The baby was crying, overtired but fighting sleep, the day was warming going to be a scorcher.  Amy’s heart wanted to pick him up, but she knew in five minutes little Michael would be sound asleep. He needed to rest especially given the rising temperature, hardest on infants and the elderly. Kicking his feet now, she couldn’t help smiling he had his father’s temper that was certain.  As Michael slowly quieted, giving in finally to the sweet dreams of slumber, Amy’s thoughts were of Tommy.
Recalling the day a phone call devastated her, 8 months pregnant being told Tommy was MIA and presumed dead. She dropped the phone and passed out, unable to cope with the overwhelming grief. Michael was born two weeks later, a bit early, perhaps he realized his mom needed to love and be loved. That was 6 months ago, and since that time she’d received thee letters, all grim. The last thanking her for Tommy’s service, his bravery in  light of danger. Amy was sure it was the same copy sent to thousands of brave soldier’s wives, whose husband had died, or was lost. Amy wondered if the signature was real, it didn’t matter, no paper signed or not, would bring her Tommy back into her arms.
Odd now, she remembered his last words before he boarded that bus taking him away,  “Now don’t go forgetting me, Angel, I’ll be back I promise.” He used to call her his Angel, a name she grew to adore, when spoken from his lips. Amy brushed a tear, glancing at the picture of Tommy in his dress uniform, they shaved his curls.  Amy loved to twirl them around her finger after making love. Realizing that, Tommy sent a couple locks to her, they arrived a month after he left. Amy tied them with a ribbon, and at night would hold them. She would curl Tommy’s soft hair round her finger, as she’d cry herself to sleep.
People said it would get easier with time…they were wrong…as time only made Michael look more and more like his daddy. From his happy grin to his angry temper, Michael was every inch his daddy’s son.  Amy took Michael often to visit Tommy’s parents, they like her, were having a tough time missing their son immensely. She had been there last night, and seen a similar letter, exactly like the one she received laying open on the counter. Someone had been re-reading it again. It didn’t help…each time the words remained the same, they never changed. Neither did the pain that consumed Amy’s heart, a longing to simply hold Tommy, and tell him she loved him. His presumed death cheated her of that, and she could not find closure.
The phone rang Amy hurried to get it on the second ring, she didn’t want it to wake Michael. It didn’t, Michael only fidgeted then settled back peacefully dreaming. “Hey mom,” Amy recognized the ring tone, Tommy’s mom.
“Amy….honey you are not gonna believe this…do you have the baby?” Janet, Tommy’s mom didn’t want to give her news while she was holding the baby.
“No…He’s asleep in his playpen…why…Oh God, they found his body?” Amy gasped fear gripping her aching heart. No…please she prayed every night for a miracle, to somehow find Tommy alive. In her heart Tommy was missing, not dead, she didn’t want to face the finality of death.
“No…no honey they have a soldier matching Tommy’s description in a hospital in Germany. He didn’t have his dog tags on, but a computer printout matched him as our Tommy.” Amy sat down, as her knees went suddenly weak, feeling like rubber. “What? Oh my God…Tommy is alive?” Amy’s tears spilled from her eyes, washing down her face. Janet tried to be calm, but she too was excited, “Well they’re hoping…seems they have had him as a patient for over 3 months.  He was in a coma when they brought him in, and since has awakened, but does not recall who he is, or what happened to him. His arm has been amputated, below the elbow, Amy. It seems he was injured in a bomb blast, or explosion. He had some burns as well to his legs, but he’s alive.”
“Can we go…can we bring him home, Mom…how do we know for sure?” Amy had questions as her mind reeled, God could Tommy be alive after all this time?
“The military is sending a specialist, and they took samples of his fingerprints to match with Tommy’s…they will know in a couple days.  If it’s Tommy, he’ll be brought home, and we can visit him.  There is procedures that have to be followed, but…as soon as the paperwork is done, Tommy can come home.” Amy listened her heart racing, a smile growing wide on her face….Tommy was alive her prayers were answered.
It was a long week, but one of hope and happiness, and finally it was over.  Amy’s hands shook as they pulled into the medical hospital in Fort Bragg North Carolina. Michael had fallen asleep in his car seat. Tommy didn’t know he had a son, they hadn’t wanted to know.
Tommy had been told his family would be arriving, his feelings were mixed would he recall them? Would they accept him? He was fitted for a prosthetic hand, but he was damaged, flawed.  It was hard enough for him to accept, then the scars on his legs weren’t pretty. He’d been told they would fade in time. Yeah right, more like scared for life like it or not.  The nurse fumbled with his monitors, disconnecting them, Tommy was expected to leave with his family. “How ya doing? Big day today hummmm you get to go home.”
“Yeah…I’m okay I think,” Tommy replied a bit apprehensive sighing deeply.
“Oh honey…nothing will matter to them except the fact you are alive and they can hold you again.” The nurse read his body posture and his reluctant smile and sigh.
“I hope so…I keep trying to recall their faces…everything is a blank still.” Tommy was frightened, but didn’t want to admit it.
“It may take time Tom, you have been through Hell, just give yourself and them time okay hummm?” the nurse patted his thigh, and smiled making Tommy smile, then she left him alone to wait.
Amy, with Michael in her arms, Janet and Tommy’s dad stepped out of the elevator. They inquired as to Tommy’s room number, and the nurse who had just left Tommy smiled and instructed them. “He looks like his daddy,” the nurse commented putting Amy at ease.
“Yes he does so much,” Amy replied. The hall seemed eternal, but then after a soft knock, they were there. Tommy was dressed in a hospital gown, sitting up on his bed, TV on some game show. Tommy looked up at the small group of people visiting him.
There was a brief uneasiness, then a smile crept across Tommy’s face.  “Mom, dad?” Then the word that made everything okay, “Angel….Oh my God…a boy?”
Amy, his mom and dad converged, hugging, then crying, kissing and holding Tommy. The nurse had been right, they didn’t care he was damaged, they just needed to hug him.
On the ride home, Tommy could not stop admiring his son, touching him, or allowing Michael to grip his finger. “He’s so amazing….I’m so lucky, thank you Angel…he’s beautiful,” Tommy kissed Amy lingering, his eyes searching hers. Amy kissed Tommy again, reassuring his heart and hers he was finally home.