Part Five
However, on my way to the backyard I notice Mom�s bestfriend, Mary, and her husband Shawn. She is obviously upset, and I can�t just ignore her.
I make my way over, and she sees me. She offers a smile, and I give her a big hug. �Hi.�
�Ciera, honey,� she greets me, wiping away her tears. �How are you?�
I nod, keeping my emotions at bay. �I�m ok, Mary.� I turn to Shawn, and he also wraps me in a hug.
�Kid, I don�t know how you�re managing,� he tells me.
A small laugh escapes me. �Neither do I. How are you guys?�
�I still can�t believe she�s gone,� Mary says. I can tell she�s trying very hard not to cry. �I keep expecting that tomorrow she�ll call me and demand to know what my excuse is for being late for lunch again.�
Shawn tightens his hold around his wife�s waist, comforting her. I�m happy to see that they are still deeply in love with each other as they had been years before. Although, they hadn�t escaped the �DX war� without troubles of their own. Because Mary was Mom�s bestfriend, and Shawn was Dad�s, they had been on opposite sides. For awhile it had seemed like more than one marriage was being threatened by Chris. But Mary and Shawn worked through their problems, and had become even closer than before. They still are.
�Ci,� a soft voice greets, coming from my left side. I turn, and smile when I see Ashlyn, Mary and Shawn�s twenty-four year old daughter. And my bestfriend. We hug for a long time, and I wonder how many more hugs I�ll be receiving before the day is over.
�Stephanie was the best,� she tells me, finally pulling away and smiling. �I remember whenever Ryder and I were over at your place she always let us do anything we wanted, and gave us everything we asked for.�
�She spoilt you two, you mean,� Shawn interjects with an affectionate smile.
�Semantics, Daddy,� Ashlyn replies with her usual cheeky grin.
�Honey, is Ryder coming yet?� Mary asks her daughter. Ryder is her son, and also Paul�s bestfriend.
Ashlyn nods. �Yeah, he�s on his way now.� She turns to me and explains, �Ry had to take a detour on the way here. Rob hasn�t been the best, and they wanted to stop by the hospital really quickly.�
I smile in understanding. �That�s fine. As long as Rob is okay.� Rob is Ryder�s three year old son, and he is the most adorable little boy.
�And how is Chris?� Mary asks softly, turning to look at him. We all follow suit.
He is still by himself, and I know that�s what he thinks he wants. But he�s wrong. Chris likes to pretend that he�s strong, and he is, but he always got his strength from Mom. And with her gone, he�s completely lost. I have yet to see him cry over her death, and I know that it can�t be healthy for him to be keeping everything inside.
I shake my head, tears beginning to form again. I miss my mother, and it feels like a large part of my life is now missing, but I can�t even begin to imagine how big a loss my Mom is to Chris.
�He�s closed himself off,� I tell them quietly, my concern for my father increasing. �He doesn�t talk, doesn�t eat, doesn�t sleep. I�m really worried.�
�He loves Stephanie so much,� Mary murmurs, looking away. I see tears sliding down her cheeks, and Shawn holds her as he whispers words in her ear.
More a feeling of wanting to see Chris than being uncomfortable, I quietly excuse myself with promises to see them again later. Ashlyn smiles at me in understanding as she stands beside her parents.
