Chapter 196
“Christian?”
The familiar voice jarred his eyes open. He sat up too quickly, expecting the rush of blood to his head to make him dizzy. But it didn’t. He felt fine. He felt good. In fact, he felt better than he had in a long time, maybe forever.
His palms met lush green grass as he sat up, looking around. A brilliant blue sky above him, dotted with cottony white clouds, and a pleasant scent filled his lungs. He couldn’t quite place it. Jasmine? Rosewater? Pumpkin pie? Could it somehow be all three?
“Well, I’ll be. I didn’t expect to see you. Not yet anyway. How’d you get here?”
There it was, that familiar voice again. He turned to see his dad standing behind him and immediately jumped to his feet. “Father!” he said, wrapping the shorter man in a tight grip.
Peter laughed. “It’s me all right. How are you?” he asked, patting Christian on the back.
“I’m wonderful,” Christian admitted. “It’s so great to see you.”
“It’s great to see you, too, son. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me, too,” Christian replied, looking around. Some large houses were visible in the distance, children playing in the lane, women walking together, chatting. “Where are we?”
“Why, we’re here, of course,” Peter said, opening his arms wide. “It’s the best place one can be. Everyone is here.”
“Everyone?” That sounded exciting. He was glad he’d get to see everyone.
“Yes, everyone,” his father assured him.
It seemed like perhaps that couldn’t be right, but since Christian couldn’t remember where he’d been before, he had to assume his father knew what he was talking about. “Would you like to show me around?”
“Most certainly. Come along!” Peter gestured with his arm and led Christian off toward the friendly sounds of everyone.
As they walked along, Peter introduced him to several people. Christian couldn’t remember ever meeting any of them before, but he was so glad to know them now. They all seemed so kind and happy to see him. Everywhere he looked, the scene was beautiful. Lovely homes, colorful flowers, trees with vibrant leaves, it was the most perfect paradise he could ever imagine.
“You know, son, I’m glad you’re here because there’s something I wanted to tell you, something I’m not sure I told you enough before.”
Hearing his father speak of “before” was confusing, since neither one of them seemed to know what before was, but he didn’t interrupt his father’s thoughts to ask. “What’s that?”
“Well, I just want you to know, I’ve always been proud of your work ethic. I’ve always admired how intelligent you are, how you work so hard for the things that you want, how you’re not willing to settle for second best. I don’t think I ever told you that enough… before. So, now that you're here, I just wanted to make sure you know how much I love you.”
Hearing his father’s kind words brought tears to Christian’s eyes. For once, he wasn’t ashamed for his father to see him cry. “Thank you, Father,” he said. Christian opened his arms, and Peter embraced him. Feeling his father’s strong arms around him made him feel safe and at peace, like he was finally home after a long journey. Christian let his father go and looked around, thankful that he was here. Here seemed like a wonderful place to be.
