Amy and Ricky after getting ready dropped John and Anna off at Amy's parents house. Then they went up to the hospital to visit with Lucy for an hour and then they had to leave for the service. Ricky drove quietly to the church were the service was being held. Then Ricky parked the car and he and Amy went inside. The mood was very sad and it was extremely quiet. Amy grabbed onto Ricky's hand for support. He then put his arm around her waist. They continued to walk through the church until they found Bryan and Adrian. Kate and Holly were there too but Hope was with Adrian's parents for the day. Amy could see the sadness in Holly and Kate's eyes. It looked like no one had slept much in the past two days.
"Amy." Adrian said and then embraced her.
"I am so sorry for your family's loss." Amy said as they pulled back.
"Thank you but I am more worried about Bryan and the girls." Adrian said as she looked over at her husband.
Bryan walked up behind Adrian and he put his arm around her shoulder. "Adrian I don't want you to worry or stress. You need to stay calm. Let me worry about the girls and myself. I love you and I just want you to take care of you and the babies. That will make me worry less too. Alright?" Bryan said as if he was pleading with her. Mostly with his eyes as he looked in Adrian's eyes.
"Ok. I love you." Adrian told him. Bryan then leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Then everyone took their seats as the service was beginning to start. Amy sat with Ricky in the row behind Adrian, Bryan, and their family. The service began. It was about an hour long. Amy felt so sad being there and seeing so many people affected by the loss. Amy never had lost a parent but she had been there when others had. She knew it was one of the greatest losses one would ever face in their life. Several times Amy had to wipe away the tears that fell. She squeezed Ricky's hand several times during the sevice. After it was done everyone went to the graveside for the burial. Everyone got into their cars and drove to the site. Just as they were reaching the place it began to rain. It echoed the mood everyone was feeling.
The sevice for the burial lasted only a few minutes and afterwards it was all over. Everyone got back into their cars and went home and back to their lives as best as anyone could after such a tragedy. Amy and Ricky and John and Anna all went over to Adrian and Bryan's house in the evening. It was a very sad and hard time together. While the adults were trying to smile and not cry the kids could tell there was something off about the whole thing.
"Mommy why you crying?" John said as he walked up to his mother and he touched her cheek where a few stray tears had fallen. Amy looked over at her son. His brown eyes looking back at her. Amy took John into her arms and hugged him. Then she pulled John onto her lap.
"Honey I am crying because someone is no longer here with their family. And we all gathered to remember this person. Do you understand?" Amy said as she looked once more into his eyes.
"Yeah." John said and then he leaned in closer to Amy and he sat there most of the night close to his mother.
"So have you decided about Hope's adoption yet?" Ricky asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah we got all the paperwork done and Leo and Camielle did not have any problems with it. And Adrian is alright with it. I just want Hope to know that I am proud to be able to be in her life. I wish her dad was here. I know he would have loved that little girl with all of his heart. Because I have heard from all of you how kind, generous, loving, and wonderful man he was. I just want Hope to know how important she is to me as well. And I know that I cannot replace Ben, and I am not trying to do that. I just want to be a part of her life." Bryan said in gentle tone knowing the subject was hard for everyone about the loss of Ben.
"It is alright. I think it is good to talk about him. That way Hope never will wonder about him. She will already know from us talking about him." Adrian said as she also wiped a few tears away.
"We both wanted to ask you something. I know we have all been through a hard day. But life is very short and no one ever knows what tomorrow will bring or even if there will be one. But Bryan and I have been talking and we were wondering if you would be Hope's godparents?" Bryan said as he took Adrian's hand into his own.
Amy and Ricky exchanged surprised but happy looks. "We would love too." Amy said with a smile.
"Good then that's all settled." Bryan said.
A while later Bryan and Ricky went into the other room to keep an eye on the kids. Leaving Adrian and Amy alone to talk. Amy was not sure of what to say or not to say. She didn't want to make anything harder for anyone. "So how did your last doctor's appointment go?"
"Uh it went ok. The doctor listened to both heartbeats and he went over risks and other information. I am at higher risk of going into early labor and with my history of losing Mercy that also factors in a little more with twins but it is only a small chance he said. But still Bryan has been worried about it ever since the doctor said that. He wants me to take it easy and no stress." Adrian said to Amy.
"He's right you need to stay calm and not worry. I mean my doctors at the hopsital think with all the stress I was under that may have played a part in Lucy being born prematurely. I never realized how much stress can affect your body. I mean there were other factors that probably played a role in my going to labor as well but I still feel responsible for her being there." Amy said as she looked at her stomach.
"I understand and I am trying too." Adrian said. Amy squeezed Adrian's hand.
"I know you are." Amy said with a small smile.
"It is just hard thinking about Bryan leaving soon. I mean I know we will need the money. I just wish it turned out differently. I mean we did make the choice for him to reenlist together. It seemed like a good idea at the time." Adrian said in quiet voice.
"I get it. Ricky is going back to work soon too. He has not been working since he was discharged and when he was getting ready to go back I had my accident. I also am going to go back to work. I mean I took leave or should I say Ricky handled that while I was in the hospital. And then when I had the baby my maternity time kicked in but we are living on savings and that can only last so long." Amy said her own fears and concerns out loud.
"Well we all will just have to do the best we can. That is all anyone can ask of us. And I know I can count on you Amy. You have been a very good friend to me. And our friendship means so much to me. I am glad you are in my life." Adrian said.
Amy leaned in and gave her a hug. "I am too Adrian. I am too. And you have been a great friend to me as well. I learned how you took care of my kids when I was in the hospital. And how you cleaned and cooked for my family. I mean you doing that meant a lot to me. Thank you for all you have done for me. " Amy said.
" Your welcome. But I know that with Bryan leaving in the near future I can also count on you for your help with the kids and everything." Adrian said as she gave Amy a smile.
"Yes you can and Ricky too." Amy said and then they continued to talk about everything from the good to the bad from the happy to the saddest times in their lives.