"Oh, and here are some pictures for you. They're from Dana's and Sam's school plays last week," said Katie, slipping some pictures out of her purse while buckling 7-month-old Parker in his car seat. "I'll call you sometime tomorrow. Dana, come on, say goodbye and let's go home."
"See ya later Grandma."
"Goodbye Dana, I love you"
As her family pulled out of the driveway, Linda examined the pictures. She walked toward the living room, intending to place them in an album. She glanced down at the ones scattered on the floor. Her grandchildren had been looking at some of their baby pictures. As she knelt down to pick them up, she noticed that there was one she hadn't looked at for a while. She picked it up and opened the first page. She sighed. They were photos of Jack. In the hospital with herself, the day Nicky was born, grinning from ear to ear. Jack handing small bundle to his parents, Nicky's first day of school, Jack repairing his truck, Jack reading a story to Nicky and a baby Katie. Linda flipped and flipped through the book, smiling gently at the moments of happiness preserved. At the life of Jack, the man she'd been separated from so suddenly, so tragically. A husband, a father, a friend, a hero. She had met the man Jack had saved that fateful night, heard the message he left for her and the kids, and been given his burnt helmet. She sat and cried, celebrated at his funeral. She had thought about him everyday of her life. But here she was, re-experiencing all of Jack's life. And she felt a little closer to him.
Linda had dated for a while. About 4 years after the accident, and friend hooked her up with someone, and she had 1 or 2 serious relationships, but they never worked out. But now, after seeing Jack's life, she missed him more than ever. Their relationship hadn't been smooth sailing. But what relationship ever was? Jack had been such a good father, consoling them all when they worried. His firehouse brothers meant so much to him too. And Linda just wanted him back. She was tired of feeling lonely.