The Long Road Home
by Terry

Chapter 44

Alexis was smiling contentedly. She and Johnny left Ferncliff a short time ago and were now rambling down a winding two lane country road where trees periodically hung over the road casting beautiful long shadows that looked like blankets you could crawl under. She rolled her window down to allow the breeze to blow through her hair. Leaning her head back against the seat she closed her eyes and relaxed completely. Hearing Johnny chuckle at her side she rolled her head toward him and opened one eye to see what he found so amusing. His eyes were on her. Closing her eye she rolled her head back to face forward.

"What do you find so funny, Mr. Smartie?"

"You. You look like the proverbial cat that ate the canary."

"Why, because I'm enjoying myself for the first time in I don't know how long? You just keep driving and leave me to relax a while. This is absolutely wonderful."

"I didn't mean to make fun. But, it's very rare that I get to see you so relaxed and it just makes me happy."

She smiled wistfully.

"Me too, Johnny. Me too."

Johnny drove a few more miles then slowed to pull off the road onto a dirt road that was almost hidden with brush on each side of it.

"Watch your arm, Alexis. Don't let the brush scratch you."

She sat up and looked around. There was nothing of interest anywhere around them.

"Where are you taking me? The back woods of Podunk, USA?"

Laughing at her comparison, he found a small area to pull off to the side and stopped. Reaching behind the seat, Johnny pulled a jacket out and handed it to her.

"It's just through those trees right there. Put this on so you won't get chilled. It will also keep the brush from catching your shirt. Ready?"

Eyeing him warily she took the jacket from him.

"You know, if you wanted to kidnap me all you had to do was ask. This is just a bit on the mysterious side, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but it will all make sense in just a few minutes. Let's go."

The two friends, hand in hand, started for the wooded area across from the dirt road and trudged through a mass of new fallen leaves before coming out on the other side. Lifting her head from the path she kept her eyes trained on to keep from stumbling, Alexis gasped at the sight before her. She was so intent on watching where she was going she failed to pay attention to the sounds around her and now stood beside a clear running brook. A small bridge led from one side to the other and when she looked to see where the bridge ended she saw a slightly worn gazebo standing against a backdrop of roses. The vines of the rose bushes were winding around the supports of the gazebo enchantingly. She had never seen such a beautiful sight before. Letting her gaze take in more, she finally noticed the stone just a few feet away. As she started across the bridge, she heard Johnny's quiet reverent voice.

"I bought this land a few months before she died. This is what she would have wanted. To be laid to rest in a quiet peaceful place with running water and lots of flowers around. I built the gazebo after she died. I needed to be close to her. I needed somewhere I could go and just sit and talk to her. So when I need to talk, or when I get upset or angry... I come here... to her, and I remember the different conversations we had. It always makes me feel better."

Stepping off the bridge on the other side, Alexis went to stand beside the headstone. The simple beauty of a man loving his grandmother so much brought tears to her eyes as she knelt beside the stone. Laying her hand along the top of it she read the inscription. "Rose O'Brien, Loving wife, Trusted Friend and Guide. Rest now Nana Rose, All my love, Johnny."

"It is the desire of my heart that my own child will one day look at me the same way you look at your grandmother, Johnny. I wish I could talk to her. Just once. I want to know the secret."

Frowning in confusion, Johnny knelt beside Alexis and lay his arm across her shoulders.

"The secret to what, Alexis?"

"How to raise such a respectful, loving and giving child. I want my daughter to have those qualities. I don't want her to be afraid of her own shadow. I don't want her to be constantly questioning her words or actions. I want her to be confident enough in who she is to go after what she wants."

"She will be all of that and more, Alexis. Just you wait and see."

"With me as her neurotic mother, I don't see it happening."

"But, she also has her Uncle Johnny and Aunt Joy to help out. I remember everything my Nana Rose ever told me. You get into any trouble, you just come see Uncle Johnny and we'll work it all out."

"You'd do that for me, Johnny?"

"Sure I would. She's my goddaughter isn't she? I mean you haven't changed your mind have you?"

"Not on your life."

Standing he offered her his hand to help her up.

"Come on, let's go sit down a while. Every time I come out here, I have to sit a while. It's so peaceful here and the troubles of the world seem to melt away when I’m here. Do you mind if we sit a while before going back?"

"I don't mind at all. In fact I can't think of anything else I would rather do right now."

They sat together for the next hour talking of simple pleasures and the dreams of little boys that faded and were replaced with the dreams of men. A gentle breeze caressed their cheeks and they found smiles in quiet words and comforting thoughts. Johnny lent his memories of open doors and open loving arms to Alexis and she welcomed without hesitation being invited in to the memories of his childhood home where the first priority was unconditional love and the second, unconditional acceptance. As she sat there listening quietly to the tales of a little boy's exploits she reached out and took Johnny's hand into her own. It was just the simple need to feel someone's touch.

Looking down at her hand in his, Johnny felt such an enormous sense of protection for her that he squeezed gently and looked across at her intensely.

"Alexis, I want to say something to you and I may screw it up but hang with me, ok partner?"

"Ok."

Johnny turned a bit so he could face her. Looking down for a moment at their entwined hands he frowned slightly trying to put his words together so he could say what he wanted to without messing it up. He finally looked up and found her trusting eyes waiting patiently. He relaxed and let the words come.

"You have become a very important part of my life. I never want to lose that. Even when you get everything back where it's supposed to be... I still want you around. I never had much family besides my Nana Rose. My mother walked out and left me when I was a kid. I wouldn't have made it without Nana Rose. I don't think I would do so good if I lost my 'partner'. I know I have Joy and she means the world to me, but everybody needs a friend they can talk to from time to time. For me, that's you. I just want you to know... you know... how I feel about all of this."

Leaning toward him she rested against his shoulder and basked in the knowledge that he thought so much of her.

"I don't want to lose you either, Johnny. Good friends are hard to come by and you have been the best. You put your life on hold for me. That makes you a part of me for the rest of my life. You and I are friends now and for always. If you or Joy ever need anything, all you have to do is call me. Legal or otherwise."

"Ok, boss. Same goes here. Now you ready to head back. I have this craving to see Joy all of a sudden."

"Well don't let me stand in your way. Let's go. On one condition though... "

"Name it."

"I want to come back here... often."

"No problem, partner. Anytime you say."

Standing Johnny took the hand she offered and began to lead her back toward the little bridge. Just as they reached it, Johnny stopped and looked over his shoulder at the stone that bore his grandmother’s name. He whispered.

“Bye, Nana. See ya real soon.”