Ch. 17: Our Happy Family

Chapter Seventeen: Our Happy Family

Shortly after Adeline was born Kyler returned to work and Abrielle spent her last few weeks of maternity leave home with her daughter and her best friend.

When Abrielle also had to return to work, Jenesis once again stepped up to the plate to be the little one’s babysitter since her hours at the spa had gotten significantly cut. She also finally agreed to let Abrielle and Kyler pay her for all her hard work.

Adeline was two now, and almost all of Abrielle’s worries vanished along with the flames from the candles on her baby’s birthday cake. Of course, there were those few lingering worries that Abrielle would have in the middle of the night but she’d always find her daughter sleeping soundly and most importantly, breathing. Those reassuring breaths, along with the fact that SIDS rarely occurred after the age of two, kept Abrielle sane.

Abrielle and Kyler devoted every second of their nights and weekends to their daughter. They spent many of those seconds teaching the little one to walk.

And talk.

Their current project however, was mastering the potty.

Addie was a stubborn girl and seemed to thoroughly enjoy when her mommy and daddy had to change her diaper only minutes after they took her off of the potty chair.

It exhausted Abrielle and Kyler, but they learned to laugh it off, and hoped that in time she would get the hang of it.

Besides her sense of humor when it came to filling her diaper Addie was a bit of a bookworm. She loved it when Kyler or Abrielle would read her a story and they would often find her sitting in her room with a book open trying to decipher the images and words on the page.

That’s exactly where Kyler found her on a beautiful spring afternoon. Abrielle was downstairs making lunch and she had put Kyler on Addie duty.

“Hey there pumpkin, are you reading a book?”

Addie giggled and looked up at Kyler.

“Daddy read book?”

Kyler smiled and sat down next to his daughter pulling her and the book close to him. He began to read.

“Jimmy Sprocket and the Squishy Stone. Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jimmy.”

Kyler let Addie flip the page.

“Jimmy’s mommy sent him on a great journey to find the squishy stone. The squishy stone was –” the sound of glass shattering stopped Kyler mid-sentence  He scooped Adeline up and ran downstairs to find Abrielle standing in the middle of the kitchen, phone to her ear and as white as a ghost.

Kyler put Addie in her highchair and ran to his wife. “Abri, hey, what’s wrong?” Abrielle didn't answer, she didn't even blink.

“Hello? Ms. Ainsley?” a muffled voice came through the phone.

Kyler gently took the phone from Abrielle and put it up to his ear. “Hello?”

“Hello, who is this?” Answered the voice.

“My name’s Kyler Gray, I’m Abrielle’s husband. May I ask who this is?”

“My name is Steven Faraday. I am Mr. and Mrs. Ainsley’s Attorney. I deeply regret having to do this over the phone but Abrielle’s parents have passed away in a tragic car accident.” Kyler just about dropped the phone when he heard those words.

“Well, thank you for informing us.”

“Yes, like I said I’m sorry it had to be over the phone, I would have much rather done it in person but I did not want to just show up at your door with that news. Although, I still suggest that we schedule a meeting as soon as possible.”

“And why is that?” Kyler questioned.

“Well, actually, I have some things that I must discuss with Abrielle.”

“Whatever you say to her can be said to me.”

Kyler heard a sigh on the other end of the phone and then Faraday continued, “Abrielle’s parents have left the entirety of their property and assets to their only daughter, Abrielle Ainsley. We need to meet to discuss what Abrielle would like to do with this.”

Abrielle’s eyes widened and Kyler knew that she had been listening to the whole conversation.

“Thank you Mr. Faraday. I will discuss this with my wife and have her call you back when we have had time to process this information. Have a good day.” Kyler hung up the phone and turned to Abrielle wrapping her up in a hug.

The tears finally fell from Abrielle’s eyes and Addie who had been quiet the entire time said softly, “Mommy’s sad.”

Abrielle lifted her head from Kyler’s shoulder and looked at her daughter. She was hurting deep inside. But Addie’s face was enough to put a smile on Abrielle’s.

“Mommy is ok, sweetie.” Abrielle walked over and picked up her daughter, snuggling her close.

Then she said, “Daddy is going to take you upstairs for a nap ok?” Abrielle handed Addie over to Kyler and sat down at the island.

So many emotions were ripping through her body. She was sad, and angry, and numb. She couldn't believe that her parents were gone. She was upset with herself that she never went back to visit, and now she never would.

“You ok Abri?” Kyler whispered as he sat down next to her.

Abrielle shrugged. “ I've got a lot of work to do. A funeral to plan.”

Kyler looked at Abrielle but she turned away. His heart hurt for his wife. She had known so much tragedy already.

------

It was a gloomy day in Riverview, a perfect day for a funeral. Kyler and Abrielle left at dawn that morning in order to get to Riverview with time to prepare. The short 35 minute drive seemed to take years. And as they drove past the sign that said “Welcome to Riverview” the sun slipped behind a cover of dark grey clouds and the rain started to fall. The weather matched Abrielle’s mood to a tee. She was still dealing with so much grief, but she just couldn't wait for this day to be over.

She had made all the arrangements over the phone with her parents' best friend and her childhood neighbor Ms. Darlington. It was going to be a small funeral, just big enough for people to come and pay their respects and then leave. There weren't going to be a lot of words said. It was more of a visitation than a funeral but that is what Abrielle’s parents had specifically asked for.

Kyler pulled into the parking lot of the small funeral home and Abrielle could already see Ms. Darlington waiting for them.

Abrielle sighed. “I hate this Ky. I don’t want to bring Addie in there. She shouldn't have to deal with this.

“Oh Abri, she’s so young she’s not going to remember any of this. Just go in there get the last few odds and ends in place and it will be over before you know it.” Kyler knew this was a lie, funerals, even short ones, are some of the longest things ever. But he said it anyway in hopes of calming his wife.

“Oh sweet girl!” Ms. Darlington threw her arms around Abrielle when she finally reached her. “I’m so so sorry we’re meeting again under these circumstances! But really, it’s so great to see you again! You look absolutely wonderful.”

Abrielle forced a small smile on her face. “Thank you Ms. Darlington. We should get inside and get everything in order.” Abrielle started towards the door.

“Oh right right.” Ms. Darlington waddled along behind her.

Abrielle walked through the door and found herself in a dated sitting area, a man she recognized as Pastor O'Neill greeted her.

“Hi there Abrielle.”

She nodded at him in passing and continued through an archway into another large room. She was instantly hit with the smell of flowers. They covered the room. Potted flowers, hanging flowers, flower wreaths, flower baskets. The smell was overwhelming, but what was even more overwhelming were the two open caskets at the far right end of the room.

Slowly and cautiously Abrielle made her way to those two caskets. The rest of the world seemed to drop away from her the closer she got, until finally she was standing directly in front of them and all she could see was her mom and her dad.

She wept.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry Mom and Dad. I’m sorry I never came back to visit. I’m sorry I held so much against you for so long! I’m sorry.” All she felt she could do was cry and apologize. And that is what she did until Kyler finally came in and pulled her to a couch where she remained for the duration of the funeral.

------

When they finally made it home that night Abrielle tucked her sleeping Addie into bed. It had been a long and exhausting day. A long and exhausting life Abrielle thought to herself. She had been through so much over the course of her life, so many ups and downs.

She thought back to the day she bought her first house. She was standing on that porch planning for someday. And then quietly, without her ever really noticing, someday became today. And then someday became yesterday. And this is her life. 

Even with everything she had been through, all of the bad things included, Abrielle was happy with where she was at in life.

But as she stared down at Addie she hoped for an even better life for her daughter. A life with a little less heartache and a lot more happiness. And although money cannot buy happiness, maybe, just maybe, the money Abrielle just inherited would pave the way to a bright future for her little girl.

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"No the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take. The gray rain-curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it... White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise."