Jack returned home several hours later, looking more exhausted than Abigail had ever seen him. "Funeral's day after tomorrow," he told his wife. Silently she went to him and gave him a hug, and he clung to her more tightly than he ever had before. It occurred to her that before, it had almost always been Jack who'd comforted her, but this time, it was the reverse.

"Thanks. I needed that," Jack whispered. "Have Sharon and the kids been OK?"

"They've been fine. They're still in there watching TV. I made sandwiches for everyone. Sharon showed me where everything was in the kitchen."

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

Jack joined her on the fold-out sofa that night while Jackson and Julie slept on the floor in sleeping bags. The following day was occupied with the influx of relatives, most of whom Abigail had never met. Jack was busy attempting to comfort his distraught mother while dealing with his own grief, so Abigail was primarily responsible for watching Sharon and the children. Sharon was warm and loving and seemed eager to please, but as she was much larger than the children, Abigail feared that she might accidentally injure them during the horseplay they enjoyed so much.

The funeral the following day was very depressing. The only member of the family who was in a cheerful mood was Sharon, who kept smelling the flowers. Abigail had to call her to sit down with the rest of the family when the service was about to begin.

The minister told Jack's father's life story and talked at length about what a devoted husband and father he'd been, and then it was time for the short ride to the cemetery for the brief graveside ceremony, after which everyone returned to the house to eat the food the relatives had brought. Later that evening, Abigail was packing for the return journey home when Jack approached her with a serious look on his face. "We have to talk."

"Is something wrong?" Abigail felt the icy fingers of apprehension grip her heart.

"It's about Sharon," Jack continued. "Mom just has so much to deal with right now. She has to take care of settling all Dad's affairs and figure out what to do with all his stuff, plus she has health issues of her own. We're gonna have to take Sharon back with us for at least a few months, until things are more settled with Mom."

"But where will she sleep? We don't have an extra bedroom."

"She'll just have to sleep on the sofa." He came to her and embraced her. "I know it's gonna be a challenge, but I just don't see that we have any other choice, Abby. I can't bear the thought of my sister in some home for the disabled. I'm scared to death she'd end up being abused."

Abigail sighed. "All right."

On the way home, Sharon sat in the back seat between Jackson and Julie and chatted happily. "I just love sleep overs! Me and Tina had a sleep over at her house once. We had lots of fun. Her Mom took us to see a movie, and we got popcorn. Do you like popcorn?"

"I love popcorn!" Jackson exclaimed.

At home, it was a real challenge to find places for all Sharon's belongings. Jack and Abigail both had to put some of their own things in storage to make room for hers. That night, Abigail read Jackson a story and tucked him in. He called to her as she started to leave the room.

"What is it, sweetie?"

"Aunt Sharon's a grown-up, but she acts just like a little kid. How come?"

"She has something called Down's syndrome," Abigail explained. "That caused her brain to stay like a little kid's brain even after her body grew up."

"Is that why her eyes look funny too?"

"Yes."

"Is her brain always gonna be like a little kid's?"

"Yes."

"So she'll never be able to do grown-up stuff like drive or go shopping by herself?"

"No, she won't."

"That's really sad!"

"Yes, it is." Abigail kissed her son's forehead, amazed at how compassionate he was for one so young. "He reminds me so much of you," she told her husband later as she was recounting the incident to him.

"You too," Jack replied.

Adjusting to having another adult in the house, a mentally challenged one at that, proved to be even more difficult than Abigail had imagined it would be. Sharon ate as much as she and Jack did but thankfully wasn't picky about food, often finishing the food Jackson and Julie had left on their plates. The extra laundry was an additional burden as well. One weekend, Abigail met Joanie for lunch at the mall.

"She's as sweet as she can be, and she tries to help as much as she can, but you wouldn't believe how much extra work it is!" Abigail told her friend. "She's always dropping and spilling things, she makes a lot of messes, sometimes she's much too loud, even at night..."

"Well, why don't you look at it this way," Joanie suggested. "When you were in the coma, your mother had to take care of you twenty-four/seven. She fed you, dressed you every day, cleaned up after you, and provided for all your needs. Now's your chance to repay all that."

"I never thought of it that way before," Abigail admitted. "Now I feel terribly selfish."

"It's perfectly understandable that you feel stressed out sometimes," Joanie replied. "I'm sure I'd feel exactly the same way if I were in your shoes. I only meant that sometimes it can be helpful to look at things from a different perspective."

"You're absolutely right," Abigail agreed. "I'll try to remind myself of that next time I feel frustrated."

Jack was playing ball with the children and Sharon when she returned home. "How did lunch with Joanie go?" he asked when he saw her.

"It went fine."

"Want to play ball with us?" asked Sharon.

Abigail grinned. "You bet!"