Visitors - Episode 2

"Daddy, Daddy!", 8 year old Cathy screamed as she scrambled from the grandstand. Many of the other "greeters" were acting the same way, hurrying toward the "visitors" that had disembarked from the transport that brought them down from the interplanetary ship.

I followed along, staggering under the emotional explosion at seeing my dead husband Joe walking toward me. Joe, who I'd sent to his death.

From feet away, Cathy leaped, and Joe caught her as he always had.

"Hi sweetie," Joe said as they hugged each other.

"Hi Karla," Joe said softly to me. He appeared concerned, which put me over the edge.

"How can you be here?" I sobbed.

"Group hug," he said, holding Cathy in his right arm, and opening his left to offer an embrace. I remembered him doing that so many times.

I stepped into his arms; couldn't help myself. His favorite after shave flooded my senses.

"Don't you remember what I said that sent you down that icy road?" sobbing again.

"Get out and don't come back," Joe whispered in my ear. "But the accident was just that. It wasn't your fault."

He started to dab the tears from under my eyes. How could he remember that if it wasn't Joe? I started to hug him harder. But then...

"I said it because of you being with Mary Ann," I replied. My own memories flooded back.

"That didn't happen," Joe said. "Was she dangling herself at me? Sure. Was I tempted? Sure. Did I take a bight of the apple? NO!"

"And this Joe can prove it to you," he added.

"What does 'this Joe' mean?", I demanded.

"I'm completely Joe, your husband, Cathy's dad" he replied. "And more," he added with a smile.