"This isn't a good idea, Tad." Brooke English said as she stood in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest. "You, me, David... we're not exactly on the top of his list of favorite people."
"I'm not doing this for Hayward," Tad said, fiddling with his tie. "I'm going for Anna." He paused. "You weren't at the hospital when it happened, Brooke. You didn't see ... I need to be there for her. To give her an extra shoulder, just in case David decides to go AWOL."
Brooke approached Tad and fixed his tie. "Why do I feel like this is a mistake?" she asked, straightening the knot. "This is going to blow up in our faces, you know that?"
"You don't have to come you know." Tad said.
"I need to make sure that you don't do something that's going to land you in jail."
"Oh, come on, Brooke. I'm not that bad." tad moved away from her and towards the front door. Brooke turned to face him. "You really don't want to come, do you?"
"It's a funeral, Tad," Brooke said. "Nobody ever wants to go."
"If this is too hard for you..."
"Because of Laura." Brooke said softly.
Tad approached her once again, gently taking hold of her arms. "Maybe you should stay. I can handle this."
Brooke shook her head, pushing her hair back behind her ears. "I won't lose it. I promise." She forced a smile. "This is for Anna... and David." She paused. "And to make sure that you don't get beat to a pulp."
"Only as long as you're sure. I don't want you to..."
"Tad." Brooke said, quickly. "I'm OK. I'll be OK. Trust me, alright." She stepped back from him, fixing her hair once again. "We're going to be late," she said as she walked outside without looking back. "Are you coming?"
Anna Devane stepped out of the car parked in front of the funeral parlor. She stood silently on the sidewalk, fighting back the tears that were beginning to force their way out. She took a deep breath, holding it for a moment in attempt to calm herself. How much she just wanted to reach back for David's hand... if only he had decided to come.
Instead, Anna squeezed Leora's teddy bear tightly. The tears let loose and began to roll down her cheeks, but she quickly wiped them away. "OK. OK." she said. "You can do this. You need to do this." Anna slowly started towards the entrance, taking small equally spaced steps. She paused, looking back, hoping that perhaps David had changed his mind and that he was running down the block to catch up with her. But he wasn't. "He's not coming." Anna took another deep breath, closing her eyes and leaning her head back, skyward. "Damnit, David," she added softly. "If there was ever a time that I needed you here with me it's now." Anna looked down at the stuffed animal in her arms, stroking its fur. "They're waiting for us," She said as though the bear was listening. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."