Chapter 13

Life had suddenly gone still and I seemed to be the only one that existed. Dad died three days ago and my sense of living seemed to have died with me. I couldn’t muster up the energy in me to do the simple things of life any more. Duke and Dr Martin had found me laying across dad’s chest. I held on to him for so long they had to pry me off him when the dieners came to pick him up. It had been a struggle. My mind would not believe that dad was going away for good.

I didn’t stay behind to watch them cart him away. I may have struggled with them too and not allowed them to do their job, instead as soon as they successfully got me off him, i walked straight to my room and shut the door behind me and I haven't opened it since then.

I’ve had multiple people that I didn’t bother to identify come up to my door and knock asking me if I was okay but I didn't utter a word. Somehow, Duke managed to open the door to my room but he didn’t say a word, just rolled in a cart of food and kept it by my bed. That was yesterday and the food still lay uneaten there.

I also seemed to have run out of tears because I could not bring myself to cry. It was confusing because when dad was alive and sick, I was crying every single second. It was like I had an endless well of tears that dried up the minute dad died.

I woke up with the wrong mind today because I found myself sitting up straighter whenever I heard heavy footsteps in the hallways. My body was anticipating something or rather waiting for someone and I knew who. I was waiting for Dad to walk in and tell me that it would be okay. It was not going to happen.

The door opened again and Duke walked in but this time, empty handed. Dad was getting buried today. I didn’t forget but I purposely ignored it because maybe I thought it would make it all go away.

“Why are you not dressed?” Duke asked me. His eyes trailed to the cart with uneaten meals and he sighed in disappointment. I almost snapped at him.

I was pissed at him and Atticus for wanting to bury dad so quickly. It was like they wanted to get rid of him. I know that was not the case but my fragile mind was looking to blame someone and to pour out my unreleased pain and anger that I was finding it difficult to let out.

I laid back down on my bed and faced the other side so I was backing Duke. it was too soon to bury him. They should have let him be for a few more days. I needed time to say my final goodbye

“I know you think it's too sudden and I understand that you are hurting but we need to let him go to rest. There is no use leaving his body in the morgue for days. It’s not ideal”

“It’s too soon Duke, I don’t think I can say goodbye”

“You can. Your dad is holding on to your words. He would only rest when you let him go'' But I didn’t want to let him go. I know I told him that I wanted him to not be in pain anymore but now I regret those words

“I’ll get dressed. Give me a minute” I told him. I heard his footsteps retreat and the door opened and closed.

I picked myself up from the bed and dragged my body to the bathroom to take a quick shower. After that I rummaged through my closet for any black gown and grabbed the first black gown I could find and threw it on.

I wanted to go down without doing my hair or makeup but on second thoughts, I changed my mind. Dad was always a fan of my makeup and hairstyles. Sometimes, he would watch me as I styled my hair. He claimed it was nice to see and it reminded him of when he styled my hair when I was younger

I put on light makeup, just a blush and gloss and I also used some concealer underneath my eyes. I looked like a zombie when I stared at myself in the mirror. I was not going to send dad off while looking dead.

I slipped on my wedding ring and engagement ring because I knew Atticus would be present and he may feel insulted or take it the wrong way if I wasn't wearing the rings. I shouldn’t care what he thinks but I do and it made me mad at myself

I was surprised to see Duke outside my door when I exited my room. I frowned my face as i tried to imagine why he was still lingering outside my door when I told him that I would be ready

“What are you still doing here?”

“I was just making sure you were fine”

“Or rather, you were making sure that I didn’t change my mind last minute. If I did, would you have dragged me out?” I was looking for trouble and he knew it too

“Of course not but we would have proceeded without you and you would have regretted it. That is what I want to avoid, ``he told me before walking away.

He was right. If I am not present, I will regret it for the rest of my life. I followed behind Duke and I could not help but miss him already. He would finally be able to retire after working for dad for so many years.

I was moving in with my husband and the staff would be reduced since no one would be living in the house which meant Duke had no one to cater for. I wonder if he was sad or happy about that. Dad had given him one of our houses located in the central part of the city for him to live comfortably with his family and his bank account would be enough to manage his family and probably another generation. He deserved it and more.

The long walk to the back of the house where dad would be buried was more than enough for me to pull myself together. Dad would be buried beside mom. We had not contacted anyone so it was only going to be me, Atticus, Duke and the priest. Dad had wanted it that way apparently.

I was surprised to see another male standing beside Atticus. We were still a bit far from where they stood so I was not able to identify the other male, but somehow, I could easily identify my husband.

“Who’s that?” I asked Duke while pointing in the direction of the male who was talking to Atticus but was being ignored by the said man. I noticed Duke tense at my question and my eyes narrowed in suspicion

“Who’s that Duke?” I asked him again when he delayed to answer my first question

“It’s your uncle, Jason” I halted my steps and grabbed Duke by the arm so he could also stop walking

“What do you mean by Uncle Jason? What is he doing here? How could you invite him?” Dad had made it clear that he did not want to have anything to do with Jason and Duke was well aware of this so how could he bring him here

“I didn’t tell him anything. He barged in this morning, shouting that he heard his brother was dead and he wasn’t told. He demanded to see him but we told him your father was about to be buried. The staff was unable to throw him out” Duke explained but I was done listening. I hastened my footsteps and marched towards him

Both men turned to face me as soon as they heard my footsteps. My steps almost faltered at the sight of Atticus, the man was too handsome, it should be illegal. I almost forgot the reason I was angry but the sight of that sickening smile helped me remember

“What are you doing here?” I cut him off as soon as he opened his mouth. I don’t want to hear whatever it was he had to say

“What do you mean by that? My brother died and I wasn’t informed. Now you were going to bury him without my knowledge, that's not fair Hazel”

“You don’t get to play the victim card Uncle. You left without any contact just because dad pushed you out of the company and you returned as soon as you heard he died, who do you think you are fooling? Definitely not me.” his eyes narrowed in anger and I swear I could see flames escape from his ears but I didn’t give a fuck

“Please, let’s not do this here. We have to respect the dead. You can resolve your differences later” another voice spoke. I turned my head to see a priest I had not seen before

“I’m sorry, Please proceed” I muttered before stepping aside and standing beside Atticus so the priest could proceed with the ceremony. I looked at my Uncle one more time but his eyes were already on me and all I could think of was that he was too late. He is not getting his dirty hands on my dad’s company, not now, not ever.