Homecoming

Preston walked up to the old barn with a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. His sweaty hands were shoved into the pockets of his bomber jacket. He approached the weathered barn door with it’s peeling paint and broken slats. It was slightly ajar, and he slipped through the cracked opening, hoping to achieve the element of surprise.

As he stepped inside, he let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Streaks of sunlight shone through the cracks in the old roof. Preston stood just inside the door for a few moments, soaking in the familiar sights and smells. He scanned the barn, and heard a soft noise coming from the hayloft.

Grace was sitting on a pile of hay. Her eyes were closed as tears streaked down her face. She was cradling something in her hands. Preston froze at the sight of her. She was similar and different all at once. Her face was less childish and more angular. She still had freckles splashed over the bridge of her nose, and her long, blonde curls were held together by a loose, messy braid. He always knew that Grace would grow up to be beautiful, but he felt unprepared at the actual sight of her.

Preston finally mustered up the courage to speak.

“Happy Birthday, Grace,” he said quietly, but loud enough to reach her in the loft.

Grace’s eyes snapped open at the sound. They were round and blue and they found him immediately standing by the door. She sat there as still as a statue as he stepped closer. Her wide eyes took him in, as if he were a mirage. Finally, she hung her head in her lap and let out a sob.

Preston quickly scaled the ladder like he had done a thousand times. As he got to the top rung, Grace raised her head and their eyes met. Tears were still streaming down her face while she whispered,

“You’re finally home.”

Preston noticed what Grace was holding in her hands. It was the lifeless body of a tiny, orange kitten. She noticed him glance at it and said,

“The barn cat had kittens, but this one didn’t make it.”

Preston climbed into the hay beside her and gently took the kitten from her hands. They were shaking slightly.

“We should bury it under the oak tree by the pond,” he said.

An awkwardness hung in the air between them as he nestled the kitten in the hay beside him. He turned to Grace, soaking in everything about her. She was staring at him as if he were a ghost.

“You grew up, Grace.”

He handed her his handkerchief. She wiped her face as she stared at his military jacket.

“I’m 20 today,” she said with a slight smile.

Preston grinned and replied, “Practically an old maid.”

Grace’s face fell and she looked down at her hands.

“Hey, I was just joking,” Preston said in a hurry. He reached out and touched her shoulder.

Grace couldn’t seem to find words as she stammered and blushed.

“Look… I know you… I mean I know when you enlisted that we… I mean you’re under no obligation but I…” she trailed off looking dejected and embarrassed.

Finally, she blurted out:

“I waited for you.” Her cheeks blushed a deep shade of crimson, but she held his gaze, almost daring him to reject her.

Preston moved closer and knelt in the hay in front of her. He took her by the shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes, which were now welling with tears.

“I thought about you every day while I was gone,” he said firmly.

“When I was lying in the hospital after I was wounded, I knew I wouldn’t die because I had to make it back to you.”

Grace let out a half laugh, half sob.

“I saw Dr. Russel in town a few weeks ago. He told me that even though you’d recovered and were coming home, that you’d never live past the age of fifty because of your injuries."

Her eyes scanned his torso.

"He said I’d be a fool to marry you...if you asked.”

She looked at him intently. He smiled and said,

“Well, would you be a fool and be my wife?”

She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

“Yes,” she whispered in his ear.

When she finally let him go, he leaned down and kissed her. It was soft at first, but quickly became something else, as his hands became intertwined in her hair. She cradled his face as he kissed her harder. All of a sudden, they were two teenagers again in that very same hay loft, sneaking off after supper to meet up in the old barn. The memories of war and hardship melted away.

They laid together up in the loft until it was completely dark. Grace laid her head on Preston's chest and listened to his beating heart. It was strong. As Preston sent out a silent prayer of thanksgiving, Grace smirked in the darkness. She listened to his heartbeat and thought that he would probably outlive them all.