Chapter Seven
"Paul?"
A hand grasped his shoulder, forcing Blaisdell to open his eyes. He blinked twice in disbelief. He was in his own car. How? He didn’t remember leaving the cemetery.
"Paul, are you alright?"
Recognizing the voice, Blaisdell looked up and found Griffin standing outside his car door. He checked his surroundings, searching for an explanation. “How did I get here? Where’s Charles?”
"Charles?" Kermit gave Blaisdell a questioning look before glancing over the vehicle’s roof, searching for the so-called missing person. Careful of the icy asphalt, Griffin walked to his Corvair, opened the glove compartment and took out a flashlight. He then did a quick search of the area. Satisfied, he returned to the wrecked vehicle. "Paul, there's nobody out here." He leaned inside the opened car door and shined the light in his friend's face.
Raising his hand to shield his eyes, Paul angrily shoved Kermit's hand away with his free hand. "What are you doing?"
"Just checking," Kermit muttered under his breath. He knew Blaisdell wasn't an alcoholic but the last conversation he had with his friend made him think alcohol might have played more of a role in Paul's decision to kill himself than Blaisdell's own choice. Griffin was disappointed when he didn't find evidence to back up his theory.
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"Mom, what's wrong?"
A smile spread across Annie's lips after hearing Kelly's joyous scream. "I think this is going to be the best Christmas ever."
Peter stood up, pulling out his gun. Before Annie could tell her son there was no danger, she heard him gasp. “Oh my God!"
“Not hardly,” Paul stated. He barely had time to compose himself before his son was in his arms. He hugged the young man tightly as his wife joined them.
He glanced upward, mouthed a silent thanks for what life had given him.
Peter broke out of the embrace, wiped his eyes and was suddenly embarrassed. "I'll leave you two alone."
Paul tugged on his son's sleeve. "Make sure you save something for me to eat." With a quick wink, he released the young man. Turning his attention back to his wife. "I'm back for good, Babe. If you'll have me."
"You're going to make it up to me, Blaisdell." Annie wrapped her arms around the waist of her husband, burying herself inside his coat. "Even if it takes the rest of your life."
Paul pulled his coat around his wife's shoulders. A flash in the sky caught his attention. A shooting star sped across the night sky that made Blaisdell realize it had stopped snowing. "We have a lifetime to share, Babe."
THE END!
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