Author's notes: Thanks once again for the heart warming response to this story – it means so much.
The poem mentioned in the last chapter appears in the next, and final, chapter (not this one) it was all a matter chapter breaks.
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Monday morning
After an emotionally draining afternoon at the Roberts home, Harm had fallen asleep on the sofa mid-conversation. To his surprise though, he had awoken at dawn on Monday in the arms of Mac in his own bed. Had the circumstances been different he would have considered himself the luckiest man in the world, but, as it was, he just felt sad. He didn't remember coming into her but it was obvious he had.
He gently raised her arm, hoping to get out of bed before she realised he was there.
"Where are you going, Harm?" she asked sleepily.
"Mac, I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you," he said moving to the edge of the bed.
"It's okay." She reached out and tenderly touched his arm. "Where are you going?"
"I should be on the sofa. I don't even remember coming in here. I'm sorry." His face was a mass of confusion and he couldn't bring himself to look at her.
"Don't be sorry. It's okay" Mac soothed, tugging on his arm. "You were so restless on the sofa I went and got you. You just needed a little TLC and you settled right down. Now where are you going?"
"I was just going back to the sofa." He turned back slightly, wanting to see her, not daring to make eye contact.
"Don't even think about it. Stay with me." Mac pulled his arm back and took his hand in hers. Harm didn't need to be asked again. He settled back in the bed and thought to himself that his bed had never felt so comfortable.
"Mac, about today," he whispered, eyes closed, silently praying.
"Yeah," she whispered, raising herself to look at him.
"Can you come with me?" he asked, eyes still closed, anxiety etched in his features.
"Yeah." She reached up and kissed his cheek.
When the alarm rang at 0830 Harm was surprised to find he was alone in the bed. He lay there for a few minutes before hearing the front door open and the smell of fresh coffee drift in.
"You awake, Sleepyhead," Mac called from the kitchen.
Harm got up, put a robe on and wandered out. "Hi there," he mumbled.
"Now, drink your coffee and eat something. This is going to be a long day and you need your strength. I am going to take a shower and…" Mac began the task of organising them both for the difficult day ahead.
Before she could continue, Harm reached out and wrapped his arms around her. He held her close to him.
"Thank you Sarah, for everything. I couldn't do this without you." He kissed the top of her head and held her a little longer. Mac was his anchor, without her he had no idea what state he'd be in. He'd be forever grateful he didn't have to find out.
St Anne's Church
Harm and Mac stood across the road from the church as the mourners gathered. A few looked their way but nobody said anything. As the time neared 1100 Mac took his arm.
"It's time to go in," she said simply and guided him across the road. Harm froze in the doorway of the simple, wooden church when he saw the small white coffin sitting before the altar. Mac raised his hand to her lips and kissed it before leading him towards the last pew. A young child ran up to him and stared at him. The child said nothing, shook his head and ran back to his mother.
Sondra Brown who had been watching for Harm from the front of the church saw them enter and went immediately to him.
"Mr Rabb," she cried, opening her arms. "I'm so glad you came. I'm so sorry."
Harm embraced the woman and uttered soothing words. Mac stood back and let out a sigh of relief, she knew how much Harm had been dreading this moment. Sondra led them both to the front pew where she was sitting with her other children and her mother.
"We're fine to sit here," said Harm indicating a few empty spots midway up the aisle.
"No, I want you with me," Sondra said taking his hand and walking on. Mac followed.
The pastor stood, as did the congregation, and sang 'Amazing Grace'. Mac had to bite her lower lip to stop from crying, she didn't even want to look at Harm, instead she squeezed his hand and leaned her body into his.
Prayers and blessings were offered. A group of first graders brought toys, books and pieces of Letisha's school work and uniform forward and placed them on the altar. Harm wrapped an arm around Mac and Sondra gripped his other arm. Music, laughter and tears filled the church as friends and relatives spoke of a loving child, taken all too soon.
Then Angeline stood and limped her way to the pulpit. She adjusted the microphone and smiled at her mother, Sondra.
"For those who don't know me, my name is Angeline Brown. I am 13 years old and Letisha was my baby sister. When Tisha was born I was seven and to me she was my very own living doll. Momma had her hands full with Malcolm and Malik and I looked after Tisha. From the moment she was born we had this special connection, I loved her more than I did anyone else and I know she loved me. Ask anyone and they'll tell you how special she was, how she was bright and bubbly and mischievous. She got away with a lot because she was just so cute no one could ever stay mad at her, not even me. Letisha was like a butterfly, always flitting about. You could never keep her still. When Letisha was four I was minding her out the front and she was there one minute and gone the next. I looked up and she was out on the road. I ran and pushed her out of the way and got hit instead. She got a fright and I got my leg broken in five places and still I couldn't stay mad at her." Angeline stopped and closed her eyes, for a young girl in pain she had spoken so eloquently. She drew a deep breath, opened her eyes and continued. "Mr Rabb," Harm stiffened in the pew, Mac held him tighter. "Mr. Rabb, no one here blames you for Letisha's death. We loved her and we knew she was just too beautiful for this world. We know it was an accident and it took so much courage for you to come today, we thank you." Sondra squeezed his hand. "Tisha and I used to sing this song all the time. This time I need your help."
The music started and Angeline began to sing.
Don't be afraid to fly
Spread your wings
Open up a door
So much more inside
Don'tBe afraid to fly
Come spread your wings and just fly with me and you'll see why
It's alright to
Fly
Fly
Just fly
Just fly
Don't be afraid
Don't let your spirit die
Just
Spread your wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid to fly
Fly
So much more inside
Come spread your wings and just flutter right into the sun
Don't be afraid to fly
Don't be afraid to just fly
You
You have become a butterfly
Don't be afraid to just fly
(Spread your wings)
Prepare to fly
Butterflies
Are free to fly
Fly away
Bye bye
Butterflies
(You have become a butterfly)
Are free to fly
Fly away
Bye bye
Bye bye
Bye bye
Butterflies
Are free to fly
Bye bye
Spread your wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly
Spread your wings and prepare to fly
(Spread your wings and fly)
For you have become a butterfly
Fly away
Fly away
Fly away
Fly away
Bye bye
Fly awayFly
Bye bye
Fly away
Fly
Butterfly
Harm wiped away the tears as Angeline's angel-like voice filled the church. As she got to the last verse the pall bearers came forward to take the coffin from the church. Harm escorted Sondra behind the coffin leading the other mourners out, in a sad and sombre procession, into the adjoining graveyard where Letisha Brown's body would spend eternity.
After the interment Sondra asked Harm and Mac to join the family back at their home. This was one thing Harm couldn't do so Mac made apologies for them both. Sondra understood and thanked them for their presence and, after a tearful goodbye, left. Mac wrapped her arms around Harm as they stood in the graveyard. She buried her head in his chest and he brought his head to rest on hers. The weather turned unexpectedly cold and light rain began to fall.
"You ready to go home, Flyboy?" Mac asked gently.
Harm nodded. He was ready to be anywhere but next to Letisha's grave.
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One chapter to go – it's an epilogue.
Author's Notes: Song: Mariah Carey / Fly Away (I did have spacing issues with it as far as stanza breaks)