Chapter Forty-Two:
Just like that his life changed. In an instant. That day three years ago started like any other day. He woke. Alone. Went about his routine. As he always did. But something was different about that day. He could tell. His life would be forever changed. Again.
How could one person change a life so much? He didn't have the answers. Didn't pretend to understand it. Sheridan Crane had changed his life when she was only a child. And she changed it again just three years ago quite unexpectedly. This time she brought his family back to him. They were forever connected.
It all happened so fast. Like a whirlwind. He had his family back. And Pilar was in his arms. Laughing and crying. Clinging to him. Almost afraid to let go. His heart was full at that moment. Overflowing as he pulled back to look into her eyes. Words failed him as he wiped her tears away. So he did the only thing he could. Pulled her close again. And held on.
"Oh Martin," she said. Over and over again. Running her hands over his face. Touching him. Making sure he was real. He smiled at her. And her tears started all over again. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed. Until a tiny voice made her smile again.
"Nana, don't cry," Ali whispered. Taking her grandmother by the hand. Petting her. "Mija," Pilar answered. Sweeping Ali up into her arms. "These are happy tears. I'm just so happy to have your grandfather back. He's been gone so long," she said. Searching his eyes for clues. Clues to why.
"Too long," a strong voice answered. Startling him. Startling them all. Martin looked past Pilar--past Ali--and his eyes landed on a young man. "Miguel?" he whispered. Walking closer. Not believing his eyes. His youngest son was no longer the baby he had left behind. He was a man.
"Papa?" he said. Quietly. Uncertain. "You've grown into a fine young man, Son," he said proudly. "A fine young man." And he crumpled. As reality sank in. Martin hugged his youngest son tightly. Emotion getting the better of him. Both of them. They cried together. Unashamed.
"There's someone I want you to meet, Papa," he said. Stepping back. Putting his arm around a pretty dark-haired young woman. A small child nestled in her arms. "Papa, this is Kay. My wife." He brought her hand to his lips with a smile. Delighting in her soft laughter. "And this," Miguel said, taking the small bundle from her, "is my son. MJ. He's named after you."
He looked to Miguel in surprise. Then back to the tiny infant. Arms waving back and forth. Curious dark eyes studying him intently. An impossibly huge smile tugging at the corners of his mouth once again. "Can I?" he asked. Holding his arms out. Miguel handed the child over to him. Running an affectionate hand over the baby's downy dark head before stepping back. Allowing grandfather and grandson to get acquainted.
"Hello there, wee one. I'm your grandpa. The old man you're named after," he said in jest. Earning a smile from MJ. Then laughter. "He thinks you're funny, Grandpa Martin," Ali giggled. He looked at her in surprise. Getting used to being called Grandpa was something he was looking forward to. Very much. He just smiled at her before gazing into his wife's dark eyes. He had so much to look forward to. There were still many questions to be asked, and so many answers. But those would wait. Right now, he wanted to enjoy this moment. To the fullest.
Just like that his life changed. In an instant. That day three years ago started like any other day. He woke. Alone. Went about his routine. As he always did. But something was different about that day. He could tell. His life would be forever changed. Again.
How could one person change a life so much? He didn't have the answers. Didn't pretend to understand it. Sheridan Crane had changed his life when she was only a child. And she changed it again just three years ago quite unexpectedly. This time she brought his family back to him. They were forever connected.
It all happened so fast. Like a whirlwind. He had his family back. And Pilar was in his arms. Laughing and crying. Clinging to him. Almost afraid to let go. His heart was full at that moment. Overflowing as he pulled back to look into her eyes. Words failed him as he wiped her tears away. So he did the only thing he could. Pulled her close again. And held on.
"Oh Martin," she said. Over and over again. Running her hands over his face. Touching him. Making sure he was real. He smiled at her. And her tears started all over again. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed. Until a tiny voice made her smile again.
"Nana, don't cry," Ali whispered. Taking her grandmother by the hand. Petting her. "Mija," Pilar answered. Sweeping Ali up into her arms. "These are happy tears. I'm just so happy to have your grandfather back. He's been gone so long," she said. Searching his eyes for clues. Clues to why.
"Too long," a strong voice answered. Startling him. Startling them all. Martin looked past Pilar--past Ali--and his eyes landed on a young man. "Miguel?" he whispered. Walking closer. Not believing his eyes. His youngest son was no longer the baby he had left behind. He was a man.
"Papa?" he said. Quietly. Uncertain. "You've grown into a fine young man, Son," he said proudly. "A fine young man." And he crumpled. As reality sank in. Martin hugged his youngest son tightly. Emotion getting the better of him. Both of them. They cried together. Unashamed.
"There's someone I want you to meet, Papa," he said. Stepping back. Putting his arm around a pretty dark-haired young woman. A small child nestled in her arms. "Papa, this is Kay. My wife." He brought her hand to his lips with a smile. Delighting in her soft laughter. "And this," Miguel said, taking the small bundle from her, "is my son. MJ. He's named after you."
He looked to Miguel in surprise. Then back to the tiny infant. Arms waving back and forth. Curious dark eyes studying him intently. An impossibly huge smile tugging at the corners of his mouth once again. "Can I?" he asked. Holding his arms out. Miguel handed the child over to him. Running an affectionate hand over the baby's downy dark head before stepping back. Allowing grandfather and grandson to get acquainted.
"Hello there, wee one. I'm your grandpa. The old man you're named after," he said in jest. Earning a smile from MJ. Then laughter. "He thinks you're funny, Grandpa Martin," Ali giggled. He looked at her in surprise. Getting used to being called Grandpa was something he was looking forward to. Very much. He just smiled at her before gazing into his wife's dark eyes. He had so much to look forward to. There were still many questions to be asked, and so many answers. But those would wait. Right now, he wanted to enjoy this moment. To the fullest.