My heart felt heavy as we stopped in front of the Kennish home. Getting out of our car, I stood there, staring at the house I'd grown up in – sure, there were a few changes here and there, like a rose bed and a garden swing on the lawn, but I could still see Dad chasing the seven year old me. A few tears collected in my eyes, just like they had literally five minutes ago.
A strong, masculine arm wrapped around my cold shoulders, and I looked to my side to see Travis give me his comforting smile, bouncing our daughter Angelica in his arm.
"Bay," he signed, "it'll be fine."
"I know," I signed in tears.
At 32, I had a famous image in New York City as a tattoo artist and a small, cosy family, but I'd unknowingly traded my old life for it. Mom had called the day before and assuming that it would be one of her regular check-up calls, I barely paid attention to her voice that dripped with sorrow. But when she said what had happened, I felt my world turn upside down. Dad had had a heart attack, and unlike the last time, which was about 15 years ago, he hadn't made it.
...
I sat in dad's chair in the study, trying to feel his warmth. The door bell rang – it must be Daphne. It had been ages since I'd seen her, the last time must have been at Will's (Regina's step son's) wedding, a year ago. There she stood, dark circles under her eyes and her skin pallid, looking sadly in my eyes. She stepped in to give me a tight hug, and we stood there, quietly shedding tears in each other's arms.
"How are you", she asked as we stepped back.
"I'm holding up," I replied quietly and signed to ask how she was doing. I had no energy to talk.
"Fine. How are the moms?" she signed back.
"Kathryn hasn't been out of her bedroom since morning. Regina tries to keep her company but I see her crying alone at times."
Emmett walked in the door after that, and glanced at the both of our tear-stained cheeks. He walked up to us and pulled us in an embrace, stroking our heads, and then pulled away to give us a slight smile. Travis joined our little reunion after putting Angelica to sleep, and before long, we were sitting in our living room, catching up on each other's lives –Emmett, now a well-established journalist covered events around Japan with political upheaval. Daphne had joined Emmett in Japan after Travis was offered a place in the New York Mets, and as they lived together, their feelings for each other grew. After a few years of working in a private hospital as a surgeon, Daphne had now opened up her association to provide subsidised medical care for underprivileged children in Japan.
The evening fled past, and Daphne and I took turns to bring soup, a blanket and company to our mothers. Toby and Lily had joined us at 6 p.m., with their 15 year old son, Carlton and seven year old daughter, Daisy. With their experience of raising two children with Down's Syndrome, Toby and Lily had become part of an association which educates people about Down's Syndrome and offers support to parents whose kids have the condition.
The entire family, except dad of course, sat around the table, eating dad's favourite dish and talking about their best memories with him. While mom, Regina, Toby, Daphne and I spoke openly about dad, Travis was the quietest. With dad being the one to have always offered him support, be it in the car wash or the entrance in the pro team, Travis seemed to now sink into the depth of the reality.
"Are you ok?" I asked him as Regina was speaking.
"Yeah," he replied, and instantly looked away.
"You don't look like that. We can pass if you want to."
"It's rude. I don't want to disrespect John like that."
The dinner ended with us toasting to dad's long, eventful and successful life, and I led Travis to the patio. Under the stars, I held his hand, and for the first time since we got the news, did I see his eyes well up. Till late, we spoke about the first time Daphne introduced him to dad, and how much our life had changed after that. Soon, Daphne and Emmett emerged from the house, with mats and blankets in their hands. Wordlessly, Daphne beckoned the both of us to sit with them down on the lawn.
...
It seemed like the entire Kansas City had gathered to mourn the ex- Royals player's death. One by one, we placed flowers on dad's coffin. None of us spoke a word during the entire ceremony. Mom kept herself busy with Angelica for the whole day, not leaving her side for even a minute. Emmett and Daphne stayed near the corners, with Emmett trying to soothe Daphne by hugging and holding her as she wept.
Toby and Lily put up their brave fronts as they greeted friends and family. Many offered their condolences, but the turbulence in our minds could not be calmed. Daphne broke down during the eulogy she offered, talking about the time she played basketball with dad and Toby the day she met us. Mom could barely squeeze a few words through her grief, while I delivered mine with the best of my abilities. Toby, however, walked up to the podium but his shield crumbled down immediately. All of us missed Dad, but none of us ever knew the extent to which we would. ...