Calleigh stood up and looked down at her deceased grandmother. Tonight was supposed to be happy, and Cal was supposed to be smiling instead of crying. Everyone in the room was quiet. It reminded Alexx much of the morgue, where her dead bodies lay. The only difference here was that it was actually Mrs. Duquesne's time. She'd lived her life happily and her last thoughts were that her beloved granddaughter was having a baby.
Calleigh didn't see it that way. Calleigh saw it as she was going to miss out on everything. The wedding, the baby's birth, Calleigh's face when she walked down the isle. She wanted her to be there for all of that, but she was gone now.
Everyone in the room had taken their seats again, except for Calleigh and Tim. It seemed like ages that Cal was standing there by herself, crying her eyes out before Tim came up to her and wrapped his arms around her.
Not one person female in that room could say they didn't shed a tear. Even Mrs. Speedle was crying. Mrs. Duquesne was in her husbands arms crying just about as hard as Calleigh was. The room was filled with sorrow, and no one seemed to want to break the silence of words. Tim and Calleigh seemed to be the center of attention. They were standing in the middle of the room, with Tim's arms wrapped firmly around her. It made all the women's hearts melt at the fact that Tim was so sweet. He was holding her close and rocking her back and fourth in his arms. He wanted so much to take the pain away, but that wasn't about to happen.
Mrs. Speedle looked over to her husband, who was looking out the window. "You can't tell me that he doesn't love her Dave, look at him," she whispered to him. But Dave didn't budge. "Look at them!" Jen yelled quietly. He sighed and looked up at the two, seeing Tim that way was a surprise to him. Tim had his arms securely around her and he was rubbing her back and comforting her. He was whispering small words of encouragement into her ear as he rocked her, and the look on his face was something Dave had never seen before.
"I give it three years," Dave spat obnoxiously. Jen sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, but Dave knew that she was right. He used to do the same thing for his wife when he was Tim's age. He'd hold her and just listen to her cry, no matter how stupid it was.
It was a matter of minutes before Tim picked his love up and took her into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and then sat on the edge of it. He picked up a tissue and wiped away her tears with it. He looked down at her lovingly and ran his other hand through her hair, trying to get her to calm down.
"Sweetie it's gonna be okay," Tim said softly. "I know it might seem like it, but everything is going to be just fine, I'm here, okay?" he cooed. Little did he know that his father had followed him and was watching through the crack of the door. Maybe he was wrong to think of Calleigh that way before. She seemed to have a very fragile and kind heart.
"No Tim, she was supposed to be there, for everything. She wasn't supposed to leave this soon," she told him through her tears.
Tim sighed and leaned down to kiss her lightly. "I know baby, I'm so sorry," he said before wrapping his arms around her and pulled her up into a sitting position and into his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder and looked over it, and saw Tim's dad standing there. She didn't do anything, she just cried into Tim's arms and looked to his dad. Dave sighed and walked away, figuring that this was a good time to pass locket down.
About a half an hour later, everyone but Calleigh's family left, and said their condolences to the family, and left a note for Cal telling her that they were there for her and that she and Tim should take the next few days off of work. Cal and Tim came back out of the bedroom and Calleigh quickly apologized for being in there so long. It was then that Mr. Speedle stood up.
"Calleigh, may I speak with you?" he asked her softly. Calleigh looked up at Tim, who nodded, then back at Mr. Speedle.
"Yes sir," she said lightly.
Tim's dad took her to the porch and turned to her, thinking up what to say. "When I came here, I thought that you two were just looking for a way to find someone to fill the spot next to you in bed. But when I saw the way Tim took care of you, I saw a different side of him. Something that I was never able to get out of him, compassion. I knew he had it in him, because I had it. Before I met Jen I was just as stubborn and stuck up as he was. It took me to fall in love with her to realize that I had a whole different side to me."
Calleigh listened intently, and was awestruck by the fact that he was apologizing to her.
"Calleigh," Dave started again, but this time he moved to around his neck and took something off of it. "My father gave me this when I got married, and told me to hand it down to who I thought was worthy. I want you to have it. I'm sorry for undermining you in the first place. You're a sweet girl, and I want to give you my blessing," he said lightly as he walked around her and put the locket on her. He then came back around and looked down into her teary eyes.
"Mr. Speedle…" Calleigh started, but she was cut off.
"Call me dad," he said, which made Cal smile a little.
"Um, Dad," she started again as she put her hand over the warm piece of gold that hung around the chain. "I don't think you understand how much this means to me. Since day one I've been looking for your blessing and that's all I ever wanted. This.." she said, motioning to the locket. "This is very sweet, and I promise to take good care of it, thank you."
"Promise me something else Cal," he told her. "Promise me that if he ever hurts you that you'll come to us for help. I know he wouldn't, but if you ever need anything…" he said lightly.
Calleigh nodded. "I promise," she vowed, and reached up to hug him. Just then, Tim walked in to see them hugging. He leaned against the doorway and smiled, glad that his father and his soon to be wife were getting along. From now on, it would be easy sailing. They were getting married, having a baby, all was well in the Speedle family. Soon enough, old memories of the late Mrs. Duquesne would be brought to the surface, and good times will be recalled, and Calleigh will slowly heal from this. He just wished there was something he could do for her. For now, he walked back into the living room and gave a small smile to his mom.
Calleigh and Dave walked back into the living room a few minutes later. Calleigh's mom and dad wished them well and were ready to leave with a hug and a kiss from each of them. Soon after, the Speedle family left, and it took Calleigh a while to realize that her grandmother was gone. Alexx probably swung by and picked her up real fast. She was glad that it was Alexx that picked her up. She knew that her grandmother was in good hands, and that was all she needed for peace of mind.
"Are you ready for bed sweetheart?" Tim asked. Calleigh looked up at him and shook her head.
"I just need some time for myself," Cal said with a small nod.
Tim respected her wishes and made his way to bed, leaving Calleigh to think away the night. She recalled memories of when she was little and her grandmother would bring her dolls to play with. She got up and went into a box that she told herself she would pull out sooner or later. She found what she was looking for. It was a plastic doll with a lavender knitted dress. One thing her grandmother loved to do was knit, and make this for her. She pressed the button on the back of the doll and listened to Brahm's Lullaby play softly. Calleigh didn't go to bed that night. She laid down in the spot where her grandmother had been and rested there for the night in her memory.