Chapter 19

Later that night, Tad and Kelsey were outside in the front yard looking up at the stars.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Tad asked.

"Yes," Kelsey answered. "Why are there stars in the sky?"

"When I was a little boy, my father told me that there is a star up there for every person in the whole world," Tad said. "And that when someone dies, their star falls or shoots out of the sky."

"My teacher told our class that falling and shooting stars are the same thing," Kelsey said.

"That's right," Tad said.

"She also told us that shooting stars are not really stars at all, but pieces of burning rock," Kelsey said. "But I like your story better."

"Me too," Tad said. "I like to believe that shooting stars are really stars, falling out of the sky when someone dies."

Just then a shooting star shot across the sky.

"Look Daddy!" Kelsey exclaimed. "A shooting star!"

"Make a wish, Kels," Tad said. "It's all yours."

Kelsey closed her eyes and made a wish.

"Did you make a wish?" Tad asked.

"Uh-huh," Kelsey said. "I hope it comes true."

"I think it will," Tad said.

"How do you know?" Kelsey asked.

"It has been said that if you wish on a shooting star your wish will come true," Tad said.

"I love you, Daddy," Kelsey said.

"I love you too, Kelsey," Tad said.

Three Months Later - November 22, 1995

In the last three months, Blair's speech had improved so much that it was now perfect. However Blair still relied on the walker to help her walk. On this November day, Jo is sitting on a chair in the living room watching Blair make her way down the stairs. When Blair got down all of the stairs, Jo jumped out of her seat.

"Hey Blair," Jo said. "I've been watching you for the past few days and I think that you could walk without that thing, if you tried."

"I don't know, Jo," Blair said. "I don't think I can."

"Sure you can," Jo said. "Stay right there."

Jo walked to the front door.

"OK," Jo said. "Let go of your walker and come to me."

"Jo, I can't," Blair whined.

"Yes, you can," Jo said. "Quit being so stubborn."

Six-year-old Kelsey watched quietly from the upstairs balcony.

"I can't do this, Jo," Blair said.

"Come on Blair," Jo said. "Let go and come to me."

Blair slowly let go of the walker.

"Believe in yourself," Jo said. "You can do this."

Blair hesitated as she took her first steps in over four years. Blair was halfway there, when Tad arrived home from work.

"Hey, look at you!" Tad exclaimed. "Come give me a hug."

"Come on Blair, you can do it," Jo said.

Blair walked the rest of the way into Tad's arms and gave him a hug.

"I did it!" Blair exclaimed.

"I knew you could," Jo said.

"Hey Daddy," Kelsey called from upstairs. "You were right, my wish did come true."

"I told you it would," Tad said.

Blair was still hugging Tad, when she felt something in his pocket.

"Tad, what do you have in your pocket?" Blair asked.

Tad pulled out a box from his pocket.

"I know you have been wondering where your ring was, so I got you a new one," Tad said.

Tad got down on one knee and opened up the ring box.

"Blair, will you marry me?" Tad asked. "Again?"

"I love you Tad, of course I will marry you again," Blair said.

"I love you too," Tad said. "I'm so proud of you."

"I couldn't have done it without Jo," Blair said.