| Chapter 6 Brian awoke to the sound of thunder and rain hitting the roof. He sat up and looked out the window. The sky was grey and ominous looking, the rain coming down in sheets. He sighed and looked over at the suit, hanging there waiting to be put on. He closed his eyes for a moment, rubbing them. All he wanted to do was go back to sleep, but he knew someone would be coming up to get him soon. He reluctantly crawled out of bed, and headed into the bathroom to get a shower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn and Nick sat at the kitchen table with Harold and Jackie. Lyn and Jackie had fixed breakfast, and they were trying to decide who was going to go wake Brian up. Harold stood up, "I'll go get him." Just then Brian walked into the room. He was half dressed, just his pants and shirt on, but no shoes or jacket. "Honey, do you want something to eat?" Jackie asked. Brian shook his head and grabbed his medicine bottle, took his daily dose and walked back out of the room. "OK, when was the last time he ate anything?" Jackie asked. "Well, when we got back from LA he ate like two bites of supper," Nick said. "That's the last time I remember him eating anything," Lyn said. Jackie got up, "He's gotta eat something." "Good luck," Nick called after her. Brian was halfway up the stairs when Jackie came around the corner. "Brian Thomas, come back down here," she said. Brian cringed, he knew that tone of voice from his mom. He took a deep breath and turned around, slowly descending the steps. When he reached the bottom she stood there staring at him, "Honey, come back into the kitchen and eat." "I'm not hungry," Brian said, knowing his mother wasn't going to take that as an excuse. "I don't care if you are or not. You haven't eaten in what, two days. You're eating breakfast, now get in there," Jackie said. "Mom, I'm not five anymore. You can't tell me to eat if I don't want to," Brian said defiantly. Jackie was shocked that Brian was talking back to her like that. She grabbed him by the ear and started walking back to the kitchen with him, "I don't care how old you are, I'm your mother and you're gonna do as I say!" She rounded the corner with him, and deposited him in a chair at the table. Nick and Lyn got up and quickly left the room, not wanting to be present for what was about to come. Jackie walked over to the counter and fixed Brian a plate, then sat it in front of him. He stared at it, still rubbing his ear. "Brian, eat," Jackie said, her hand on her hip. Brian looked over at his dad, seeking a little help. "Son, do as your mother says," Harold said. Brian rolled his eyes and looked at the food on his plate. Eggs and bacon, normally his favorite, but today he wanted nothing to do with them. "Mom, if I eat this I'm gonna be sick," Brian said. "Brian, eat something," Jackie said. Brian sighed heavily and picked up his fork. He poked his food with it for a few minutes, all the while, Jackie watching him like a hawk. Finally he took a bite. He chewed it for a second, then spit it back out on the plate. He got up and backed away from the table, wiping his mouth with his hand, "I can't." he said, turning and leaving the room. Jackie looked at Harold, "What are we gonna do?" Harold smiled at her, "Jack, he's a grown man. You can't force feed him. He'll eventually get hungry, just leave him alone for now." Jackie sighed and picked up the plate, throwing the food away and placing it in the dishwasher. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Damn D, this is the best breakfast I've had in a long time," A.J. said with his mouth full. Sarah glared at him. "I mean, since the last time Sarah made it," A.J. said, trying to make up for his slip. Howie and Kira laughed. Sarah had flown in for the funeral, and had arrived the night before. "I wonder how Brian's doing?" Kira asked. "I don't know, Kevin didn't say much on the phone," Howie said. "I just can't believe this happened," Sarah said. A.J. reached over and took her hand squeezing it. "Yeah, but as bad as we all feel, just think what Brian must be going through," Kira said. "And Nick, they were together a long time too," Sarah said. Howie looked over at the clock, "Guys, we better get a move on." "Yeah, this is one thing you definitely don't wanna be late for," A.J. said, taking his last bite of food, and getting up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kevin, honey have you seen my black purse?" Kristin asked, walking into their bedroom. Kevin was sitting on the bed, his head in his hands. "Honey?" Kristin said, sitting down next to him. Kevin looked up, his eyes full of tears, "Huh? What were you looking for?" "Kev, are you OK?" she asked. He half smiled at her, "I just never thought that things would end up like this." She took his hand, "None of us did." "She was a good friend. She always knew what to say to make things right," Kevin said. "Yeah she did," Kristin said. "God, I can't imagine how Brian is making it," Kevin said. Kristin just shook her head, "I don't know. I mean if something ever happened to you, I don't think I could handle it." Kevin pulled her close, holding her for a moment, "Well, nothing's gonna happen to me." She laughed, "Kev, you don't know that, no one does." He looked at her, realizing how much in life he'd taken for granted. "Kris, I love you. I know I don't say it that often, but I do," he said. She smiled at him, "I love you too. Now we are gonna be late if we don't go right now." Kevin got up and wiped his tears. Kristin found her purse and added more tissues before they walked out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian walked into the church. He headed up the isle to the casket. Nick and Jackie glanced at each other, before walking in after him. Brian was standing next to the casket, looking at Tara. He studied her features, reaching down and touching her cheek. It was ice cold. "Brian, the minister wants to talk to you for a moment," Jackie said, putting her hand on his shoulder. Brian looked up at her, his eyes void of any emotion. He turned and walked toward the minister. Nick looked at Jackie, "I'll stay close to him." "Thanks," she said. Nick turned and headed in Brian's direction. Bro. Glenn shook Brian's hand and they sat down in a pew, "Son, I'm so sorry." Brian just sat there. "Is there anything that you want me to say about Tara? Anything special?" Bro. Glenn asked. Brian thought for a moment, "Just that she brought love and joy to anyone she met." "That she did," Bro. Glenn said. "Brian, is there anything that I or the church can do for you?" he asked. Brian looked at him, a flash of anger in his eyes, "No." Bro. Glenn put his hand on Brian's shoulder, "I'll be praying for you and your family." Brian wanted to hurl, but he just nodded his head in response. The others arrived and took their places in the pews. Brian walked over and sat down next to his mom and dad. Bro. Glenn took the podium and began the services. Brian tuned out most of it. He loathed having to sit there and listen to the minister pray and offer comforting phrases out of the bible. It was almost like a slap in the face to him. Finally the time came to go to the grave side. The funeral attendants led Brian and his family to the waiting car, and they slowly drove down the highway to the cemetery. When they reached the cemetery, it was still raining. Brian got out, refusing to take the umbrella offered by the funeral attendants. He stood there in the cold rain, listening as the minister said another prayer. They lowered the casket into the ground, and Bro. Glenn gave Brian a rose. Brian looked at it for a moment, before he stepped up and threw it in. The services ended, and Brian greeted everyone that had come. Everyone headed back to the cars, not realizing Brian was still standing next to the grave. Nick looked back and saw him, then poked Kevin on the back, getting his attention. Soon all the guys were staring at Brian, wondering what they should do. They all walked back over. "Bri, it's time to go," Kevin said. Brian said nothing, but just stared into the hole in the ground. "Brian, everyone is going back to your house for a while," Nick said. "Yeah, Bri, come with us and we can get dried off and talk," Howie said. "I don't wanna talk," Brian said. "That's OK man, we can just hang out then," A.J. said. "I don't wanna hang out damn it! I just wanna stand here, is that to much to ask?!" Brian yelled. "No Brian it's not," Kevin said. "Yeah, we'll stand here with ya," Nick said. They stood there for several minutes in the poring rain. The guys kept glancing at each other and sending dirty looks to Nick for saying they would stay with Brian. "Um, Bri? How long are we gonna be here?" A.J. asked, soaked to the bone and ready to get into some dry clothes. Brian didn't answer him, instead he reached over and pushed A.J into the hole and walked away. "Shit! Someone get me outta here!" A.J. yelled. Howie and Kevin helped A.J. out, while Nick ran after Brian. "Bri, what'd you do that for?" Nick asked. Brian looked up at him, "Cause I felt like it." Nick looked at him for a moment, then started laughing, "Man, did you see his face when he fell in?" Brian smiled a little, "Yeah." Nick looked back, seeing Kevin and Howie pull A.J. out, and help him to his feet. "Um, are you ready to go?" Nick asked. "Yeah, why?" Brian asked. "Cause Bone's outta the hole and he doesn't look happy," Nick said. Brian smiled and walked with Nick back to the car. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian was in his room, changing clothes. He could hear everyone in the house, talking and laughing. He wished they'd all just leave. A knock came at the door. "Yeah?" Brian said. "Hey, do you mind if we come in?" Howie asked. "Knock yourself out," Brian said as the guys walked in. "Bri, how are you doing?" Kevin asked. Brian looked up at him, "Well my wife died Kev, how do you think I'm doing?" "Brian, we wanna help you through this but we don't know how," Howie said. Brian looked down, not wanting to look them in the eyes. "Bri, we're here for ya, whatever you need. Hell, we'll even let ya through A.J. in as many holes as you want, just let us know what you're feeling, what you need," Nick said. A.J. glared at him, then laughed. Brian looked up at A.J. then started laughing. "You looked so funny in that hole," he said. "I'm glad your laughing at my expense," A.J. said, not knowing whether to be annoyed or happy that Brian was laughing at him. They all calmed down a bit, and Brian looked from friend to friend, "Guys, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but there's nothing you can do to help me. I just want to be left alone for a while." The four looked at each other, and resigned to the fact that there was absolutely nothing they could do. "OK Bri, we'll be downstairs," Kevin said, heading to the door, followed by the others. Brian watched them leave, closing the door behind them. He crawled into bed and pulled the blanket over him. He reached over and grabbed the beach picture from the night stand and stared at it. "I miss you so much," he said. Brian pulled Tara's pillow close and laid down, hugging the photo and silently crying. The last thing he heard before he drifted to sleep was the rain coming down on the roof. Chapter 7 |