Laid to Rest Pt 2

Hartley Samuels

Right as we were sitting back down to finish our plates while we wait, the boys came back in and sat down as well. 

"Malachi and Killian will be taking your offer but I however would like help with becoming emancipated. I feel I'm old enough and have shown a decent level of maturity to show I can start managing my own affairs a bit more. I know I'm still young and all but I still don't like that as the oldest there was nothing I could do and I had no idea about a lot of things. So I'm not saying I'm running off but I am asking for more guidance to help me not feel so helpless in the future." Adrian moved his food around on his plate but he didn't make eye contact with us like the other two were.

"If that is the path you wish to go on we will support you however we can to help you reach your goal. However let me give you this bit of advice and wisdom to all three of you. You will feel helpless again. It is going to happen. What will matter most is how you react to the feeling. You are allowed to fall but you must always get back up. Control what you can and let go of what you can't. Thank you for trusting us. So before we set this topic aside in your opinion do you think we should take Selina into our custody as well?" I questioned as I pushed my plate away from me.

"Honestly, I don't think it will be necessary. Just encourage them to come back to Holbeck and keep an eye on them. If things seem off, you can always step in then." Malachi said picking up the plates as everyone was finished by now.

Killian and Adrian nodded their agreement. 

"Now that all of that is out of the way. Let's finish putting everything away and relax with a movie and dessert." Undina exclaimed and the boys cheered.

The movie and snacks was just how we needed to end the day. I hoped everything would fall into place so we could peacefully lay Adele to rest soon.

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The following week went by in a blur and it was finally the day of Adele's funeral. It was agreed we would have the ceremony back in Holbeck. So we packed up the rental house and all flew back home.

Over the days leading up to this day, I've had to limit my interactions with my sister in law. Because of Avena, we will be proceeding with the funeral without a body. I wanted to continue our investigation, look more into the accident, recover her body if possible and find out who was behind the kidnapping. Avena, however didn't want to know anything else and kept becoming hysterical if we mentioned continuing the investigation. So I chose to tell Mack to continue the investigation but that for now it was the back burner unless something major came up.

Avena invited her acting friends, news stations, social media followers and people they interacted with in the modeling industry to the funeral. What had been intended as a quiet and private occasion turned into a media circus nightmare. Thankfully there were no mishaps and the day ended with us all back at my house safe and sound. 

" Ah finally this day is over with. Starting the day after tomorrow I've scheduled some interviews with some magazines for us as a family to talk about how we are handling our loss. I'll send you the details in the morning." Avena announced while combing her fingers through Selina's hair.

I could only look at her blankly before I responded. "No, we will not be parading our grief before another person. When you mentioned all the people you invited to the funeral we told you we didn't like you doing that. When you asked if we wanted to do any interviews after the grave site visit, we told you no. So why do you persist involving us in these matters?"

"Well I just figured that since we have the platform to do so we should speak up and let others know they aren't alone in these situations." Avena admitted in a sincere tone.

"That is a wonderful thought but I think most of us just want to grieve in peace." Undina added.

"That's okay, you and Hartley can sit out and join us in the interviews whenever." 

Turning her attention to the boys with a smile she informed them, "I'll add you three to the family social calendar so you will know what days and times there will be interviews. We will wait til summer before we all start traveling again for Selina's modeling gigs. With the loss of Adele, I now desire to have all my family close so I figured you guys can travel with us during the summer and we can discuss if you want to continue in your current schools or do long distance learning so you can travel with us."

"Mom, we aren't going anywhere and that includes doing any interviews right now. Aunt Undina meant us too when she said we want to quietly grieve and aren't ready to share that more than we did today." Malachi countered.

"We would like to be added to the social calendar so we can plan future activities together and I'm going to put this out there it would really make us happy if you stop traveling and just settled here for awhile. Selina has never experience real school. I think since Adele will never get that chance, you should let Selina experience it on her behalf." Adrian asserted very calmly and rationally.

Avena apparently was not expecting this. She kept opening and closing her mouth before she just stood up and walked out the front door. 

Zavier stood up and rushed after her shouting over his shoulder that he will be back for Selina. With his exit, I turned my attention to Selina. I motioned her over to me. I sat her in my lap before I began checking in with her.

"How are you doing, Selina? Do I need to tell your mom you don't want to do the interviews either?"

"I'm okay, Uncle Hartley. I don't mind doing the interviews. I think doing them helps mom cope with everything so I'm going to support her in this way. If it gets too crazy, I'll tell mom I want to stop." Selina gave me a sad smile that I mirrored back.

"You are such a good girl. If that's what you want then it all sounds good to me. Next question, what do you think about what Adrian proposed? Staying here and going to school. Your parents have a house down the street and your brothers can attest to the fact that even though our town is small our schools are top notch. What do you say?" I inquired.

"I would like that. Modeling won't be the same without Adele so I would like to not do that for a while. I think getting the chance to make friends and not travel for a while will be good." Selina responded with a hopeful smile. 

"We will tell your mom that and help you get set up to start school in the fall. I'm so happy you will be around more. I'll have to be careful not to spoil you rotten now that I won't have to spend so much money on shipping you gifts." I chuckle and everyone else laughs.

'Yes, laughing is how this day should end. We laid a precious angel to rest today and tomorrow will figure out how to live without her.' I hugged Selina close as I listened to the boys and my wife talk about all the places they were excited to show Selina since she would be staying in town from now on.