, if the roles were reversed, she wasn't sure she wouldn't do the same thing.
"Do you want coffee, Joan?" Mike asked.
"No, I came to get you…I thought we could go home and get some rest. Jeff said he would wait for us at the hospital," Joan answered without looking at the other woman.
"Jody, will you be all right?" Mike asked.
"She'll be fine. Come on, Mike, maybe we can pick something up for dinner," Joan Longworth said, relieved when her husband stood and wrapped his arm around her. They left the deli without a backward glance and she didn't feel anything for the other woman. Not when her own son was still lying in a hospital bed.
A week had passed since Ray Cargill's second attempt to kill him had ended with the other man dead and out of their lives for good. Jody Cargill had taken her son's body back home for burial in the family cemetery, and Jeff seemed to be fine with that. Jim had spoken with the young man and knew it would be a long time before he forgave his father and his grandmother, but eventually he would and that was normal. Time was needed for him to heal, and they would all stand behind him if he stumbled or fell.
Jim was dressed and standing beside the window while Callie finished getting everything signed for him to leave. His father and mother were downstairs with Jeff and he could see them seated on the bench across from the main entrance. His parents were taken with Jeff and had been able to get him to open up about how he felt.
Jim felt a twinge of pain in his chest, a not so gentle reminder that he may be getting out of the hospital, but it would be some time before he was ready to toss a football with Jeff or get back to work. He heard footsteps coming toward his room and turned to find Callie and his doctor standing there.
"Jim, you were supposed to wait for me to help you get dressed," Callie scolded.
"You are as stubborn as she told me," John Mulholland observed and placed the man's chart on the bed.
"Mom would probably agree," Jim told him.
"She does," Callie said as Mulholland opened the chart.
"Well, Detective, I have written a prescription for pain meds…take them as needed. I've also made several follow up appointments for you at my office. I've also spoken with your boss and she's assured me you are not to set foot in the police station until I've signed off on your care. I'm sure Callie will back me up on this."
"I will," Callie vowed as an orderly brought in a wheelchair.
"Is that really necessary?" Longworth asked.
"No, but it is still policy," Callie told him and motioned for him to have a seat as she reached for his bag.
"Callie, call me if he has any problems," Mulholland said.
"I will…thank you," Callie said as he left. "All right, Jim, are you ready to go home or would you rather spend another night here?"
"Let's go," Longworth said and sat in the chair as Callie moved to walk alongside him. He was going home, and that was worth a ride in a wheelchair.
Callie led the way to the elevator and held the door for the orderly to push the wheelchair inside. Once they reached the first floor they quickly made their way to the patient discharge area and she motioned for Mike to bring the car around.
"I can walk…"
"Yes, but for now you're going to take it easy," Callie ordered as mike brought the vehicle around. It was a seven passenger SUV with plenty of room for all of them. She opened the passenger door and pushed the seat forward before moving aside so her husband could get into the back seat. She helped him with his seatbelt, but made sure the shoulder strap was behind him because of the wounds.
"How are you feeling, Jim?" Joan asked.
"I'm okay," Longworth assured her as Callie got into the front passenger seat. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, aware of how easy his energy was spent as his father drove away from the hospital. He felt the vehicle moving along the roads, but must have drifted off because a hand on his arm startled him awake.
"We're home, Son," Joan told him and watched as he blinked several times.
"Home?" Longworth said and smiled when Callie opened his door.
"Yes, home…our home," Callie vowed and saw the smile on his face as he stepped out of the vehicle.
Carlos, Daniel, and Colleen looked around the house and knew they had done everything they could to make it comfortable and easy for Jim Longworth when he came home. Mike and Joan were at the hospital along with Callie and Jeff and would be bringing the injured man home.
Callie had asked them to help her get the house ready for his homecoming and they'd managed to get rid of the bloodstains and moved Callie and Jeff's belongings to the house. Mike and Joan had helped bring most of Jim's stuff from his old place as well.
"Well, I don't think there's anything else we can do," Daniel observed. They'd added their own touch to the homecoming and made sure the fridge and pantry were well stocked, saving Callie the job of going to the supermarket.
"The only thing missing is the champagne, but with Jim still under a doctor's care I don't think it's advisable," Carlos said as Colleen moved to the window.
"They're here," Colleen said and opened the door as Longworth exited the SUV. "Welcome home."
"Thanks, Colleen," Longworth said and entered the house, smiling at the familiar furniture, pictures, and other personal items that were now part of his future with Callie and Jeff.
"You're welcome," Carlos said and turned to Callie. "What did Mulholland have to say?"
"He signed my discharge papers, Carlos," Longworth answered and made his way to the comfortable chair someone had brought form his old place.
"I'm sure he did or Callie wouldn't have brought you home, but what else did he have to say?"
"Jim has two follow up visits before Dr. Mulholland will even think about giving him a clean bill of health."
"So things around the station should be normal for at least a month," Carlos said.
"You're a real comedian, Carlos, but don't give up your day job."
"Day job…actually I'm on the late shift this week," Carlos said, but his eyes shone with the relief that his partner was going to be all right. "Callie, I think we should leave you guys alone, but if you need anything just call me."
"I will, thank you…all of you," Callie said and walked them to the door. She hugged each one before watching them leave and going back inside to find Mike and Joan making lunch while Jim and Jeff talked about the baseball game they'd found on television. God, it felt like a lifetime since their wedding day and Jim had gone through hell, but they were home now, in that house he'd bought for her…for them.
Callie moved to sit with her husband and eased him down so his head rested on her lap and felt as if she'd finally come home. This was the life she wanted and this was the man she would spend the rest of her life with.
"I love you, Callie Longworth."
"I love you too, Jim," Callie said and kissed him.
"Come on…not while I'm here. That's just gross," Jeff said as Mike and Joan brought sandwiches and coffee and placed them on the coffee table.
"Get used to it, Jeff, they are newlyweds," Mike teased.
"They have a room," Jeff said and smiled as he saw the love they shared. Maybe, just maybe a baby brother or sister was not as farfetched as he'd once thought. He watched as his mother ran her fingers through his hair and knew this was the life she deserved and that happiness was something they could all share.
The End!