Irene Fitzgerald Kennedy

Home at Last

   Jack and Irene arrived home late on a Friday night near the end of September. "Hello," Jack called as they walked in.
   Jackie came down the stairs in her bathrobe! "Oh, Jack! I didn't realize you were coming home tonight! Irene!" she smiled hugging her.
   "Hey, mum! How are you? How's Caroline?"
   "I'm great and Caroline's wonderful. Oh my, won't she be excited tomorrow!"Jackie exclaimed, I've missed you two so much!" She hugged both of them again.
   "Ma-ma!" Caroline's voice called.   
   "Let me get her, mum."
   Irene climbed the stairs and crept into Caroline's room, "Hi, cutie," Irene whispered.
   "Re-Ne!"
   Irene ran to her side and lifted her out of her bed and hugged her tightly, "Sleep wiff me, Re-Ne!"
   Irene kicked off her heels and unbuttoned her jacket and laid down beside Caroline. Caroline curled up in Irene's arms and both of them fell asleep. The next morning Irene woke to the sound of her father's voice. She quietly walked downstairs toward the kitchen and heard him quietly singing and humming, "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry!" Irene snuck up behind him hugging him beginning to sing along,
"Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's an Irish lullaby."
    Jackie began to clap startling both Jack and Irene, "That was beautiful! Why don't either of you sing more often!"
    "Thank you, thank you," Irene laughed taking an exaggerated bow, "We'll be here all week."
    Jack laughed, "I was just making breakfast and was in a good enough mood to sing."
   "That's a rare occurrence," Jackie giggled.
    "Easy, Mrs. Kennedy. I was thinking about taking you on a date tonight."
     Irene grinned, "I'll watch Caroline."
     "That sounds wonderful," Jackie sighed smiling.