Frank set down the small bouquet of lilies in front of Mary's headstone. He stepped back and looked at the scenery around him. The sun was shining brightly and he couldn't help but think that it was a sign that his wife was celebrating the special day with the family today.
"Well... Jamie's home now," Frank said, stuffing a hand in his coat pocket. "Danny and Erin drove them home so they could help Eddie get him up to the apartment and settled in. Pop and I are going by around dinner time to take them some food and check up on him."
After a week and a half in the hospital, Jamie was finally discharged to go home. It was a day that the whole family rejoiced in, especially Frank. After Joe, he couldn't lose another child. He didn't know if he could take that again. He thanked God everyday for sparing Jamie's life.
Frank had arrived to the hospital around nine o'clock that evening to only find his daughter-in-law in the waiting room. The rim around her eyes were red and she was clearly exhausted but flashed a comforting smile at him as he greeted her with a hug. She explained that Jamie was okay and doing as well as could be expected. He still hadn't woken up yet but according to the surgeon, he could wake up at anytime. She informed him that the surgery had gone well and that they had been able to remove the bullet. He let out a sigh of relief at hearing the news but nothing could've prepared him for what Eddie said next. Hearing that his youngest boy had been so close to death made a shiver run down his spine. And hearing that a determination still had to be made if there was any paralysis made his heart go into a free fall.
Frank hung his head down low. He felt that he had failed Jamie with not being there when he needed him the most. He failed his family and failed Mary, with not being able to protect their boy. He and Eddie sat together with their arms interlinked, until the nurse finally called them back a little while later.
Frank kept a tight hold on his daughter-in-law as the nurse walked them back to Jamie's room. It was like he was gaining strength from her, trying to brace himself for whatever state he would find his son in.
They walked into the room to find Jamie awake. The doctor was talking to him but he was only able to give short one-worded responses. When his eyes tracked over to the doorway to see his wife and father standing there, they opened a little wider and he mustered up a small smile.
They watched with baited breath at as the doctor did a few tests on Jamie. The doctor had informed her that they wouldn't know anything about spinal damage until Jamie was awake and coherent enough to be able to respond to them.
"Okay Jamie," the doctor said. He pulled a reflex hammer out of his coat pocket and ran the metal end up Jamie's foot. "Did you feel that?"
Jamie immediately nodded, "Yes."
"Good. Good," he replied. Then, he pulled out a pen and poked the center of Jamie's foot with it. He immediately reacted to it, by jerking his foot back.
"I don't think I even have to ask with that one," he chuckled. "This is looking good. I'm going to order a few tests to be sure but from what I've observed, I don't see there being any lasting spinal damage."
"I should've been there as soon as he was brought in," Frank said sadly. "I'm sorry I wasn't with there with our boy and our family. I failed you there sweetheart... and him. I should've been there and it's something I'll regret for the rest of my days. But I'm glad Pop was there since I wasn't. And Danny too."
The family all took turns being at the hospital with Jamie but second to Eddie and Henry, Frank was the constant. He was there with him any chance he got. Jamie knew that Frank hadn't been there in the first few hours after everything happened. The father and son were very similar in many ways so Jamie sensed that Frank was feeling some guilt. He would never hold something like that against him so he wanted to make sure he knew that.
"Dad," Jamie said, looking over at Frank who was sitting at the other end of the room, engrossed in some files that had been brought over from the office. He had decided bring Jamie some lunch and visit but ended up prolonging his stay to give his daughter-in-law a chance to go home and rest for a little while.
"Yeah?" Frank responded, looking up and putting the files to the side. "Do you need something, son?"
"That night... you were right where you needed to be," he replied simply.
"I tend to forget that Jamie is a grown man sometimes," Frank admitted. "With a wife... and building his own family. But I will always see him as our little boy. I want to cover him up and protect him but I realize that I can't do that... even though I really want to.
"You would be so proud of him, honey," Frank continued with a small smile. "He's built a wonderful life for himself. He's doing a lot better than we were at his age. And I know I've told you over and over but you would adore Eddie. They're great for one another. She's fiercely protective of him. I know you'd like that."
After awhile, Frank looked down at the time on his watch, "I should get going. Pop is probably waiting on me."
He walked forward and put a hand on Mary's headstone, "Thank you for keeping our boy here with us. I'm thankful that I didn't have to bury another child. I never want to do that again."
Frank leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to the top of the headstone, "I promise to be back soon. I love you sweetheart."
He took a few steps back and bowed his head, saying a prayer to his wife, son, and mother, thanking them for keeping Jamie and the family together once again. He gave one last longing look to the small row of his family's headstones before turning and walking back to the car.