There was a knock on his bedroom door and it opened slightly, his father stuck his head in.
"It's time to go."
Cappie nodded and got up following his father downstairs, where the rest of his family and grandmother were waiting. He put a long black coat on over his black suit and followed his family to the limos waiting downstairs. The ride to the church was a blur, all he remembered was Elizabeth leaning on his side and Theo laying down and putting his head on his lap.
Everything had been a blur since he got the call. He hardly remembered packing and didn't know if he told anyone he was leaving. He didn't even know whether he was the one to call the jet to pick him up. Once in the city it was the same thing. He remembered Lisa picking him up, he knew she talked the entire ride to his apartment but he didn't hear a word. One thing he did remember was walking into his house.
No one heard him as he came through the doors. His father was standing at the bar downing what Cappie was sure was not his first glass of scotch. His mother was sobbing violently on the couch and Susan was trying to calm her. Andrew was staring into space and Daniel and Elizabeth were watching the news. Elizabeth was silently crying as a picture of their grandfather appeared on the screen. Theo was sitting on the floor pushing a toy car back and forth. He heard a crash from the kitchen and ran in to find a broken plate on the ground and Jessica sitting on the floor crying. The maid was trying to quiet Gabriella who even at six months old knew something was wrong. He took Gabi from her and rocked her to sleep. He tried to think of anything but his broken family but failed when he walked past the sunroom and saw his grandmother staring out the window. He put his sister to bed and walked into the room. He stood behind her silently for ten minutes before she spoke.
"I can't believe he's gone."
She turned around and sobbed in his arms until she fell asleep. He carried her to bed before going to his own room.
Everything blurred again. He remembered lying on his bed, people coming in and out, walking around the large house for the next two days not really talking to anyone. This morning he remembered the maid bringing in his black Armani suit but he didn't remember putting it on. It had happened at some point because he was wearing it under his black coat as he sat in the limo.
The limo pulled up to the curb and someone opened the door. Jessica, Andrew, Susan and Daniel were waiting on the sidewalk for them. Cappie got out first and surveyed the dozens of reporters lining the steps of the church. He ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair before turning to help Elizabeth out of the car. He then lifted Theo out and rested him on his hip. Liz took his hand and they walked over to their siblings. Another limo pulled up behind them and his dad got out first. He then turned to help his mom and Gabi out of the car. Vivian stepped away as Anthony helped Cynthia get out. She looked at the crowd and Cappie could tell she wanted to get back in the car and run away. Anthony must have noticed too because he took her hand and guided her towards the rest of the family. The eleven of them stood there looking up at the large church knowing that if they went in it was real, he was really gone.
Andrew took a deep breathe and took a step forward. Daniel and Jessica followed after him. Susan took Elizabeth's hand and led her up the large steps. Vivian followed holding her youngest like a lifeline. Anthony moved forward but Cappie noticed his grandmother hesitate. He kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear.
"You can do this."
She gave him a small nod before taking her oldest son's hand letting him lead her into the church. Cappie and Theo followed behind them trying to ignore the hundreds of flashes going off in their faces.
