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Grace and John’s family gathered around the car as John finished filling the trunk.
Grace hugged and kissed the little ones and their Mom goodbye. When it came time for Dad to say his goodbyes to her he held her for just a moment and kissed the top of her head.
It was the nicest he’d seen him be to her in a long time but John could see the relief in his father’s eyes too … he was glad to be rid of her.
He caught his Mother’s teary eyes and she smiled quickly at him when she realized she had his attention.
He broke the eye contact reluctantly … afraid of what he might say or do in front of his father if he didn’t.
Grace ran to him and nestled under his arm.
“You’ll take care of each other?” their mother asked them. “Fitzgeralds stick together, right?”
They both nodded.
“And you’ll come home for Christmas?”
They both nodded.
“And Thanksgiving …?”
“Gawd!” Dad bawled, “Let them get down the road already!”
“Every holiday and every chance we get, okay?”
“C’mon,” Dad said to Bobby and Jenna, “We gotta go clean the coop.”
“Bye!” the kids hollered and waved one last time before they took off after their father.
Grace ran around the car and got in on the passenger side.
Mom stepped close to him and discretely handed him the bottle of Grace’s pills. He nodded and slipped them into his pocket.
“Halloween is always good too,” she said quietly and shot him her wicked smile, “you know how much I like to dress up!”
Grace leaned over and beeped the horn: “C’mon, John! Let’s go!” she whined.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” he promised her.
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