It was 5:30 in the evening by the time Greta left the hospital with Kevin. Jules took off her sweater and settled into her seat next to the cold, stiff hospital bed. She let her mind wander freely. She was deeply pursuing an idea for her next painting when she blinked, alert and present. "Did somebody say my name?" She looked up and caught Duncan's gaze. "Grandad? Was that you?"
"Jules..." his voice was labored, but it was clearly her name. He managed a weak smile.

As the glowing sun set behind Knight Manor. Isabella Knight a beautiful 21-year-old girl was finishing the last few touches on a surprise birthday party for her mom and uncle her mom’s twin brother. Bella scribbled on a piece of paper the last couple of items she needed to grab from the store.
‘Cake, candles, and balloons.’ thought Bella as she ran out the door to her black truck and rushed to the store. As Bella picked up the last few things on her list her phone rang.
“Hello” “Bella honey, it’s dad is everything ready for your mom and uncle?”

"Hey Dad!" Jules put her phone in her back pocket and reached up to give Kevin a hug. "Grandad is sleeping now. He fell asleep maybe ten minutes ago. Do you want us to bring you dinner or anything before we leave?"
"No, thank you, I grabbed something right before I left. I'll see you later, Sweetheart."
Miles took Jules' yellow flowered backpack out of her hands and put it over his shoulder with a quiet smile. "You ready?"
"Yep. See you later, Dad."

Miles and Jules walked along the hallway together inside the hospital. He held her backpack for her, as usual.
"I could get used to this," Jules muttered to herself.
"Hmm? I didn't catch what you said."
"Oh," Jules blushed, realizing she had said that out loud. "I was just saying I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to this." She looked down at her feet.
Miles hit the elevator button. "I hope you won't have to get used to it. You'll be taking him home before you know it."
"On boy." Jules smacked her forehead.

Jules stirred from her sleep and turned onto her opposite side. She moaned a little and reached up to rub her neck. Sunlight was streaming thickly through her curtained windows, causing her to blink and squint. What time was it? She sat up and twisted around to see her clock. "10:30? Oh my. I haven't slept in that late in ages."
She rolled out of bed and lazily pulled her slippers on. Her filmy robe blew behind her while she trailed slowly downstairs to the kitchen.

Miles pulled out onto the highway. "So," he cleared his throat. "Do you feel up to chatting a little bit? I'm used to talking to Gramps while I drive, and it would help me stay alert if you don't mind."
"Sure," Jules said. "I don't mind at all." She slipped her converse off and pulled her feet up into her seat and hugged her knees against herself.
Miles smiled, his eyes warming into soft creases at each corner. "What are some of your hobbies?"
"I like to paint, draw, read, and listen to music. And take long walks. What about you?"
"Wait, you paint?"

Jules drove back to her house after the fellowship meal had ended. She packed fairly quickly, but felt listless and too tired to make the drive just yet. The half-empty container of jellybeans was calling to her from the kitchen pantry. She decided to fill a smaller container with them and put it in her bag.

Greta stopped popping jellybeans into her mouth and sat up straight. She chewed her mouthful of candy the rest of the way and swallowed before looking her friend square in the eye. "Jules... what do you mean by 'complete'?"
Jules sighed quietly and reached for another handful of popcorn before replying. "Well, I mean exactly that: complete. I have a full life, Greta; especially now. I don't feel like my days are lacking just because I'm not in a relationship. I mean, I have occasional days where I feel a little lonely. Don't we all? But for the most part I'm content. Complete."

Kevin leaned over Jules and gently shook her by the shoulder. "Hey, sweetheart? Wake up."
"Mm, yes?" Jules stirred in her seat and sat up straight. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand, grinning half sheepishly at her dad. "What's up, and what time is it?"
"It's nearly 3:00. Dave left about an hour ago to finish working on his sermon, and Miles and Greta left soon after. I wanted to let you sleep, and they wouldn't hear of waking you up, anyways. So, would you like to go home and sleep and then go to church in the morning? I can stay here with Dad."

It was finally out! I sped through the 'Heroes and Myths' bookstore. The seventh book in the Caldwian series, 'Gregor Mendenwall: Hero of Caldwian'. The series was the greatest thing since Lord of the Rings came out a century ago! And it had finally reached the end.
I turned the corner, ready to grab the book off the shelf the moment I saw it. That’s when I saw him.