"David? Could you zipper my dress, please? Penelope's still in the shower, and I want to finish getting ready now."
He looked over his shoulder in the mirror, seeing Erin standing in the doorway to the bathroom that he was using, holding the neckline of her dress against her chest as she looked at him. Nodding, he finished adjusting his tie and then turned to her, waving Erin over to his side. She gave him a fleeting smile as she walked over to his side before turning her back to him, showing that she had managed to get the zipper halfway up her back before giving up. "This is a lovely dress," he murmured as he gently tugged the tab up her back, the sound of the zipper closing filling the suddenly too quiet room.
"I wore it to Haley's funeral. I don't like wearing all black, it washes me out, but there are certain niceties you have to abide by when it comes to events like these." Dave rested his hands on Erin's shoulders, letting out a puff of breath when she leaned back against his chest, her head lolling against his shoulder a little. "I didn't sleep well last night. Mom means well, and I know that she charmed you and Penelope, but then you both left me along with her, and it was just too much. I, I hope that she understands why you and Penelope will be sitting with me in the family pew today, because I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you both by my side."
Turning in his arms, Erin leaned up and pressed a tender kiss to his cheek before turning on her heel and rushing from the room. Dave knew that she was feeling a little too out of control, and needed to be back in a safe space, and he completely understood that, having felt much the same way after Haley's murder. Shaking his head a little, he turned back to the mirror and slicked his hand over his hair, straightening it a little before taking a deep breath and making his way out of the bathroom and going down to the kitchen, knowing that they would need to eat a little bit before heading to the church.
Going to the fridge, he gathered eggs and bread, deciding to make French toast for them. As he was getting that underway, he heard feet on the tile of the kitchen, and from the scent of perfume in the air, he knew that it was Erin. "If you want to set the table for us, we have enough time to eat before we head out this morning."
"That's good," she replied listlessly, and his heart lurched a little in his chest. This was already difficult for her, and the worst was yet to come. "Penelope was just starting to put on her makeup when I came down, so she should be here in about twenty minutes. That's usually how long it takes her to apply it, at least."
"That's when I'm doing a full work face, Lambie. Today, it's not about adding sunshine and rainbows to the world, it's about honoring the lives of your family." He glanced over his shoulder to see that Penelope was just entering the kitchen, looking lovely and subdued. "And French toast sounds delicious. I can start the coffee for us, so I'm not the only one doing nothing."
Dave nodded and then gave Penelope a small wink as she hip checked him by the stove. "That would be wonderful, Kitten. Thank you." She nodded before kissing his cheek lightly and beginning the coffee. The scents of breakfast filled his lungs, and he smiled lightly as he began to hum a little as they continued to work in tandem to get their tasks accomplished. "All right, I'll be playing chauffer this morning, since I know that it will be difficult for either of you to focus right now, so it will be my pleasure to do that for you. I've already arranged with the director of the funeral home for us to have a limo to ride in for the graveside service, which will then bring us back to the church once that is over. Are there any other last minute details that you think I've missed, Erin?"
"No, I think that you and Penelope have taken care of everything, David. And I don't know where to begin thanking you for taking that from my hands. I know that Mom doesn't understand why I would allow you two to be so close to me, and why I didn't reach out to her and Daddy to get everything together. I couldn't tell her that I had made two very large mistakes in the aftermath of the news and that you were both the ones who saved me." Erin took a seat at the table and stared down at it, her lower lip trembling. "She doesn't know that the two of you are my closest friends that I have right now because my stint in rehab drove the remaining few away. So you see, you're both my lifeline right now, and it makes sense that you would be the ones who keep me here and help me plan."
Dave set a plate down in front of her before curling his hand around her shoulder, allowing his warmth to bleed into her as he struggled to think of something to say in response, finding words failing him in that moment. Penelope threw him a desperate look, too, and he shook his head a little, trying to think of a way to make it all better. "Neither of us will abandon you, Erin. I can promise you that. And even if things get tougher than this horrible day, that won't drive us from you. I promise." He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her head before going back to the counter and grabbing the other two plates, handing one to Penelope before taking a seat next to Erin. He wasn't surprised when the woman scooted her chair closer to his side, resting her arm against his as she ate with the opposite hand, as if she needed the constant contact to ground her to the present.
"Did you have a chance to write out what you wanted to say at the graveside service?" Penelope asked kindly as she started to eat, giving Erin a soft, open, look.
"I did, after Mom went back to the hotel, I just have to remember to grab the paper before we leave. I don't know if I'll be able to read what I wrote without crying, though."
"I think that everyone will understand if you do, though." Penelope reached across the table and caressed Erin's hand as it hovered over her plate. "Erin, please, know that we're here for you all the way, no matter how difficult it gets. Friends who abandon you at a time like this were never true friends. Even if people are only just finding out about it, since the obituaries did not go live until the morning edition of today's paper." Penelope rubbed her hand once more before sliding it back over to her side and continuing to eat.
"I asked the Director to come today, just so you know, Erin. He has been asking after you, and wanted to pay his respects. I thought it would be a nice gesture."
"That is very kind of him, yes." Erin glanced over to give him a fleeting smile, and he returned it before they all fell quiet to finish eating. Penelope cleared the table when they were finished, and he relaxed back in his seat as he nursed his coffee, his eyes staring ahead at nothing. "I'll be right back," Erin murmured as she got up, and he nodded absently as she exited the room.
Once she was gone, Penelope came back over to his side, taking Erin's place and resting her head on his upper arm. "You should have spent the night in the master bedroom with us, Dave. I know, that floor has to be killing your back, but it was rough. I don't think she realizes just how troubled her sleep was. She pushed me out of bed at one point, and that hurt, let me tell you. If you have been there, I think she would have calmed down a little quicker. You soothe her in a way that I can't, and while I can't say that I approve of this attraction between the two of you, as it is far too soon for her to be growing attached to anyone, but I can recognize when she needs to be comforted."
"I'm not trying to rush her into anything, Kitten."
"I know that, and I know that it's happening organically, but I just need you, at least, to be careful with her heart. After I lost my parents, after I went underground, my head was turned by Shane, and I allowed myself to be subsumed by his personality, because the grief was just so raw and he made it better. It took me too long to come around to the idea that I didn't need him to stand on my own. I would rather she knew that she can move forward on her own, with our support, rather than constantly looking for you to fix everything. And before you say it, I know that I'm being overbearing. You ask Derek about that, because I gave him relatively the same advice when he started seeing Tamara Barnes. I love all three of you too much to see you get hurt by something that could easily be avoided."
He nodded as he turned to look at her, seeing that she was near tears. "Oh, Kitten, I know that you care about us, that's your heart. Come here," he said holding out his arms. She leaned in and hugged him tightly, drawing in deep breaths in an effort to keep from crying. Feeling eyes watching then, he turned his head to see Erin standing in the doorway, a pensive look on her face that left him wondering just how much of their conversation she had heard, knowing that there wasn't time to get into that now, as they were already cutting time a bit too fine for his liking. "Are you all set, Erin?"
"I think so. Maybe." He nodded and gently pushed Penelope away from him so that they could get to their feet and head out to the car, knowing that this drive would be both long and tiring, his thoughts fully on Erin and her grief. "Before, before we leave though, would you both pray with me? I know that there's going to be a formal prayer with everyone before we're escorted into the sanctuary, but…"
"Of course," he said as he held his hands out to Penelope and Erin, knowing that there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for Erin at this point.
