The following day, Jamie stood at Tommy's door. She'd been standing and staring at it for ten minutes. She couldn't get the nerve up to knock.
John stayed at the house with Michael. It had taken an unbelievable amount of convincing to get him to stay with Michael. Jamie wasn't altogether thrilled with the prospect, but she'd taught and wrote down the spell for John, and practiced it with him as well. She wasn't going to let Michael see what Stephen looked like, just in case. She didn't want Stephen to be a target. Technically, by nature of being Laurie's grandson, he was a target. At least this way he'd be a blind one.
Jamie nearly jumped out of her skin when the door suddenly swung open in front of her. Tommy stood there, a grin on his face. "I saw the car pull up. I gave you plenty of time to knock. I figured by this point you obviously needed a hand. Jamie offered a nervous grin in gratitude. "Come in," Tommy said. "Stephen's upstairs playing. I told him everything, and how you weren't able to get back to him after the accident because you've been hurt. I also told him that the accident was very severe, which means that you might not be totally better yet. As I said, you wanted to see him, no matter what, so you came even though you might still be sick." Tommy emphasized his words carefully, letting Jamie know the story he'd told Stephen to try to help him understand how his mother was here, and why she might not be able to stay. Tommy told him that he hadn't even know that his mother was still alive.
Jamie hugged Tommy in gratitude. She never could have thought of a way to explain to Stephen why she wasn't with him without terrorizing him for life. Telling a little boy that Mommy can't be with you because she doesn't want her killer uncle to find you and she was probably not the best way to go. Jamie couldn't think of another reason, because only the very real potential of Stephen being killed could make her give him up.
Footsteps clattered down the stairs. They were rather loud for such a small boy. Tommy yelled, "Stephen! What did I tell you about running down the stairs?" The footsteps slowed and became much lighter. Tommy laughed quietly and put an arm around Jamie to support her. Stephen rounded the corner and froze. He knew his mother; she looked just like the picture he had of her. Squeezing Jamie's shoulder lightly, he said, "Stephen, this is someone I wanted you to meet. This is your mommy."
Stephen remained still and wary for another few moments, inspecting Jamie intently. To Jamie, it was like an eternity. Suddenly, Stephen's face broke out into a huge smile that lit up his features. Moving quickly towards her, he held out his arms expectantly. Tears formed in Jamie's eyes, and she dropped to her knees. Mother and son embraced each other tightly for the first time in years. "I missed you, Mommy," Stephen said in a sweet pitch. At the sound of his voice, Jamie wept openly.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I missed you too, baby. God, I missed you so much!" Jamie cried. Stephen pulled away and looked at her. "Why are you crying?" he asked. "Sometimes, people cry when they're happy. I was afraid you would be mad at me for not being with you all this time," Jamie answered honestly. To a child's mind, that anger made no sense, especially when combined with Tommy's explanation. "It's okay, Mommy. Daddy said you were sick and you couldn't help it, but that you wanted to be here," he replied. Tommy kneeled down to the pair. "Come on, buddy. You wanted to show Mommy a whole bunch of stuff, didn't you? You going to show her your room?" he asked.
Stephen smiled and grabbed his mother's hand, propelling her through the house and up the stairs. He talked the whole way. Stephen was an incredible chatterbox. He didn't seem possessed of the ability to be silent. Tommy followed the pair, smiling as Stephen showed Jamie everything he could think of.
The day was bittersweet, to say the least. Tommy was pained to think of what she had gone through, to protect the boy he thought of as his own. Tommy couldn't imagine ever having to give him up, and Jamie had felt like she'd had no other choice. A part of him was angry that the beautiful young woman had lost so much because of the foolish notions of some idiots who'd decided to play God.
Morning turned to afternoon, and afternoon to dusk. Before Jamie knew it, it was evening. The day had passed too fast. If ever she wanted to stop time, to stay here in this moment forever, it was now. Stephen was so smart, so clever for his age. He had her smile, her laugh. He'd picked up many of Tommy's habits, like when he prepared to swing at a baseball. His eyes narrowed in concentration, and his tongue would stick out of the corner of his mouth just so slightly. Tommy ordered pizza for dinner, and Jamie laughed to see the pair fold their slices and turn them to the side to eat.
Jamie was able to help put Stephen down to sleep, which he didn't make easy that night. The little boy knew that when he woke up, his Mommy would be gone again. He was afraid he'd wake up to find this had all been a dream. Finally, the events of the day wore on him and he drifted off to sleep. Jamie kissed her son goodnight, kissed him goodbye, and left the room, Tommy with her. She made it down the stairs before breaking into tears. Tommy held her closely to him while she let them out, then shocked her by lifting her chin to look at him. Without a word, Tommy kissed her. Deeply. Jamie threw herself into the kiss, having denied herself any companionship for so long. They wouldn't have stopped if the door hadn't knocked on. Reluctantly, Tommy broke the kiss and opened the door, revealing an older woman. "Hello, Mrs. Hansen," Tommy said. "Stephen's already in bed. Thank you so much for spending the night with him." Jamie looked at him confused, until he said, "I'm coming with you tonight."
Jamie started to object. If something happened to both of them, Stephen would be alone! But Tommy wasn't having any of it. He was going, and he wouldn't be talked out of it. Mrs Hansen suddenly interceded. "Dear, I'm sure everything will be alright. But really, men get worried when their lady goes to the hospital. Just let him go with you to ease his mind," she said helpfully. Jamie looked at Tommy with an arched brow. He grinned. It had been a brilliant story, one that Jamie couldn't object to without revealing the true situation. Sighing, she let Tommy lead her outside, and they headed back to the Myers house.