After the girls calmed themselves, The gang decided to spend the rest of the day outside in the back yard. Mac, Stacy and Bloo were playing freeze tag with Coco and Ed, while Stephanie sat near Sarah in the rocking chair with Wilt by her side.
Sarah smiled at Stacy, seeing her so full of life again as she tagged Bloo and then bolted, When Frankie came out with at tray of lemonade saying, "Get them while they are still cold." she giggled and handed them off one at a time.
"Thank you Frankie," Stephanie said, taking a sip then looked to Sarah.
"So you work in Kingsly's Graphic shop now huh? How did that happen?" Sarah asked Stephanie, taking a sip of her lemonade.
Stephanie smiled, "I won a contest that I joined a few months after moving into our new home. They said because I was too young at the time, they would wait till I was 18 to hire me. After that, I work in a little program for amateur artists. it's a small little group, and a lot of hours, but it pays well. With a few years of tranining, they said I could go into designing for individual companies like Vogue."
Sarah looked at her in surprise, "Wow, I can't believe it. I am so proud of you."
"Thanks," Stephanie smile.
Sarah then looked to kids asking, "How is Stacy holding up?"
Stephanie smiled looking at her little sister as she played, "She seems to be doing okay, but complains that we don't get to see each other much, except over the weekends. Now that I work late, she has to go to a daycare center till I come pick her up. When I do, Its passed her bedtime and she ends up falling asleep in the car."
"Wait.." Wilt looked at Stephanie surprised, "You have a car?"
Stephanie nodded, "yeah."
"But how…I mean…well…" Wilt looks at her and her Wheelchair.
Stephanie laughs, "I get that question all the time, since I work for the company, they got me a car that especially made for me. So everything I have is at push of a button on the joystick, breaks and pedal power included."
"Oh! I get it! that's pretty neat," Wilt smiled.
Sarah giggled a little as she took another sip of her lemonade, leaning back in the chair as she watched the kids play with a contented smile, "I am glad to see you two are doing very well," Sarah said to Stephanie, "She looks so happy."
"Now that we found you, we are very happy," Stephanie assured her.
Sarah looked at her then looked down, "I didn't hear from you girls for a long time…I was worried that you were…still….you know…what about..."
"Sarah," Stephanie rolled up to Sarah, placing a hand on hers, "My dad did that, not us, I wasn't upset with you, I was upset with him, he was the one who separated us, after what happened…" she paused seeing Sarah's sadden expression then said, "I am sorry if it seemed like I was upset with you, that couldn't be further from the truth, what you did that day, he deserved it. And after I turned 18, I took custody of Stacy…just what…mom…wanted…" Stephanie looked down.
Sarah looked at her, resting her free hand on top of hers, "I am sure she would be very proud on how you two are taking care of one another."
"Yes,…I know she would be…" Stephanie smiled a little.
Sarah could tell in the look of her eyes, the pain never went away and she still blamed herself for her mothers passing. No matter how many times she tried to convince her that it wasn't her fault, Stephanie still felt bad. She knew she couldn't take away the pain or give back what she lost, all she could do is be there for her.
Wilt looked at Stephanie, walking over to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder, "You have to start thinking what your mom would have wanted…"
Stephanie looked up shocked to Wilt, "How do you-"
"Sarah told me everything…" Wilt said looking to Sarah who in turn looked down a little, "Your mom did a courageous thing, she couldn't live in the pain of loosing you so she gave herself up to save you. Your mother loved you so much, she wanted you to live a full and happy life. She would not want you to suffer over her passing, she would want you two to live happily…" He looked out to Stacy who dog piled on top of Mac and Bloo while laughing, "and from the looks of things, you two are doing what she wanted you to do."
Stephanie smiled at him placing her free hand over his, "yes, I know wherever she is, she is watching."
Sarah looked up to Wilt with a kind smile, giving him the looks of thanks from the bottom of her heart. She knew that Stephanie needed some assurance and getting it from another persons point of view was what she needed to hear.
Stephanie said looked to Sarah, "But now that we found you…I was wondering."
Sarah looked at her, "yes?"
"Could you come back and live with us?" Stephanie asked.
Sarah's eyes widened as did Wilts, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, "You…want me back?" Sarah asked.
"Of course, now that we found you, there is no way we are going to loose you again," Stephanie said.
Sarah looked down then to Wilt, who stood there looking at her, with an slightly sad look, though hid it from Stephanie. She then looked back to her, "But what about…you know…what happened?…you didn't tell Stacy did you?"
Stephanie sighed and shook her head, "No… I didn't tell her, she doesn't need to know, she wasn't there when it happened. We Just missed you so much Sarah, please say that you will come back."
Sarah looked down, then looked to Stacy who tackled Bloo giving him a noggin as Ed , Coco and Mac laughed. Inside, she was thrilled to be back into her creators lives, but another part of heart…it was…aching. She gave Stephanie a slight smile, saying, "I…I…I will come back with you."
Stephanie's smile grew as she threw her arms around Sarah hugging her dearly. Wilt, felt his world come to a screeching halt, all nature of its wonder and beauty loosing its color, his heart skipping a beat, but…knew…deep down inside…part of her wanted it. He could only give a small smile, then walked back into the house and into the living room, his feet dragging on the floor as he walked. He sat on the sofa with a hand to his heart…as painful as it was…as much as he loved her…he knew that her creators always came first.
