Chapter 4
Three days had passed and Laura's funeral was going to be held this afternoon. Luke felt numb inside now. All of his and Laura's friends had been to the house to express their condolences. Luke had not spoken to any of them. He hoped they understood that he was hurting too much to be able to handle guests.
"Daddy?" Lulu said sticking her head into the bedroom.
"Come in Sweetheart," he said putting his arms out to hug her.
She came running in the room and gave him a big hug.
"Daddy, we are going to see Mommy for the last time today aren't we?"
"Yes, for the last time," he said trying to hide his tears from her.
"Then I want to look nice for Mommy. Would you make my hair look pretty?" she asked handing him a ribbon and a hairbrush.
Luke looked at the brush. "I can't do this," he thought. "How can I raise my little girl if I don't even know how to brush her hair."
"Come here, Honey. I'll fix your hair for you," Lesley said from the doorway.
Lesley Lu grabbed her brush and ribbon and ran out the door.
"Thanks," Luke said. Lesley nodded at him and followed Lulu down the hall.
A few hours later, they sat silently in the church. Everyone had something to say about Laura. Luke was touched at how many people loved her, at how many lives his wife had touched.
When the funeral was over Luke didn't move. He sat alone in the church with his eyes closed. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Luke?" Bobbie said.
Luke opened his eyes and looked at her. "Where am I?" he thought. "This isn't the church." He looked around the room and saw that he was still sitting in the hospital waiting room. He must have dozed off.
"Luke?" Bobbie repeated. "Laura's awake. She's asking to see you."
"She's… she's alive?"
Bobbie gave him a confused look. "Of course she's alive. The doctor said it was just a virus. They gave her a shot for her headache, so she's ready to go home soon. She's going to need a lot of rest though."
Luke jumped out of the chair and gave Bobbie a hug.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"For being beautiful. For being you," he said with a smile before he left to go see Laura.
Bobbie shook her head and laughed. He brother could be so strange sometimes.
Luke walked in the examining room. Laura was sitting in the chair. She smiled at him.
"How do you feel Angel?" he asked with concern.
"Hungry," she said with a grin.
Luke knew that if she was hungry she was feeling much better.
"Do they know why you passed out?"
"You've seen me when I was sick before. I always faint when my temperature goes over 102 degrees."
"Of course," he thought to himself. "How could I have forgotten."
"Luke, take me home," she said holding her hand out to him.
He helped her up and put his arm around her to help her to the car.
"Thank you," he said.
"For what?"
"For not leaving me."
She gave him a confused look, then smiled at him. "You're welcome, I think. I love you Luke."
"I love you to Angel. Let's go home," he said kissing the top of her head.