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“Daddy’s really coming home,” she said quietly.

“Yeah, he is.”

She looked toward the front door.

“I’m glad.”

I kissed the top of her head.

“Me too.”

We stayed like that until MJ came back into the room. He took one look at us, then walked over to the front window.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Looking for the car.”

Maylee jumped up to join him, and I followed a second later. For the next few minutes, the three of us stood there watching the driveway. Every time a vehicle came near the gate, Maylee leaned closer to the glass. MJ kept checking his phone, and I kept telling myself to stop looking at the clock. We were still standing at the window when Daddy’s Bentayga finally came through the gate.

“That’s them!” Maylee shouted.

MJ was already heading toward the door.

“I’m going to help Pops.”

“Tell him we’re waiting!” Maylee called after him.

I followed him toward the front door because I knew that while MJ helped Daddy, Mama would need me to help her. She had parked as close to the house as she could get, and by the time we came outside, she was opening Daddy’s door. MJ walked around to meet her.

“I got him, Ma.”

“Okay, baby. His chair is in the back.”

Daddy looked up at MJ.

“What’s up, son?”

“Nothing much. You ready to get in the house?”

“Been ready.”

MJ grinned and went to get the wheelchair while Ma helped Daddy prepare to get out. I stayed at the top of the four stone steps with Maylee. We both watched as MJ brought the chair beside the vehicle and locked its wheels. Daddy and MJ took their time transferring Daddy into it.

Seeing him in the wheelchair still hurt in a way I couldn’t explain. I’d watched him work through therapy, so I knew how much stronger he’d gotten, but part of me kept expecting him to step out of the car the way he always had. He wasn’t there yet. He might not be for a while. Once Daddy was settled, MJ took hold of the chair’s handles.

“Everybody good?” he asked as he looked around at all of us.

Daddy looked up at him.

“You gonna bring me inside or keep asking questions?”

“I’m bringing you, Pops,” MJ said with a laugh.

We all watched as MJ wheeled Daddy to the lift we had installed beside them. The first time I saw it, I hated that we needed it. Now, watching MJ position Daddy’s wheelchair on the platform, I was grateful it was there. MJ secured the chair and operated the lift while Ma came up the steps to stand beside us.

Daddy looked over at the three of us waiting on him.

“Y’all got a whole welcoming committee out here.”