Together At Peace

Chapter 4

The next morning at the Oceanside Inn, John and Polly got up and dressed and Polly said, "John, I've decided to go alone to the cemetery. Only because Elizabeth is fragile right now. Besides, she may run off again to some other place and we'd never see her again. I don't want that, do you? "

John sighed and kissed her. "Yeah, maybe you're right Poll. But shouldn't I at least try to talk to her anyway? We-We can't go on like this. "

Polly nodded. "Okay. Tell you what. I'll go to the cemetery and talk to her and tell her that you're here as well but whatever happens after this, we will all be going home to Virginia together to work this out. Sound like a plan? "

John shrugged. "Since this is a new maneuver for me I guess I have no choice. I just didn't think she hated me this much. "

Polly went to his arms and said, "Honey, she doesn't hate you,but she's missing Sandy a lot more right now and I think she's mixed up. It'll be okay. I promise. "

As Polly later pulled into the Oceanside cemetery where her late husband Sanderson Cooper was buried, she sighed deeply and parked.

Getting out, she looked around at the peaceful surroundings. Then she saw through a row of trees on the other side of the hill, her daughter Elizabeth Cooper at Sandy's gravesite and breathed a sigh of relief!

Walking slowly towards the area she swallowed hard,not knowing what to say to her eldest child.

But somehow, Elizabeth knew she was there and said softly, "Hi, Mom."

They went to each other's arms and cried and finally, Polly cupped Elizabeth's face and said, "What in God's name were you thinking about?! We were worried sick! "

Elizabeth then pulled away forlornly and wiped her eyes saying, "Yeah. maybe you and the girls but the Major? Not so much! "

Polly was stunned! "Are you kidding?! That man would move heaven and earth for all of us and you know it! How dare you think otherwise, young lady!"

Elizabeth wept openly and said, "Mom! You let Dad go too easily! He was our whole world and you just dismissed him when the Major came into our lives! "

Polly shook her head. "Honey, you know that isn't true! I loved your father with all my heart and I always will! But I knew he'd want me to be happy just as I would if something had happened to me. Look, can you honestly tell me you would've been happy with a new stepmother? "

When Elizabeth didn't answer right away, Polly knew. "Elizabeth Sandra Cooper, I believe you would've been this way with your dad had the situation been different. Sweetheart, I didn't go looking for anyone the year after. It just happened! That's how love is, honey. "

Polly put her arms around her daughter and said, "We had a long talk after your dad died, remember? I told you girls that someday I may meet someone but that I would always put you first before proceding with anything. I also remember that after you met with the Major and it didn't go well, he didn't turn tail and run, did he? "

Elizabeth leaned on her mother and said, "No, but-. "

Then a voice spoke saying, "I remember you all nodding to your mom when I came back to plead my case again to marry her. Elizabeth, I'm not a fool here. I'm not ever gonna take your dad's place and you know it but honey, life has to go on. And I'm here to tell you that I love your mom and you girls and that's not gonna change just because we're not seeing eye to eye right now. "

Sighing, John MacGillis continued. " I still have a lot to learn about being a dad and I know that no matter who your mom wound up with you'd be disappointed,but I'm willing to bet that you're disappointing someone else here. Me? Nah, I don't have that kind of clout and not even your mom and sisters can do that. But your dad's here and I'll bet the moon and the stars that he's real disappointed in you right now. "

Stepping closer to her he said, "Elizabeth, Sandy wants nothing more than to see you girls grow up safe and loved and happy. He did what he could while he was on this earth with your mom, but now it's time for a new chapter to begin. Your dad isn't far away, honey. He's right in your hearts and that's where he's gonna stay and I'm here front and center and I'll be here whenever you wanna talk to me or yell at me or whatever. But know this... I'm never leaving this family until the good Lord takes me which hopefully won't be for a very, very long time so you best get used to that. "

Clearing his throat, he said to Polly, "I'll be in the car. "

Polly nodded and said, "Thank you, John. "

He left and Elizabeth sat down in front of her dad's grave as tears streamed down her face and she said softly, "Wow. "

Polly knelt down and stroked Elizabeth's hair and said, "Yeah. He doesn't pull any punches with anyone. Including people he loves. And he sure must love us a lot to go through that speech, huh? "

Elizabeth nodded and said clearing her throat, "Uh, Mom? Could you give Dad and me a minute here? I gotta talk to him. "

Polly hugged her and said gently, "Sure, sweetheart. But remember, you can come back and see your dad with your sisters anytime you want. But please don't ever run off and scare me like this again! I couldn't take it if anything happened to my girls, okay? "

Elizabeth nodded, wiping her face. "Okay, Mom. "

Polly got up slowly and looked down at her late husband's grave and blew a kiss to him. "Bye, honey. "

She walked away slowly and Elizabeth shook her head saying, "Dad, I guess you know what I'm gonna say here. I really thought no one got how I was feeling, but the Major.. wow. Anyway, I gotta go even though I don't want to. I'm sorry for doing all this but it just really got to me that the Major wanted to adopt us. I mean, he's an okay guy but I don't know. It's gonna take a while to get used to it. "

Getting up, she blew a kiss to him and said, "Bye, Dad. I'll love you forever. I'll bring Robin and Casey next time, I promise. "

She went to the car and got in the back seat and Polly said, "Where's your stuff, honey? "

Elizabeth wiped her eyes. "At the Y. I crashed there last night. Can we go home now? I'm really beat. "

John smiled and said, "I thought you'd never ask, honey. Let's go home..."

The End