Rabb Farm
Belleville, MA
1335 hours local
Grams' POV
I'm standing in the kitchen when I hear a car pulling up. As far as I know, I wasn't expecting anyone. I dry my hands on a dishtowel and walk to the front porch. When my eyes settle on the car, the corners of my lips pull up.
That's my grandson. My grandson with my granddaughter-in-law and my great-grandchildren. My eyes travel to the sky and I say a silent 'thank you'.
"Hey, Grams!" Harm flashes me his famous grin as he gets out of the car.
I get down the two steps of the porch and envelope him in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're safe," I whisper. "I'm so glad that y'all are safe."
Harm tightens his hold on me for a moment. "So am I, Grams. So am I."
Sarah gets the kids out of the car, and they make it over to us. And they've grown! Look at them! Gabriel comes over and wraps his arms around one of my legs. I stroke him over his head and lift him to give him a proper hug.
"Hey, Grams."
Even his voice sounds so grown up already. "It's good to see you, Gabe."
He grins. "Can I still play in the tree house?"
Ah, so he didn't turn into a complete adult yet. Thank god. It's a little too early for that. "It's still there."
And then Noa… Noa stretches her arms out to me. "Grandma!"
This three-year-old is as adorable as ever. I bet she can wrap everyone around her finger in no-time. "Noa!" She wraps her little arms around my neck and gives me a bear hug only Noa can give. "Hey, sweetie. It's so good to see you."
She giggles and gives me a kiss on my cheek. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too, Noa." I feel the tears well up in my eyes. Trish had called me to tell me what was going on and for almost a year I haven't heard anything from them. And now they suddenly show up at the door…
Harm has stepped up next to his wife and youngest daughter. Presses a kiss to Sarah's temple. Shireen struggles to get free from Sarah's grip and starts to protest when Sarah doesn't let her go.
I put Noa on the ground and stretch my arms out to take Shireen. I get an amazingly wide smile in return. "Hello, Shireen. You've grown, just like your brother and sister." Shireen reaches for my nose and starts to giggle. This little one isn't going to remember much of the whole turmoil everybody has been through.
When I look up, Sarah's crying. Harm still stands next to her, exactly where he belongs, and whispers in her ear. Tries to comfort her. Sarah smiles and wipes some tears of her face. "I'm sorry, Grams," she says.
"Don't be silly, honey," I say, wrapping my free arm around her. "You've got nothing to be sorry for."
Now the real tears start to roll. Sarah really starts to cry. I bet it's all the tension and the relief that needs to get out. "I'm so happy that you guys are home," I whisper in her ear. "So absolutely happy."
She nods, holds me tighter. Doesn't say anything. Harm has watery eyes as well. I bet he's been trying to stay strong for Sarah and the kids. He lets his breath out and look at me. Nods.
Sarah calms down after a while and sniffs. "Thanks, Grams. I needed that."
I smile. "How's warm apple pie?"
Her eyes lit up. "I haven't had home-made apple pie in a while."
Taking her by her hand, I take her into the house, leaving Harm on the porch to get Gabe and Noa. This girl needs a huge piece of apple pie and a cup of coffee.
Much later, in the afternoon, I find Harm on the porch swing, watching Gabe and Noa run around in the garden, playing tag. I carefully sit down next to him. He looks at me for a second, then turns his attention back to Gabe and Noa.
I just lean back in my chair and wait. I know Harm will start to talk, but he'll do it on his own terms, at his own time. There's no need to rush him, because that's not going to work anyway. Didn't work with his father; isn't going to work with him.
After a few minutes he starts to talk. "I'm still scared, Grams."
"Of what?"
"That something will happen anyway… That I won't be able to protect them after all." He shifts in his seat. "That I'll lose everything that I worked so hard for to keep safe…" He lets his breath out.
I pat his arm. "You're not going to lose them, Harm. The threat is gone, the terrorist is locked behind bars, y'all safe. That doesn't mean that you're feeling safe."
His eyes find mine and he nods. "Like Sarah said: we've been living with eyes in our back for a year… Yesterday we needed to do some grocery shopping and even back in DC it still felt as if we had to watch our every move."
"That feeling will fade out, eventually, Harm. You'll have to believe that. You'll go crazy if you don't."
Again, he nods. "I know that." He smiles as he looks at his kids again. "In a few weeks they'll be official Rabbs, Grams. Ellen called Judge Elfman as soon as we stepped off the plane."
"That's great, honey."
He grins. "Life took a real swirl these past two years, but it's a great swirl. Family is the most important thing in life."
Sarah comes out on the porch and hears him say those last few words. She smiles, comes over and sits down in his lap. "Totally agree."
Harm kisses her cheek and without another word, their eyes settle on their kids. Hands find other hands, intertwine fingers. Sarah leans back against Harm's chest and sighs a content sigh.
My mind drifts to something Barbara Bush once said: To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.
That couldn't be more true.
TBC... See you in three weeks!!!