One Summer

68

When Mikki opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was her dad. Right after that she saw Liam, peering anxiously over Jack’s shoulder.

“I’m really okay, guys,” she said a little groggily.

Jack smiled and looked at Liam. “Give us a minute, will you?”

Liam nodded, flashed Mikki a reassuring grin, and left the room.

Jack gripped her hand, and she squeezed back. Mikki said, “Sorry for all the excitement I caused. It was really dumb.”

“Yes, it was,” he agreed. “But we were all under a lot of pressure.”

“So the lighthouse finally worked?”

He let out a long breath. “Yeah. If it hadn’t...” His voice trailed off, and father and daughter started to weep together, each clutching the other, their bodies shaking with the strain.

“I can’t believe how close I came to losing you, baby.”

“I know, Dad, I know,” she said in a hushed voice.

They finally drew apart.

“So what now? We still go with Grandma?”

“No, you’re staying right here with me.”

Mikki screamed with joy and hugged him again.

“Does Liam know?” she said excitedly.

“No, I thought I’d leave that to you.” He rose. “I’ll go get him.”

As he turned she said, “Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“No matter what happens in my life, you’ll always be my hero.”

He bent down and touched her cheek. “Thanks... Michelle.”

Later, as he stood by the doorway watching the two teens excitedly talking and hugging, Jack first smiled, then teared up, and then smiled again. She was clearly not a little girl anymore. And Jack could easily see how fast her life, and his, would change in the next few years.

Later, as Jack walked along the beach, a voice called out, “I’m going to miss you Armstrongs when you go back to Ohio.” He turned to see Jenna walking toward him.

“No, you won’t,” said Jack, “because we’re staying right here.”

She drew next to him. “Are you sure?”

He smiled. “No, but we’re still staying.”

She slipped an arm around him. “I’m glad things have worked out.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You’re way too generous with your praise.”

“Seriously, Jenna, you helped in a lot of ways. A lot.”

“So what are we going to do about the budding romance?”

“What?” he said in a startled voice.

“Between our kids.”

“Oh.”

She laughed, and he grinned sheepishly.

“I think we take it one day at a time.” He looked directly at her. “Does that sound okay, Jenna?”

“That sounds very okay, Jack.”