The Prodigal Daughter

The Prodigal Daughter - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The crowd of welcoming her back with hugs and smiles suddenly parted allowing Ann Waters through the crowd. "My baby! My baby is home!" Ann wept as she hugged MaryBeth tight.

"Mom, I can't breath." MaryBeth gasped.

Ann let go of her daughter and placed her hands on each side of her daughter's face. "Please tell me I am not dreaming. No, don't, because if I am, I don't want to wake up. My baby is home."

The congregation slowly exited the church, giving the family privacy for their reunion. Leaving only a few stragglers staying behind.

Joshua made his way from the alter as soon as he was finished counseling the newest converts. Remembering everything that he said in anger to his daughter, he stayed back watching Ann welcome MaryBeth home. Ann had never blamed him for their daughter's departure, but he knew that she was not happy with his part in her leaving.

Ann released MaryBeth again and Joshua took the final steps to the small cluster. He took his daughter in his arms and hugged her. Whispering in her ear so soft and gentle, taking her back to her childhood when he would comfort her after she would get hurt, "I am so sorry Baby! Words can not tell you how sorry I am for what happened the last time I saw you." He kissed her cheek, right at her ear. "I love you baby girl."

Tears that MaryBeth had held down now flowed freely. Her arms were wrapped around her father and she was not just crying, sobbing was more like it. Tears stained her cheeks.

"Well, the prodigal daughter returns." Abbie said approaching the group. "What did you run out of money? Down on your luck?"

"Nice to see you too Abbie," MaryBeth said with a guarded glance to her sister. "Glad to see some things never change."

"Lizzie?" There was only one person that ever called her Lizzie. She had not heard that name in years. Growing up everyone called her MaryBeth, short for Mary Elizabeth. In LA, everyone called her Elizabeth. Richard's idea of a sophisticated ladies name, someone they could trust with their most private secrets. She had heard a dozen different variations of her name called out by men in the throws of passion. But Lizzie, that was only Joey's name for her.

"Joey." MaryBeth said as she turned around and saw him coming down the aisle. She reached for him and he took her in his arms. She felt home. Like two pieces of a puzzle that fit snuggly together. She was home.

To Joey, she was the same girl that he loved eight years ago. Tall enough to stand eye to eye with just about any man. Skinny, yet curved in all the right places. Soft skin that felt like silk. And long wavy blond hair that fell down her back to her tiny waist. And blue eyes that were so clear, it was like looking in a pool of crystal water and seeing all the way to her soul. In Joey's eyes, she was perfect.

"Lizzie!" Joesph picked her up and swung her around. "You look amazing. Just like I remember! WOW! I can't believe you are finally home!"

"Lost in their own world, I see. Yep, some things never change." Abbie grumbled.

Joey would not let go of MaryBeth. He just kept staring at her and touching her, afraid that if he let her go or took his eyes off her, she would disappear again.

"Joe, why don't you come over to the house for lunch. Let MaryBeth get settled in and we can visit and catch up."

"Mom, I was going to get a room at the hotel."

"No you are not. Your old room is now our guest room, so you can just stay there for as long as you like. No child of mine will sleep in a hotel as long as I have a bed for them." Ann Waters said mater of factly, then added. "Come along Josh, let's go get lunch ready. Abbie, you and Don bring the kids over, it will be a family celebration!"