Page 88 of The Wish
‘How did you do this?’ Dean whispers to Mandy.
‘It was Alex’s idea, he got her for Sam, I just agreed, I hope you don’t mind.’
Dean hugs Mandy tightly and they topple over and now sit on the floor with Sam and the puppy, who jumps all over them, licking faces, barking with his small puppy voice.
‘I love you with all my heart,’ Dean whispers to his wife.
Jesse has remained standing, watching her family make a fuss over the new puppy. Her heart breaks with joy at the sight of her little brother with a puppy; hearing the words her father whispered to her mother. She looks at the faces of the crew, Kelly, Amy, Ryan and Luke and their parents, all of whom are crying and hugging each other. Finally, her eyes rest on Alex, standing to the side wearing the biggest smile she has ever seenon his face. With her last ounce of energy, she hurries to him, falling into his arms, exhausted, overwhelmed, grateful beyond words for what he has given her. It is her turn to sob with joy.
Kelly clings to Steve watching Alex and Jesse. He has stopped filming and allows himself to be caught up in the emotion of the day.
‘She isn’t looking good, Kelly, is she OK?’ Steve asks.
‘Yes, and no, it’s been a huge day for her, I think it might be time for her to go home.’
Dean looks up and sees Alex holding his daughter. He hurries over to Alex, who places Jesse in her father’s arms, where she belongs.
Dean holds his daughter close.
‘I think it’s time we took you home, honey.’
‘I think so too, Daddy, I’m so tired.’
‘I’ll get your wheelchair,’ Alex says.
Kelly has beaten him to it and pushes it over to Dean, who places Jesse in the chair as Mandy and Sam – clutching the puppy close to his chest – join them. Sam places the puppy on Jesse’s lap. It licks her face several times before settling down and falling asleep.
Amy, Ryan and Luke join them and gush over the puppy. Dean takes the opportunity to turn back to Alex.
‘What can I say to you? There are no words. Thank you doesn’t seem enough but I do thank you. For today, for all the yesterdays you spent with Jesse when I was too blind to see what she needed, what she wanted. I thank you and I apologise, from the bottom of my heart. You are one in a million. And as for the puppy, I should have made it happen, it took you to do it, for you to do a lot of things I should have done . . . thank you, Alex. I hope you can forgive me.’
Alex can only nod; he doesn’t trust his voice. He is surprised when Dean pulls him into a long, hard hug. Alex standsmotionless, arms by his side. But Dean isn’t letting go any time soon and, finally, Alex feels himself give in to the warmth and affection being offered to him. Gradually, he relaxes and finds himself hugging Dean back. Kelly and Mandy look on, clinging to each other, laughing and crying.
As everyone chats, praising Jesse for what she has done in bringing them all together, Alex notices for the first time Sarah, Phil and Charlie standing on the far side of the stage in the shadows. He beckons them over. Sarah is struggling to keep it together, and it becomes obvious that Phil and Charlie have been greatly affected by what they have witnessed too: both men have red watery eyes and clear their throats several times.
Jesse sees Sarah, Phil and Charlie standing near Alex. Mandy takes the puppy from her lap, handing him to Sam, then wheels the chair over to them. Jesse struggles to stand up. Charlie gently pushes her back down.
‘I have to thank you properly and I should do that standing up,’ she says choking on her words.
‘No, Jesse, please stay sitting, it is us who want to thank you. We can’t tell you how much it meant to us to be part of your wish; it is our privilege so, thank you,’ Charlie says.
Sarah bends down and hugs Jesse, still crying. Phil gently pulls her away.
‘My turn,’ he says as he envelops Jesse. Charlie waits his turn and is rewarded with a kiss on his cheek. Dean joins them, both parents shaking the team’s hands and hugging them; they thank the unlikely trio for their part in making Jesse’s wish.
‘Frank, Ian, come and join us,’ Alex calls out.
The two men saunter uncomfortably over, both clearly overcome by what they have witnessed as well. Hands are vigorously shaken by the men; Mandy insists on a hug, as does Jesse.
The puppy lets out a bark.
‘I think she might need a trip outside,’ Alex says, ‘I’ll take her.’
‘I’m sorry to be the one to say we need to leave, but I think we need to get Jesse home for a rest,’ Mandy says.
It still takes a while for everyone to say goodbye to the Morgan family. Kelly tells them to go home, she will gather up their things in the dressing rooms and bring them over. Slowly everyone makes their way out of the studio. Phil, Sarah and Charlie remain behind to see from the technical side what they have filmed.
Alex helps Kelly gather up the Morgans’ things and take them to her car.
