Goodbye

The day before they left Chicago, Rahela and Davor spent most of the day with Luka. Though the pain was still ever present, he was medicated less frequently and therefore was less drowsy than he had been in the last two weeks. They chatted endlessly in Croatian about home and what was going on there. They talked about how busy the summer months were with tourists and how the open air theatre performances were still as popular as ever. They talked about sailing and soccer and of course Tata and the family. Yes, home was still home and though the world seemed to remember only the war, the people of Croatia, remembered it, rebuilt from it and recovered from it ... in his hometown on the coast at least. They spoke of Vukovar and how difficult times still were there. Vukovar was where Danijela and the children were killed and where they were buried. Vukovar was a source of pain more extreme than the pain he felt right now.

"So Rahela; am I going to find anything in my apartment when I go back there, or did you clean it all away?" asked Luka, laughing. His sister-in-law was even more meticulous than his wife had been and she was known for cleaning and re-arranging things so that they were never found by their owners.

"I didn't move anything. I just dusted. Your apartment was very dusty and I bought you better curtains,"

"I re-stocked your cupboards too. Do you ever cook Luka?" asked Davor.

"Sometimes I do. I wish I wasn't seeing you like this. I would have loved to show you around ... spend some time having fun with you instead of being confined to this bed,"

"Well just promise us the next time we're here you're not on death's door, okay?" Davor wasn't the most emotional person but he loved his family and he worried about Luka. He didn't want him to be lonely and though what happened to him with Steve was horrible, it was comforting to know that Luka had someone to love him whom he truly loved in return.

"Are you sure you don't want us to stay? Davor could go back and I could stay a bit longer. Or ... or maybe I could come back when they release you?"

"I'd love to have you both stay but you have your lives and I have a lot of people who will help me while I recover. Plus, I can still hire someone if I really need to. Sam and Alex will be with me at the apartment,"

"Oh ... so we really should get out of the way then," Davor gave it his best shot at being hurt but he could never keep a straight face.

"Promise us you'll stay in touch and that you'll visit as soon as you can," said Rahela.

"I promise,"

"Well, we'd better get back. There's still a bit of packing to do, ay, Davor?" She leaned in and kissed Luka on the cheek. "Take good care of yourself, okay and I think you'll make each other very happy so ... do it, okay?" Luka smiled. Rahela knew him well and like it was when he wanted to propose to Danijela, she just knew he wanted to marry Sam.

"You're psychic, you know that?"

"No, you are an open book when it comes to love,"

"There are some around here who will disagree with you," he replied.

"Well, I don't know the American Luka but I do know 'our' Luka and I know you love her. So ... you should marry her. Take your chance at happiness. We all want that for you, especially Tata. Now, we have to go. Get better, okay and call if you need us to come back. We love you. Remember that,"

"I will and I love you all too. Thanks for everything Rahela," Davor walked up and took his younger brother's hand and leaned in and gently hugged him.

"Well, as usual, she's said it all. We're leaving the keys with Sam like you said. Ah, Luka ... I can't lose you, okay ... so ...please ... no more trips to dangerous places or fights with I don't know ... crazy boyfriends. You have a lot to live for and a lot of people love you so ..."

"I'm going to take better care of myself, Davor. I'm in a better place now and all that happened in the past is in the past. I'll be fine. Thanks for coming,"

"Anytime you need me I'll be here. You know that," Davor said and Luka nodded.

"Bye Davor. Give Tata my love and as soon as I'm able I'll come home, I promise,"