While Cole was resilient, Jeff noticed steadfastness in his eyes, but he’d endured.
Jeff smiled to himself as he rolled through his town. There was a silver lining. It had obliterated all of his doubts about Sarah, about holding his family together.
That, and the private trips he made to the children’s section of the cemetery at the edge of Laurel.
Jeff realized his place in the world was to take care of his family, to help others every chance he could. Being a good husband, a good dad, fixing cars and volunteering for emergencies seemed just about right, for him.
He turned his truck’s radio to his favorite country station, glad to catch “I Walk the Line.” Listening, he thought the song suited his state of mind as he came upon his home on Coyote Ridge Road.
They had a ranch-style bungalow on half an acre, but they started dreaming again of getting a bigger place at Pheasant Brook. There were some nice properties out there.
He eased his Ford into the driveway, killed the engine and radio. He hesitated before he got out. Through the front window he caught the scene: Sarah, standing behind Cole, who was working at the computer. Sarah was pointing at something on the screen, likely Cole’s geography project.
Cole had chosen to do it on New York City.
They’d promised him they would go back one day for a real vacation.
Jeff smiled to himself.
As the truck’s engine ticked down he continued looking into the window. This was a portrait of a perfect life.
They were not the same family anymore.
They never would be.
They were stronger, and no matter what they faced, nothing could ever, or would ever, defeat them.
