Conor had been injured during an exercise and his doctors were adamant about running the tests.

Mary knew her mother wouldn’t last much longer. Conor wouldn’t see his beloved grandma alive again. He would absolutely fall apart once he heard the news.

Jo lasted another day although she was fading fast. Mary sat by and watched in frustrated helplessness. There was nothing more that could be done.

The next day word came that Conor was on his way home and would arrive at the local airport at 7:00 that evening. He had been told and was extremely upset.

At 3:00 that same day Jo suffered a massive heart attack but still hung on.

Mary again leaned in and whispered to her mother.

“Mama, Conor is on his way home to see you but if you can’t wait then let go…I promise you I’ll take care of him…you know he loves you so…dad’s waiting for you, mama and we all love you…”

At 3:30 p.m. Jo breathed her last breath. She was gone.

The funeral was beautiful and the Right Reverend Monsignor Dunnigan gave a deeply moving homily about Jo. Everyone was reduced to tears.

“If ever there was a saint amongst us here in this town it was Jo McGuire…I remember seeing her one cold and blustery winter’s day take off her coat and drape it over the shoulders of a homeless man. I also know of times when she gave whatever amount she had on her person to anyone who asked for a dime for a cup of coffee! I am blessed for having known this kind and loving soul!”

Conor’s life went on although he missed his grandma terribly. Her death had left a massive hole in his life and his heart.

He kept waiting for her to come to him to say “goodbye” but she didn’t.

Several years passed and still no sign of her spirit.

Then one night he had a dream and his beloved grandma was in it.

By then he was a truck driver and engaged to the woman of his dreams.

In his dream he was driving down the road with his grandma riding in the passenger seat.

Suddenly, off in the distance they both spotted a tornado heading right for them!

In the bunk sat a bewildered young man who didn’t move.

Conor braked hard and stopped the huge rig on the shoulder of the road. He ran out and pulled his grandma down and out of the big truck where she turned full to face him.

“Conor, my darling boy…I love you more than anything in the world and always will. I’ll always be watching over you! You’re a good man and strong! You’ll be just fine! There’ll be many storms in your life, some worse than others but you’ll get through them!

Never let go of your faith! And your darling girl…she’s wonderful and will be good to you! You’ll have a blessed life together! I have to go now…but remember always that I love you…you’re my darling boy!”

Conor jerked awake. As he thought hard about the dream he realized that the young man in the bunk never made it out of the truck…what did that part mean? Who was he?

One week later he received word that his young cousin Patrick had passed away from a massive heart attack…he had been the young man in the dream. His beloved grandma was trying to tell him about his impending death…

As the years passed Conor and Nancy did indeed enjoy a wonderful life together although he still missed his grandma terribly. He never forgot her words, nor did he ever forget the love they shared. She would always be watching over her darling boy…