They met at the top of the stairway, Cathy and Chuck, Abby and Ward...

     and Alison and Winston, holding hands.

     Metaphorically speaking, everyone's jaw dropped, although, in reality, only Cathy's jaw really did drop.

     "Oh my God, Winston," she gasped. "Is that you?"

     Winston smiled.

     "I'll give everyone a minute to take it all in," he said as he squeezed Alison's hand.

​     Ward looked stunned. The only Winston he'd ever known was the man stricken by Alzheimer's, a man unable to hold a thought or his bowels, and here that man stood before him looking every bit the healthy, fit retired professional.

​     Cathy embraced him. She'd followed Winston's decline alongside her sister, so she'd known the humorous and articulate man Alison had originally married. To have him back, whole and completely himself, was a miracle on top of all the other miracles she'd been witness to that morning.

     Abby's relationship with Winston had been a special one, they'd enjoyed each other's company immensely their first few years as in-laws, so she waited patiently for Cathy to finish her hug, then wrapped her arms around him to exclaim, "Winston! It is so wonderful to see and have you with us. You...I'm not even going to question how you could possibly and where and when and..."

     "I know," Winston replied. "It's probably a good idea if we don't overthink any of this."

     "It's too wonderful," Alison said.

CONTINUE