CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE:
I release a long, loud piercing cry with irritation. Damn this zipper. Why did I agree to get dress? Giving up on the zipper I continue to look at myself in the mirror. I gaze at the pale, brown haired girl gazing back at me.
"Do you need help?" Christian asks and I nod my head. He gets closer to me and helps me zip up my black dress--The one he had bought for me, for my mother's funeral. It's beautiful with long sleeves and lace. My mother would of had loved it.
Christian kisses my neck before he steps back and I catch him looking at me through the mirror. "Thank you." I shyly say.
"You look beautiful." he says as he pulls me closer to him by my waist. I finally gaze at him and he is looking very handsome. He is wearing a black suit with a simple white dressy shirt and black tie. I love how confident he has become. He no longer hides his face from me and is willing to go in public. He has changed for me and I want to do the same for him.
"You look very handsome." I grab his arms and tightly wrapped them on me. I'm so thankful he's here with me.
He smiles at me and kisses my temple, "How about you finish getting ready. We need to leave soon."
I nod my head and he retrieves his arms from my waist, "Wait, Christian-"
He turns around and looks surprised, "Yes?"
"Thank you for being here for me." I truthfully tell him, "I love you."
Without hesitation he comes back to where he was standing near me and crashed his lips on mine. When he finally pulls away we are both out of breath, "I love you Anastasia and I will always be here for you, you know that right?"
I nod my head truly knowing he would. After being through this with me I know nothing will stand between us. I know we still need to figure out our issues but for right now I'm thankful for his company and compassion.
I hold Christian's hand as we enter the funeral home. A lot of people have showed up to say goodbye to my mother and I suddenly feel like leaving.
I try to let go off Christian's hand but he holds mine tight as if he knows what I'm about to do.
"Everything will be alright love." he squeezes it a little and then brings it up to his lips and plants a kiss on it.
I nod my head hoping he is right, but I'm counting the minutes until I can leave and not have to be around people.
I finally let myself look at the room and realize that Christian has bought a lot of white lilies which were my mother's favorite flowers. She would of had loved them. I take a deep breath before I let myself break down in tears.
"Come on let's go take our seat." Christian leads us to the front of the room and to the first road of chairs.
"Christian, where is my dad?" I ask him looking around needing to know he is okay.
Christian looks at me with pain in his eyes, "He didn't want to come."
"What?" How could he not want to be here?
"I think we need to find your father help." he tells me, "He has been drinking for days."
"I need to see him." I tell him and he nods his head. The room starts to go quiet and I know the funeral is starting. I grab Christian's hand again and prepared myself for this.
~•~•~
Ace of Clubs is a small bar in a dangerous part of Chicago. I hold on to Christian's hand as we make our way into the bar.
My eyes gaze around the room looking for my dad and my heart breaks when I find him. He is sitting on one of the bar stools in the bar isle and his head is down resting on his arms. He looks dirty and tired.
"We need to take him out of here." I tell Christian and he agrees with me.
I begin to walk towards him and stand beside him. "Dad." I call to him, but he is too out of it. I touch his shoulder and that makes him freak out.
"Who the fuck is touching me?" he yells.
"Dad it's me Anastasia."
"Anastasia?" he says my name and now he is finally looking at me. "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to take you home Dad." I go to touch his arm to help him up, but he yanks it out of my hold.
"don't touch me. I'm not going anywhere." he screams at me.
"Dad you need help." I tell him but he isn't having it.
He stands up and that makes Christian pull me closer to him. Like he is afraid my father will hurt me.
"LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE." He screams and begins to walk away. I follow him and that just makes him angrier. "I never want to see you again. You remind me of her too much."
My heart breaks as I hear him say that. I don't follow him anymore. He walks to the bathrooms and I rush into Christian's arms. "Get me out of here please." I tell him and he does just that.
When we are out of the bar and walking back to the car Christian stops me. "You know he didn't mean that right?"
I nod my head wiping my tears, "but it doesn't mean it didn't hurt."
Christian once again takes me into his arms, "I think it's time we get out of here."
I look at him, "I thought that's what we were doing?"
"I mean, I think you should come with me to London for a few days and get some distance."
I stay quiet for a bit contemplating it. Perhaps space could give me the clarity I need. "I think that's a great idea." I weakly smile at him.
A/n: Please comment
