Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2
Mourning
The next week was hard on everyone. They all started packing for their trip back to Minnesota for the funeral of Mrs. Mitchell, but everytime Mrs. Knight packed something up, it reminded her of her deceased friend and she would fall to tears again. Luckily she had Kendall, who was always there to hold her and comfort her.
James and Carlos didn't know how to act around her anymore. They weren't used to seeing Mrs. Knight so upset. And with Kendall always comforting her, they lacked someone to guide them through this difficult time. They felt a little lost and out of place.
Katie was scared. She'd never seen her mother so upset and broken before. She only knew her mother to be strong and happy. To always have the answers to everything and know just what to say. If it wasn't for Logan always being with Katie and helping her, Katie might have been traumatized by the whole experience.
Finally, Sunday came. Everyone was at the church listening to the priest say kind words about Mrs. Mitchell and her life.
Kelly graciously gave the boys the time off to come back to Minnesota. She even joined them and sat with the mothers as they cried silently.
Mrs. Garcia sat in between her husband and son, both rubbing her shoulders and back comfortingly as she cried.
Mrs. Diamond sat in between James and Mrs. Knight. Since the divorce, James had been his mother's strong shoulder to cry on, taking up his father's duties. He wrapped his arms around her and she cried into his shirt.
Kendall was the same way with his mother. He'd always been there for her whenever she needed him, and today was no different as he surrounded her in his arms protectively.
Kendall, James and Carlos didn't know how to act. They felt sad about Mrs. Mitchell, but neither of them knew her well enough to be so broken up about it. They had only met her a handful of times.
Katie felt the same way. She sat in between Kendall and Logan, who had an arm around her shoulders, and she just stared at her hands. Every once in a while she would feel Logan rub her shoulder soothingly.
Everything felt unreal. It all happened so fast, that no one really fully caught up with it all. They all moved and acted like they were in a hurry, desperate to catch up with the events, always with that nagging feeling in the back of their minds that they were forgetting something.
"Joanna Mitchell was a beloved friend and mother, and will forever be missed." The priest finished. Then everyone silently made their way to pay their respects to the closed coffin.
Mrs. Diamond stood in the kitchen washing dishes, in a daze. The wake after the funeral was being held at her house since it was the biggest. Everyone was gathered there, talking, eating, and sharing stories of Mrs. Mitchell. With the exception of Kelly, who had to fly back to L.A. All the people in her house got a little overwhelming, so Mrs. Diamond retreated to the kitchen unnoticed to get a little peace.
Not even watching what she was doing, she absentmindedly scrubbed at the dirty dishes that filled the sink. Her scrubbing started to get more forceful and violent as her thoughts caught up with her. Tears streamed down her face as she thought about her deceased friend. She couldn't believe this was happening.
Thoughts of her friend happily driving down the road filled her mind. She saw Mrs. Mitchell smiling in her car, carefree as she turned down the intersection.
When suddenly the car was violently jerked off the road, everything crumpling and shattering upon impact.
Mrs. Diamond threw a plate across the room as she screamed in anger. She sniffled, tears never ceasing, as she stared at the broken white glass on the floor. She vaguely thought about if anyone heard her outburst, but then remembered the music playing in the living room, drowning her out. She was glad that no one would come in and see her like this.
Slowly, she made her way over to it and started picking up the small pieces. She started crying harder, thinking about how her heart looked and felt the same as the plate. She felt so alone, so hurt.
She didn't even hear when someone came in. But when she felt comforting arms wrap around her shaking body, she dropped the glass pieces and leaned into them, crying into their chest.
"Shhh. You're not alone." Logan whispered as he stroked her hair. Mrs. Diamond gripped Logan's shirt as she cried, leaning into his warm embrace, and listening as he started to hum softly.
"How's she doing?" Mrs. Knight asked.
"Better." Logan answered. The wake had cleared out, and Mrs. Diamond had calmed down a little. Everyone watched from the kitchen as Mrs. Diamond laid in James' arms, him stroking her hair comfortingly.
Mrs. Knight sniffled. "This is so hard." She said softly.
Kendall wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry mom."
Mrs. Knight leaned into his chest. "Thank you sweetie." She said softly.
"Has anyone seen Katie?" Logan asked.
"Last I saw, she was headed upstairs." Carlos said. "That was an hour ago I think."
"I'm worried about her." Mrs. Knight said. "I know she's way more mature than her age, but she's still only twelve. This must be really scary for her. And seeing me like this can't be helping."
"I'll go check on her." Logan said, then headed up the stairs.
Slowly, he made it to one of the bedrooms, and listened. Sure enough, sniffles were heard from the other side. "Katie?" He knocked softly then entered the room.
Katie was sitting on the bed facing the wall. Upon hearing the door open, she slowly turned around and looked at Logan with red-rimmed eyes.
Logan silently closed the door behind him and sat on the bed, wrapping Katie in a one-armed hug.
Katie leaned into his chest. "I'm scared." She whispered.
"I know." Logan whispered, rubbing her arm for comfort.
"Mom's so sad. I've never seen her like that before." Katie said softly. "I can't imagine what it's like to lose one of your best friends."
"Me neither." Logan said softly.
"She's so sad and she's always crying." Katie said, then looked up at Logan with a hint of fear in her eyes. "Is mom broken?" She asked in a small, childlike voice.
"Just a little bit." Logan answered honestly. "But that's why she has you guys. Her family; You, Kendall, Mrs. Diamond, Mrs. Garcia, everyone. You have each other to help one another. You're never alone, and that's why she'll be okay; 'Cause she has everyone to help put her back together."
"How do you know?" Katie whispered.
Logan hugged her tight. "Because none of you will let the others fall, it's how you are, it's how this family works." He said softly.
Katie gripped his shirt. "I'm scared." She whispered. "I hate this."
"I know Katie." Logan said, rubbing her arms. "Me too."
"What are we gonna do?" Mrs. Knight asked. "This is all so overwhelming."
"It's hard to keep track of everything, isn't it?" Mrs. Garcia asked. Her husband wrapped an arm around her for comfort.
Mrs. Knight nodded. "At least Brooke is okay for now." She said, glancing at the couch in the living room, where Mrs. Diamond lay on James' chest, both fast asleep.
"And I'm sure with Logan up there, Katie's not far behind either." Kendall said.
Mrs. Knight nodded. "At least some things seem to be slowing down."
"How are you doing mom?" Carlos asked.
Mrs. Garcia smiled sadly. "Better. I have my two strong men to keep me sane." She said fondly, then hugged Carlos.
Mrs. Knight watched the exchange with a smile, and felt Kendall's hold around her tighten ever so slightly. "We are so lucky to have such amazing sons." She said fondly as she leaned into Kendall.
"Si." Mrs. Garcia said with a smile, as she rubbed Carlos' arms. "This one gets it from his dad." She said as she looked up at Mr. Garcia, who still had an arm around her.
"Now now." Mr. Garcia said. "I can't take all the credit. Only half of him is from me. The other half is all you baby." He said softly.
Carlos wrapped an arm around both of them. "Yep." He agreed. "And the other, other half is from Kendall, James and Logan." He smiled.
His parents chuckled. "Yes, them too." Mr. Garcia said and sent Kendall a smile.
Kendall smiled back. "Don't look at me." He said. "Unlike you guys, mom actually can take, and deserves full credit." He smiled at her.
"Oh, you're too sweet." Mrs. Knight said. "But like Carlos said, he and James and Logan had a hand in sculpting you into the amazing young man you are today as well." She smiled.
"Told ya." Carlos said with a smile.
"I'm so glad we have each other." Mrs. Garcia said. "I don't know where I'd be without any single one of you. It's hard enough without. . ." She trailed off and a sob escaped her.
Mrs. Knight went around and wrapped her arms around her. "I know what you mean Sylvia. I feel the same way." A tear tracked down her face and Mr. Garcia, Kendall and Carlos joined in the hug.
"Mom?" Katie called softly as she descended the stairs, holding Logan's hand tightly.
Mrs. Knight broke from the hug and wiped her face, then knelt down invitingly. "Hey sweetie." She said.
Katie walked up to her mother and wrapped her arms around her neck.
"Are you feeling better?" Mrs. Knight asked as she hugged her daughter.
Katie nodded, then pulled away to look at her. "What about you?"
"I'm okay." Mrs. Knight said. "I'm sorry honey. I know this must be scary for you."
Katie shrugged. "Don't be sorry. I know it would be a lot worse if you didn't cry."
Mrs. Knight laid a hand on her shoulder. "You're such a strong girl Katie. I'm so proud of you." Katie wrapped her in a hug again.
Kendall watched his sister and mother, but was lost in thought, the last thing Katie said, ringing in his head. There was something important about its meaning, he just couldn't place his finger on it.
Author's note: I tried to make each mom a different stage of grief. Mrs. Knight was Denial in the first chapter, and now Mrs. Diamond was Anger. I hope that worked out okay.
