Show Me Heaven

Chapter Twenty-One

ARIZONA'S POV

I hate seeing Eliza upset. I hate how her mom has treated her. I thought she was coming here to make things right between them but I was wrong. I was so wrong. How can someone…someone who you call mom, show up at your home, give you the worst news imaginable and leave? Just…leave? Who does that? Who is so heartless and lacking in compassion that it seems appropriate to behave that way? Honestly, I'm still shocked. A week on, I'm shocked beyond belief. Cruel, that is what it is. It's cruel and nasty on her mom's part. Bitterness that will one day eat her up inside. I'm perfectly fine with being the one who picks up the pieces but it shouldn't be that way. Eliza is her daughter. Her flesh and blood. She is supposed to be her life. They should be dealing with this heartbreak together. Not in separate cities and living separate lives. God, I wish this was all different. None of this feels right. Family is supposed to stick together. Be there for one another.

I can see how hurt Eliza is by all of this. Her mom hasn't even bothered to call her since she rudely showed up at our place and informed my fiancé of her father's death. She sent a generic email and that is the only contact Eliza has had with her mom since then. I asked if she wanted to head home to help with the arrangements but she disagreed. She doesn't want to rock the boat or cause a scene. She's sweet like that. She is kind and compassionate and I'm more than certain she gets that from her dad. It isn't possible that she shares anything with her mom. She is a total bitch and I'm not afraid to relay that to her if and when it is needed. Eliza means the world to me and I won't have her pushed out at her own dad's funeral. No way.

I offered to hang back here when the day came, which is today, but Eliza wants me and honestly…I think she is going to need me. She is trying to put on a strong front but I see past it. I see the hurt and I hear the crying when she locks herself in the bathroom. If she needs time alone each night to break down, that is okay. I wouldn't ever make her talk and I wouldn't ever expect her to just be open and honest with me. I can remember my own dad's death like it happened only yesterday and I've been more than honest about how I coped…or didn't as it turned out. I don't want Eliza to go the same way I did. I don't want her to turn to alcohol like I did. It doesn't solve anything and it doesn't help the mood swings at all. It only makes things worse and I learned that the hard way.

Checking myself out in the mirror before leaving our bedroom, I'm satisfied that my appearance is acceptable for today's plans. So long as I'm there for Eliza, I don't care for the opinions of others. Eliza is all that is on my mind today and the sooner this awful day is over with, the sooner I can have her home...holding her. Loving her. Being whatever she needs from me. I'm praying that her dad's funeral runs smoothly but I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that it won't. I have a sinking feeling and I don't like it. Her mom has already expressed her desire to not have me there and we are clearly going against her wishes. I just hope it doesn't all turn to shit because I'm not sure Eliza could handle that. I'm not sure her mental state is great right now so no, she doesn't need anything or anyone adding to her suffering. Hell will freeze over before I allow it.

Taking the stairs slowly, I can hear my fiancé rustling about in the kitchen but I decide to keep the silence going a little longer. She hasn't been much conversation lately but I get it. I'm not offended or worried…I just get it. Approaching Eliza from behind, my arms wrap around her waist and my chin settles on her shoulder. "You look beautiful." Pressing a kiss below her ear, I attempt to pull away but her hands grip my own.

"Don't leave…"

"Okay." I tighten my grip around her waist. "You feeling okay?"

"I think so." Eliza sighs. "My stomach doesn't feel too good. I think I'm just nervous."

"You know I've got you, right?" Turning my fiancé in my arms, my eyes trail her gorgeous face, a small smile curling on her mouth. "You know anything you need…you've got it."

"I know." She agrees.

"Including me leaving if it becomes too much between you and your mom…"

"Arizona, we've been through this." Eliza breathes out. "If you leave, I leave too."

"Eliza." My thumb trailing her bottom lip, my hand settles on the side of her face and she leans into my touch, her eyes closing. "You know I'm here to be whatever you need me to be, but if you think at any point it's best that I leave…I won't be offended. That's all I'm saying, okay?"

"Okay." Her soft green eyes flutter open. "I'm so glad I have you in my life for today."

"Wouldn't be anywhere else, beautiful."

"At one time, I didn't have you…" Eliza's voice breaks. "Just a few months ago, I didn't have you and I can't stop thinking about how different this would've been if I had to go through this alone."

"Hey…" I press my lips to her own. "You aren't alone and that is what you have to focus on, okay?" Gaining a slight nod from my fiancé, she settles in my arms, her shoulders relaxing a little. "And even if I hadn't been in your life when this happened…you know I'd have dropped everything to be here with you. Together or not."

"I love you." Eliza smiles a half smile. "You really do have a beautiful soul, Arizona."

"I get it all from you." Throwing my fiancé a wink, she reaches out and takes her coffee cup in her hands, my arms still wrapped around her. "You're stronger than you realize, Eliza."

"Only with you by my side."

"Good thing I'll always be by your side then, huh?" I give her a sad smile. "We should leave in the next twenty, okay?"

"Okay…" She breathes out, the color of her face becoming a little paler than I would like. "I just…I need to check I have everything before we leave."

"Do what you have to do and I'll be here waiting for you." Pressing a kiss to Eliza's forehead, I step back and give her a little space. Space I think she may need right now. Space to breathe and space to remind herself of what today is. "I'll be out front if you need me, okay?"

"Thank you…"

I'm keeping out of the way. I don't know why I feel so unwanted here right now but I've been receiving glares from Eliza's mom like I've just killed her cat and I swear, I'm not here for the hostility. I'm not here to be looked down on, I'm here to look after my number one priority…my fiancé. The sooner Eliza's mom realizes that the sooner she can concentrate on her own shitty attitude and leave me alone.

Eliza is talking with some of her friends from home and I'm sipping my coffee outside of the venue her mom hired for after her husband's funeral. Hearing his eulogy only made my heart break even more for Eliza. Her dad, Christopher, seemed like a really nice guy. The number of people in attendance only confirmed that for me though when we arrived here. The moment we stepped out of the car, I knew he was loved. I knew he was Eliza's world. Even if she never talked about him, I knew how much he meant to her. As I sat holding her, her head buried in my chest as she said her final goodbye, I knew just how broken she was inside.

I understand her lack of conversation about him, though. Knowing how it ended between her and her family, I totally understand why she didn't talk about him often. It was too painful for her. You know, realizing what she lost even if she did hold secret calls with him. He clearly loved her and wanted the best for her, and that is why he never showed up at her home, or ours, demanding she returns to their city. If I could have just met him for five minutes, I would've promised to look after his daughter. I would've told him just how incredible she was. How loved she was.

He knew, though. He knew we were together and I appreciate him not getting involved and trying to turn Eliza against me. His lack of communication was his way of having Eliza's back. I know it was. If her mom got even a hint of the secret calls…she would've been at my door like a shot. She would've made Eliza's life a living hell. He didn't want that for her and so he backed off. He backed off and allowed her to live her life. Her true self. The authentic life she always dreamed about. That happened with me and today, I feel truly blessed. I feel like everything has completely fallen into place and these people here don't matter. Not to me and probably not to Eliza. She will say her goodbyes at some point today and we will head home together. We will continue to sleep in each other's arms. We will continue to love one another wholeheartedly whether these people here agree or not.

"Arizona…" A voice that chills me to the bone sounds behind me.

"Mrs. Minnick." I clear my throat.

"I asked you not to come here today…"

"Mm, you did." I sip my coffee. "But Eliza asked that I come with her so I did."

"I don't like you."

"You don't know me." I counter. "But that is okay. Eliza and I are getting married in a few months and she is all I will ever need."

"This is ridiculous." Eliza's mom scoffs. "You had Joshua killed so she would be yours."

"Joshua actually tried to cut my throat but okay." I nod. "This is your husbands funeral and I'm not doing this with you. Once today is over, you never have to see me again. I'd like to think that this could all end differently but you have formed your opinion of me and I'm okay with that."

"She killed him." Mrs. Minnick spits. "His own daughter killed him."

"Excuse me?" I raise an eyebrow before glancing around, checking that nobody else is hearing this. Eliza, more so than anyone else.

"Her leaving…it killed him." She says. "He couldn't take the stress of knowing how she was living her life. He couldn't take the stress of knowing that she cheated with a woman whilst married to a wonderful man." If only she knew, huh?

"And he told you this?"

"He didn't need to." She shakes her head. "I could see it in his eyes. How sad this made him. His daughter was a disappointment and in time, it killed him."

"I, uh…I think you shouldn't assume unless you know with absolute certainty that he felt that way." I hold up my hand. "I don't want to hear any more. This isn't fair to Eliza."

"What isn't fair to me?" My fiancé's voice pierces through the silence. "Arizona?"

"Hey…" I put on my best fake smile. "I've been waiting for you."

"Sorry." She leans in, a kiss pressing below my ear. "Cousins, you know?"

"Mm." I nod.

"So, what's the topic of discussion?" Eliza asks, turning to face her mom as my hand settles on the small of her back. "Mom?"

"You." She sighs. "I just…I don't know how you can live with yourself."

"Because I'm gay?" She laughs. "Really?"

"You know you are the reason your father passed." She scolds. "Everything you have put him through. We are through, Eliza. I hope you know that."

"I put him through?" Eliza's voice hits a level I haven't heard before. "How dare you say that!"

"Lose that tone with me." Her mom steps closer, pointing her finger in my fiancé's face. "Don't dare speak to me like that."

"He loved me." Eliza spits. "He supported me and my choices. He was just too scared to tell you because you're a bitch!"

"GET OUT!"

"Oh, I'm gone." My fiancé holds up her hands. "I'm only here for him. Not you."

"Eliza, come on." My arm wraps around her waist. "You don't need this right now." Lowering my voice, Eliza's head drops on her shoulders. Disappointment evident in her body language. "Let's get out of here, yeah?"

"Y-Yeah." Her voice breaks. "W-We should go."

"Goodbye, Mrs. Minnick." Straight-faced, I glare at Eliza's mom but she doesn't seem interested in the fact that she has just caused a scene or hurt her daughter. She doesn't seem interested in anything other than herself.

"You know, I wanted you at my wedding, Mom." Eliza cries. "I wanted you both there."

"I don't care." She sighs. "Just…leave."

"Maybe one day you will realize that I'm your daughter. Just like dad did." My fiancé wipes a tear from her jawline. "And for the record…I wish it was you I had buried today. Not him!" Gripping my hand tight, Eliza pulls me through the venue, all eyes on us as we leave. I don't know if the crowd is because of the fact that there are two openly gay women holding hands or because of what has just happened, but I'm going with the latter. "I hate her." Eliza cries as we reach the outside. "I fucking hate her."

"Come on…" I wrap my arms around her. "Don't get yourself worked up. You don't need it."

"I just…she's horrible. She's a bitch and I do wish she was dead."

"Hey…you don't mean that." I pull back, brushing Eliza's hair from her gorgeous face. Sad, but gorgeous. "You're angry and you don't mean that."

"Except I do." She scoffs. "How can she blame me for my dad's death?"

"Because she's kinda fucked up that way." I sigh, not realizing those words have just come out of my mouth. "Sorry…"

"Don't be." Eliza smiles, her tears drying on her damp cheeks as she leans back against my car. "I know the truth, right?"

"Right." I smile into a kiss. "You know how much he loved you, Eliza. Your mom? She can go to hell."

"I don't think even hell would want her." My fiancé sighs as I rest my forehead against hers. "I don't know how dad lived with her all these years."

"Because he loved her." My thumb grazes Eliza's bottom lip. "He loved you both regardless of how your mom felt."

"I'm going to miss him so much, Arizona." Her face nuzzles into the crook of my neck. "I won't hear his voice ever again…"

"I know, baby." My hand trails up and down her back, soothing her. "I know but in time, it gets easier." I press a kiss to her head. "It won't feel like it, but it does…I promise you."

"You won't ever leave?" Eliza pulls back and glances up at me, tears slipping freely down her face. "Promise me you won't ever leave me, Arizona…"

"I'm here until the end, beautiful." She fists her hand in the front of my shirt, holding onto me like I'm about to disappear from her life forever. "I'm so here until the very end…"

Thanks for reading, guys. Reviews are welcome and appreciated as always.