CHAPTER 6

After spending almost a week at the clinic, Jeremy is finally well enough to go home. Walking onto his front porch he says, "Candy, if it's all right with you, I'd like to sit out here in the swing for a while."

"Well, Allyn said for you to go home and rest. But I think you can rest sitting there in the swing," Candy replies. "I'll just take these things inside. Can I get you anything?"

Jeremy sits down and sighs, "No, I'm fine." He watches Candy go inside and he looks around at his vast property. I thought I would never see this place again. Home. There's no place like home.

Candy comes back out carrying two glasses of lemonade. "I thought maybe you would like something cold to drink." She hands Jeremy a glass as she sits down in the swing beside him.

"Yeah, thanks." He takes a sip and says, "Hmm, that hits the spot." They sit in silence for a while.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Candy finally says to break the silence. She takes their almost empty glasses and sits them on the small table next to the swing.

Jeremy takes her hand and kisses her fingertips. "Yeah, it is. It's nice to be outside again. I was beginning to go stir crazy looking at those four walls all the time," he chuckles. Then getting serious he says, "Candy, there's something I'd like to tell you. I don't know if you'll believe me or not, but I promise I'm not lying."

"All right Jeremy. I thought there was something that has been weighing on your mind. What is it?"

"You have? Why did you think that?"

"You've just seemed bothered or somewhat distracted. I guess maybe I should have asked, but I figured you'd tell me in time, when you were ready."

"Thank you for giving me time to wrap my head around this. I know what I'm going to tell you is hard to believe, but I swear Candy, it really happened," he gulps. "When Allyn was operating on me, I felt myself rising off the table. Then there was this bright light and . . .and Mama was there with me. We hugged and we cried. She told me it was my time to go home with her. That I'd get to stay with her and Father." He hears Candy gasp as she covers her mouth with her hand. "I wanted to go home with her. I miss her and Father so much."

"I know you do. But. . .Then what happened?"

"Well, I told her I was married and we had a baby on the way. I told her I wanted to bring you and the baby with us. She said no, it wasn't your time yet. So I told her I didn't want to go if you couldn't come with us. I wanted to stay with you and the baby. She said I had to go with her. I pleaded with her to do something so I could stay with you. She went back into the light and I stayed there waiting. I saw you Candy, sitting by my side for hours."

Tears fill Candy's eyes. "Yes I did, Jeremy. I couldn't leave you."

"I know." He places his hand on her stomach. "When you put my hand here on your stomach, I felt the baby move. Then Mama came back and I told her I felt the baby moving. She told me to go back to my little family. We hugged, she left, and I went back onto the table. Then you yelled out for Allyn, Jason, and Josh." He hesitates then asks, "Do you believe me?"

"It is hard to believe, but yes Jeremy, I do believe you. I'm so glad you talked your Mama into letting you stay. I don't know what I would have done if she had taken you with her." She leans over and kisses his shoulder.

"She said it wasn't up to her whether I go or not, she had to leave and talk to someone. I guess she convinced them. Anyways, I'm still here," he chuckles.

"Have you told your brothers about this?"

"No, I don't think they'll believe it. Maybe some day I will tell them, but for right now, you and I are the only ones that know what happened. That's the way I want it," he looks lovingly into her eyes.

"I won't tell a soul until you're ready for it to be known."

"Thank you," he says as he puts his arm around her shoulders. "Ow, maybe that move wasn't a good idea." He removes his arm from around her and checks his shirt to be sure he didn't rip a stitch and start bleeding again.

"You okay?" she asks.

"Yeah, I think so. Another thing, Candy. The baby. If it's a girl, I'd like to name her Sarah Jane. After Mama and you."

"Sarah Jane. I like it, Jeremy. And since your Mama has a lot to do with you coming back to us, I think we should honor her by giving our baby girl her name."

"That's what I was thinking, too."

"Jeremy, if it's a boy, I know we've already picked out Johnathan, but I'd like to add your name to it. Johnathan Jeremy Bolt. What do you think?" she asks.

"Are you sure about that? That's a mouthful," he laughs. "I thought you'd want to use your Dad's name, Peter."

"I thought about it, but I want our son to be named after his Daddy. After what you've been through, I think you deserve it."

"All right, if you're sure. Thank you." He leans over and kisses her softly on the lips. "I think I better go in and lay down."

"That you should, Mr. Bolt," Candy says. "You don't want to overdo it on your first day home. Come on and I'll help you up the stairs."

"Will you lay with me? I've missed you," he grins.

"Yes, I will. But you know we can only hold each other, don't you?" she laughs.

"I know," he says disappointedly.

"Baby steps, Jeremy. That's what we have to do. Baby steps."