He put the album down and went back to the cupboard, inside were his father’s medals from the war and the letters that he had sent his mother from school camp. His school report cards, medals he’s won at school sports, everything from his childhood had been kept and cherished. Paul felt ashamed at his behaviour and suddenly foolish for staying away from his family for so many years.

Perhaps he thought he could rebuild some of the relationships he had lost and resolved to call his brother the following day.

Simon, his brother had agreed to meet him at the house for lunch; he waited with trepidation, not knowing how his brother would react to him after all these years. Simon had been 15 when he had left, there had been no contact in the entire 9 years of his self imposed exile.

Paul heard the car tires on the gravel driveway outside and knew his wait was over. What had Simon made of himself he wondered. He answered the door and greeted his brother with affection. Simon returned his greeting in a businesslike fashion and explained that he’d only come to find out what was to become of the property and collect his childhood things.

Simon didn’t leave that night, he stayed, in fact he stayed for 5 days. They had sifted through their father’s things and the coldness somehow melted away. Simon started to see Paul as his brother again.

Paul told him of his reasons for leaving and why he’d stayed away. He explained about his mother’s illness and the toll it had taken on his father. When their mother had died, his father was lost, every time he looked at this father, he saw his weakness and he hated him. Now with new perspective and the loss of his own wife in childbirth, he realized the suffering his father had been through and he’d found peace.

Paul realized that he had a second chance to be happy, to know his family. He would honor his father and mother’s memory. He would work the property, bring it back to its former glory and make it successful, just as his father had done.

He had come home.