Suzy and I have been on this island in Justin’s dream for three days now. I told Joy a story and now she’s asleep in her cabin on the warship. Master Mind’s two halves are on the porch, as he’s waiting for Suzy and Joy to finally mend him. 

And Suzy and I get some time together, just the two of us. We’re sitting in the living room, me on my Archie Bunker chair, and she on the sofa next to me, and we’re talking, when the door opens and Joy walks in. She looks half asleep. She walks around by swinging from side to side. 

She settles her gaze on Suzy and walks towards her. 

“Aw, sweetie, you can’t fall asleep?” 

Joy shakes her head and opens her arms and hugs Suzy. 

Suzy hugs her back. “Aw, my god,” Suzy says. “You are so sweet and lovely. I love you so much, Joy!” 

Joy separates, and looks at Suzy. “You wanted a hug before you went sleep?” 

Joy falls into Suzy again, embracing her. 

“Wow, wow, wow,” Suzy says. “I can hug you all the way to next month!” 

Joy separates. She looks at me, then at Suzy. 

Suzy’s looking at our new granddaughter, her face full of empathy. Joy falls into her again and they hug again. Suzy hugs her with strength. “I’ve missed you too, Joy. I’ve missed six whole years of your life!” 

I can’t help thinking how much Joy didn’t get during those first six years. She had met no kids. She had no family but Justin, who thought she was part of his dream adventures. She never met her grandparents, her aunt, her cousins. She never met her mother. 

And now that she has Suzy, she’s getting warmth to fill that six-year void. 

Joy separates again. Suzy smiles at her, “We’re going to spend a lot of time together, aren’t we?”

Joy nods and falls into Suzy’s ready embrace this time. And this time she stays there until she falls asleep.

Suzy looks at me and whispers, “Good thing we’re here.” 

I nod. Good thing.

—Told by Grampa Walt