She said she had never stopped praying that he would return home someday, but she didn’t know when that someday might ever come.And Mammi Vera, why, she practically fainted at the sight of her favorite grandson. Wasn’t it a tonic for her? To have Tobe home—what better medicine could there be for someone recovering from a major surgery?It wasn’t long before the house was a jumble of noise and confusion and happiness. As Tobe began to settle in to Eagle Hill, he looked more and more like his own rumpled self. Bethany was struck by how much he resembled their father—the same hair, black as starlings’ wings, and slender build. So much like their father that Bethany kept getting goosebumps on her arms.In the midst of the reunion, Galen and Naomi came over to see what the commotion was all about. When Galen saw Tobe, he shook his hand and welcomed him home. Galen’s voice was happy sounding, but his face was curious and stunned and then his eyes sought out Rose.A little later, Bethany was getting butter out of the refrigerator for dinner.
