Abandoned

Abandoned (Part Three - Chapter 48)

CHAPTER 48: The Reunion ...... (Your review here)

"Dad, it's for you."

Nick was in the backyard watering his garden when Maria's voice rang out. Knowing that her father wouldn't come in with wet shoes, Maria brought him the cordless phone.

"Thank you Sweetie. Hello, Nick here."

"Nickolas, it's Rama. My flight will be arriving right on time."

"Rama—wonderful to hear your voice. Yes, that's right, I'll pick you up at seven. Blake and Maria will be there, too."

"What about our other friends?"

"They're all on their way. Rohini, and Jai are already here. Father Mark is due in later tonight."

"What about Major Sutton and Judy?"

"Oh, don't worry, they wouldn't miss being here for the world. Everything is ready—I've reserved a nice lodge and thanks to Maria we'll have plenty to eat."

* * * * * * * *

The next day turned out to be beautiful. It's hard to ask more from Mother Nature when it's sunny and a steady 71 degrees with only a slight breeze. By ten o'clock everyone had arrived. Greetings were heartfelt and those who had arrived early enjoyed a morning walk down by the lake. Lunch was going to be served early. Maria and her friends had cooked the previous day and everyone was treated to another delicious meal that she had become famous for. The vegetarian lasagna and Italian bread was a huge hit—her pumpkin pie and homemade vanilla ice cream a close second, everything made without eggs.

Inside the lodge there was a small fire gently flickering. Finally everyone was sitting comfortable, smelling the fragrant aroma of the burning logs. Smiling, Nick began to speak, addressing his first comment to Mark.

"Father, it is so nice to see you again but first let me say that all of us are extremely sad to hear about your dad."

"Thank you, Nick. Yes, thank you so much—all of you. My father lived for almost 87 years and was the best friend I ever had. And as you all know, one way or another, he is the reason that I was able to meet everyone here in the first place. For a while we thought he had his pneumonia licked, but his heart just suddenly gave out. At least he didn't suffer and went quickly."

One by one everyone echoed Nick's sympathies. Mark had brought a photo of his dad that had been taken about ten years before he died and everyone took turns looking at it.

Five years earlier Rama had written down Mark's address and phone number, when by chance they had made friends in India. As for Nick, after pondering the sudden turn of events of being found by his daughter and the others, he decided to return on the helicopter when Judy said it was time to leave—just one of many trips he made to get back home—eventually, even meeting the President of the United States during a special ceremony at the White House to honor him as the only American soldier to have survived the Vietnam War on his own.

Not long after returning to America, Maria & Blake said their marriage vows to each other during a beautiful wedding ceremony in the Adirondacks and shortly after that, exactly as Nick had promised Rama that he would—he made a phone call to San Angelo, Texas and spoke to Father Mark.

Mark remembered his friend Rama with great affection and was very happy to hear that he had made it back to Elephant Mountain  safe and sound. Even more profound, Mark realized that he was speaking to the very man that Rama had told him so much about.

Wanting to meet each other, Nick took a flight to San Antonio where Father Mark was himself visiting on church business. Nick always remembered the beautiful mission where they spent an entire day talking about the incredible events that both men had experienced.