Chapter 24
"Alright, where's my favorite sous-chef?" Renee asked from the kitchen.
Maxwell left his place at the kitchen table where he was coloring in his dinosaur coloring book and met his mom at the barstool counter.
"Right here, mommy," he answered with a grin.
Renee helped her son into one of the barstool seats and pushed him up to the counter.
"Okay, Chef Maxwell," she said retrieving the raw meat in the bowl from the fridge. "I need some help making some meatballs for tonight's spaghetti and meatball dinner. Then I would like some help spreading some garlic butter on the Texas toast for garlic bread. Do you think you could help me out?"
Maxwell gave a salute. "Yes."
Renee saluted her son back then sat the bowl of raw meat in front of him. She went over to collect a baking sheet and an ice cream scoop for Maxwell to use. She explained how the scooper would make perfectly shaped meatballs every time. She demonstrated a couple of scoops and placing them on the sprayed baking sheet then handed the tool to her son. They were a couple of meatballs into the process when the doorbell rang.
Renee helped Maxwell over to the sink so they could wash their hands after handling the raw meat, then they went to answer the door. Renee checked out the window to see who their visitor was. One look at him and her stomach flopped in anxiety. She took a breath as she opened the door.
"Captain Calaway?" she answered nervously.
Mark didn't say a word. He just smiled and stepped to the right. Renee gasped as she saw the figure of her husband standing on the lawn. Bruises on his now clean-shaven face, but he was alive.
"DADDY!"
Maxwell ran from the front door to the lawn straight into his father's arms. John picked up his son and held him close spinning him around in the grass. John couldn't hold back his tears and neither could Maxwell. He held his boy close and kissed his little head. They both said how much they missed each other before John placed Maxwell down onto the lawn.
John knelt in front of Maxwell taking the picture his son drew out of his pocket. He unfolded it with a smile.
"Thank you so much for this picture. I absolutely love it."
"You do?"
"Oh yes. I'll frame it and put in on the wall. What do you think?"
"Okay."
John hugged Maxwell again as Renee stepped forward, tears in her own eyes. John rose from his kneeling position and asked Maxwell to hold the picture he had colored. Maxwell ran over to where Mark stood by the truck...
"Happy to have your father back, buddy?" Mark asked Maxwell.
Maxwell just nodded happily.
John looked at his wife. Renee looked at her husband. Neither one said a word. John wrapped his arms around Renee and pulled her into the tightest hug he could give her. They both wept saying their I love you's and I missed you's. Renee pulled back and looked up at John's face. She placed a gentle hand on John's left cheek.
"Oh honey..."
John scoffed. "Do you have to say that every time I have bruises on me?"
Renee chuckled followed by John.
"At least my lips aren't bruised," John said with a wink.
Renee smiled before their mouthes touched in a passionate kiss. John lowered himself and Renee to the lawn pouring everything he had into the kiss. Mark took the picture from Maxwell and tapped him on the back.
"Go get him," Mark whispered.
Maxwell climbed onto his father's back ceasing the show of affection between his parents.
"Hey," John exclaimed. "What the heck is going on here?"
John gently rolled over onto the lawn causing Maxwell to land onto his back.
"How dare you interrupt your mother and I in that tender moment. I haven't seen her for days."
John reached down and tickled his son on the stomach and the sides causing him to laugh out loud. Renee joined in on the tickle party, both parents now laughing. Mark chuckled to himself shaking his head back and forth. He cast his eyes upward.
"Thank You, Lord, for helping me keep my promise to Maxwell and Renee to bring John back home. Take care of him. He's a good guy."