December 1992

"Guess who's coming for Christmas?" Abigail asked Jack as they were putting the tree up.

"Who?"

"Remember Arthur and Brenda Fonzarelli?"

"Doesn't ring a bell."

"They were at Matthew and Lisa's wedding."

"Oh, yeah! Dark complected guy?"

Abigail nodded. "They're coming to visit Drake and Monica. Monica just found out she's pregnant, you know."

"Oh, yeah?" Jack had just finished draping the tinsel and stood back to observe the effect.

"Joanie told me they've always called him Fonzie. You should get to know him. He's a great guy, and he's just about your age."

"Is he?" Jack stood back to look at the tree again. "So what do you think, kids? Did we do a good job?"

"It's really pretty, Daddy," said Julie.

"Just wait till tonight, when we turn the lights out," Jack replied. "It's gonna be really beautiful then."

Fonzie and his wife flew into town that weekend, and Drake and Monica had the Parrishes over for dinner Sunday evening. "Great to see you again," Jack said as he shook Fonzie's hand. "When my wife told me you were coming, I didn't recognize your name at first, but when she mentioned Matthew and Lisa's wedding, it clicked."

"So you're the dude who helped Abigail get her life going and fell in love with her in the process." Fonzie nodded in approval. "Way to go."

"Thank you so much for not calling me 'the coma girl'," said Abigail. "It's what most people call me when they first meet me, and I really hate it."

Dinner was linguini with salad and rolls. "Ah, you remembered my favorite meal," said Fonzie. "I like that!"

"Of course I did, Dad." Monica kissed his cheek.

"I don't want to eat this, Mommy." Julie wrinkled her nose at the linguini.

"Don't be rude, Julie," her mother reproved her. "You can't know whether or not you like it until you try it, and I'll bet you will."

"I've got hot dogs if you'd rather have that," Monica offered.

"Yes!" Jackson and Julie exclaimed together. Monica laughed and prepared the hot dogs for the children. As he watched them eat, it occurred to Jack that he was old enough to have a daughter Monica's age; however, despite all the could-have-beens and would-have-beens, he was happy that his life had turned out as it had and had no regrets. Fulfillment delayed had proven to have been fulfillment multiplied for him. He glanced at Abigail, hoping that the same was true for her. Her eyes met his, and she smiled. He smiled back.

Across from the children, Sharon happily gobbled up her linguini while chatting happily with the other adults. As Dorothy now resided in an assisted living facility, the middle-aged woman was now a permanent resident in the Parrish household. Jack had had another bedroom added onto the house for her, and she spent her days mostly watching television, coloring, doing crafts, and playing with the children. Drake and Monica had assured the Parrishes that Sharon was welcome in their home any time.

After the meal had ended, Abigail helped Monica with the dishes while Jack and Fonzie stepped onto the porch to talk. "So, what kind of work do you do?" Jack asked Fonzie.

"I've been the guidance counselor and dean of boys at George S. Patton Vocational High School for years now," Fonzie told him. "I love helping young men find their paths in life. I feel it's my calling. I understand you're a high school football coach."

"Have been for over twenty years now, and love it just as much as I did when I first started. In fact, if it weren't for my job, I probably never would have met Abby. She was a student when I first started, and I was still working there when she emerged from her coma."

"I met Brenda through my job, too," Fonzie replied. "Her younger brother was one of my students. She came to a conference once because her mother was sick with the flu. We hit it off right away."

The two men chatted for a few minutes longer, then joined the others inside. Jack and Abigail visited until Julie began to yawn, then Jack picked her up and carried her to the car with Abigail, Jackson, and Sharon following behind him. "So what were you and Fonzie talking about for so long on the porch?" Abigail asked her husband as he was driving the family home.

"Our careers, and how we met our respective wives."

"He must think it odd that our children are so much younger than his."

"He knows about our situation."

"Poor Jack." They'd stopped at a red light, and she placed a hand over his. "You must have been so lonely before I woke up from the coma."

"Yeah, but that's OK." He grinned. "I'm not lonely anymore."