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“Thanks Sweetie.”
It was small talk for awhile, but as we merged onto the Ohio Turnpike with the sun starting to set, Kate turned to me. “Mom, can I ask you something?”
“Sure! Anytime! Anything!”
“Mom, I’ve never seen you at such peace. I mean, usually comments like Father Pat’s would have made you …” her voice trailed before adding, “… uncomfortable.”
I smiled. “You’re right, honey. Normally, being singled out like that would have made me squirm. I may have even challenged some of those comments. But I sat with Grandma over those last hours and I knew, I just knew, Father Pat was spot on.”
“I’m glad you made peace with Grandma. I know you didn’t have such a great relationship with her.”
“It wasn’t so bad. We had our ups and downs, kinda of like you and me.”
“Downs?” protested Kate in mock surprise. “We had a great relationship growing up!”
“Yes, we did, but there were those times … like when you wanted to date Billy … and stay out all night with your friends at 14 … or when I caught you smoking in the basement …”
“That wasn’t me,” Kate mockingly interrupted. “That was JR. I was just holding the cigarette for him.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,” I said. “That’s why I love you guys!”
“That’s why we loved you too, Mom. You were always so cool.”
I squeezed her hand as we focused on the road ahead. There was a storm brewing ahead of us, but all of a sudden a single ray of sunshine found its way through the clouds.
Kate reached out her hand, pointing to the sky. “Look, Mom. Heaven is shining through!”
“You remembered. Yes. Yes. That’s heaven shining through! Isn’t it hopeful?”