The Leaving

The Peeks go home in 2012 after Hudson's birth

I didn’t realize how empty the house had become until it was full with a visit from our daughter, Becky, and her family, who had taken a sabbatical from China to have their first biological child. The family consisted of Becky, her husband, Kevin, three-year-old Micha, and two-year-old Sam. Becky was pregnant with Hudson when they arrived in March 2012.

They stayed much longer than they had planned. For one medical reason after another, their company wouldn’t let them return to China until doctors cleared all three kids’ medical issues, a process that took about 8 months.

When they left, the house emptied suddenly. The first time we became empty nesters, it was a slow process: kids growing up and moving out, then coming back, then finally leaving. When our oldest child, Mark, left for college, he came home the first summer and, after that, spent every summer on campus, either as an RA in the dorm or working in summer theater, with an on-campus apartment. Four years later, when our daughter, Becky, left for college, she did the same: came home the first summer and didn’t return for any other summer. For her, it was missionary trips to Russia and China.

In December 2012, Becky and Kevin finally received permission to return to China. Their flight was scheduled to depart at 5 a.m. on a Sunday at the end of December. It felt like an eruption of packing and loading. Five people and all their stuff loaded into two cars, followed by one large pile of trunks, suitcases, and duffel bags deposited on the airport’s departure-area concrete.

As I stood watching John, Kevin, and Becky unload the two cars, six-month-old Hudson was handed to me from his infant car seat. I took him and stepped out of the way. I couldn’t help because I was not feeling well. Hudson had recovered from an RSV infection he had kindly passed on to his sixty-year-old grandparents.

He was so beautiful and alert, looking around at the airport activity with those lovely blue eyes. I noticed his chubby, pink cheeks and little lips looked perfect in the bright fluorescent light of the departing passenger area, that curly riot of almost red hair on his head the crowning glory of his adorableness.

Finally, once all their luggage was moved from a pile on the concrete to a baggage cart, Becky came to me, took Hudson, and strapped him into the Ergo on her chest. I hugged her with him between us, and told her I loved her. I also told her not to cry, or I would, though I think I was too sick to cry at that moment. I just wanted to go back to bed. I didn’t linger long. I watched Becky push the double stroller with Micha and Sam toward the airport’s sliding glass doors, and go in, then I went back to my car.

I drove home alone. John drove the kids’ borrowed car. As soon as we got home, we went back to bed and fell asleep. The next day, we went to the doctor and were told that we both had bronchitis, and each of us received a prescription for antibiotics. I was also given a prescription for an inhaler for the wheezing I had developed.

It was days before I felt well enough to notice how much I missed the little family’s presence that had been with us for eight months. I missed the baby I had taken as my own as soon as I got home from work. Many nights, I bathed him, put on his pajamas, and rocked him to sleep.

Now, fourteen years later, I reflect on how precious the memories of their time with us are to me. I’m grateful I wrote about their departure, so I can revise it now and share it with you.