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“You’ve been gone too long,” Maylee told him.

“I know, princess,” he said as his smile softened.

When the platform reached our level and MJ had the chair safely off it, Maylee stepped forward.

“Can I hug you now?”

“Come here, baby.”

She bent down and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Daddy kissed her cheek, then held on to her for another second before she pulled away. I went next. I leaned down carefully, and Daddy drew me into a hug.

“Hey, baby girl.”

“Hey, Daddy.”

“You doing all right?”

I nodded, even though my eyes were starting to burn.

“Yeah. I’m just glad you’re home.”

“Me too, baby.”

MJ came around the chair and clasped Daddy’s hand before leaning down to hug him.

“Welcome home, Pops.”

“Appreciate you, son.”

Ma opened the front door, and Daddy wheeled himself inside. He stopped in the foyer when he saw the living room.

“Hold on. Who did all this?”

“We did!” Maylee said excitedly.

Daddy rolled further into the house and took in the fall garland, the pumpkins, and the pillows we’d spent all morning arranging.

“Y’all decorated the whole house?” he asked when he reached the living room.

“Just downstairs,” I said. “We wanted it to look nice when you got home.”

“It looks good, baby. I appreciate it.”

MJ pointed toward the couch.

“I did the blanket.”

Daddy looked at it, then back at him.

“That’s all you did?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, you put it in the right spot.”

Maylee cracked up, and MJ shook his head as he wheeled Daddy farther into the room. We had rearranged the furniture before he came home, leaving enough space for his chair to move between the living room, dining room, and hallway. Daddy noticed the changes as MJ brought him alongside the couch.

“Y’all been busy.”