Chapter 78: Home Again, Part 2

"Seth!" Victoria screamed, and then she ran to him and threw her arms around him. And for once, he didn't protest, but just wrapped her within his arms. "Seth, you're home! Are you here to stay, or are you leaving soon? How have you been? Are you okay? When did you get home?" Victoria flooded him with so many questions that he wasn't sure which to answer first.

"Mom ... Mom, it's okay," Seth said. "Calm down a minute." Then he hugged her one more time. "It's good to see you."

"Son, I'm so glad to see you that I can't believe it!" Victoria returned. "Now, sit down; tell me all about it. Are you here to stay? For a while, anyway?"

"I'm here to stay," Seth said, to Victoria's delight. "Mom, I have a surprise for you, but first, I want you to close your eyes."

Victoria did as he asked, smiling, wondering what her son was up to. "What is this all about?" she asked as she let him lead her, unknowingly, into the kitchen.

"Now you can look, Mom," Seth announced.