Linda sat with her daughter on their couch. Katie lived only 15 minutes away, and frequently visited. She knew well of her brother's accident by now, and was over comforting her mother while her older two children were at school.
" When I talked to him, he said that he was taking the next two weeks off," reassured Katie.
" That's what he told me too. And they're going to stay here for 3 or 4 days too. I'm just worried that after the two weeks, he's going to immerse himself in work again. And if he has other things on his mind, he won't be as careful at work."
" Or maybe after the accident he will have put things into better perspective. Maybe that's what it took to get him to understand that he has more purpose than fire."
" Oh, I hope so," sighed Linda.
" So about this little celebration for dad, what are you hoping to achieve from it?"
" Nothing. I just want your father to be commemorated. Remind everyone of who he was."
" Need any help?"
" You've already helped me enough. But I think this is something I have to do for dad myself."
" Whatever you want. But I'm going to have to get home before the kids do. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
" Sure," Linda replied, kissing young Parker's sleeping cheek.
As the two left for the door, Linda boiled some water for tea, gathered her old photo albums and settled at the kitchen table. She had a lot of time to reflect, laugh and maybe cry.