Supermarket Flowers
Epilogue
a/n – This is the final chapter of the story, I can't believe we've finally come to the end and I want to thank you all profusely for sticking with me throughout the whole thing, I know it's been hard. As I mentioned earlier on in one of the author's notes, this fic is based on a true story. Everything you've read across these many chapters, I had to deal with in real life, a lot of the McCord children's reactions were my own, everything from Stevie not wanting to go home having therapy, to Jason breaking his X Box controllers out of uncontrolled rage sitting with his mum's body all night because he didnt want her to be alone, to Alison spending Christmas eve with her mum in the hospital meeting the nuns. Believe me when I say, therapy helps.
For this reason I want to dedicate this chapter to my absolute warrior of a mum, who sadly left us on July 26th 2019 – she fought hard every day and her sheer will and strength reminded me so much of Elizabeth McCord. One of her favourite shows when she was alive was Madam Secretary, so I thought a story like this would be a great way to honour her memory and let people experience her story. She passed away before she was able to see season 6, but I know that she would have absolutely loved it. Thanks for everything mum, you were an inspiration and I miss you every day.
As some of you have already guessed, this fanfic was named after the beautiful song by Ed Sheeran named Supermarket Flowers - if you haven't already heard it I recommend you all listen to it. The lyrics so perfectly explain in my opinion, how somebody feels when they lose their mother.
If you are suffering from cancer, or you have a relative/friend suffering from cancer, don't hesitate to send me a PM if you ever need somebody to talk to.
*Four Months Later*
The sun shone brilliantly down on Henry and his children as they slowly emerged from the car, stepping out onto the green grass lined with gravestones. Jason opened up the trunk and started to pull out the bunches of flowers they'd all picked out at the store to place on his mother's grave.
It'd been four months since she'd passed, every day still felt as hard as ever, but the emotional wound left behind didn't feel as raw. Henry examined the grave closely, happy with the fact that earth was finally beginning to settle. Soon he'd be able to plant grass seeds or lay down turf and make it look even more beautiful.
After four long months of waiting, the gravestone he'd had made for her had finally been installed at the graveside. Today was the first time any of them had seen it in the flesh. Beautifully carved into the shape of a heart, the stone stood at a tall four feet above the ground, etched into each side were two stone roses.
There were two pots at the base of the stone on either side, ready for flowers to be held in them. Jason handed some flowers over to Stevie and Alison and they set about arranging the flowers in the pots. Henry watched as they lay the flowers, he was immensely proud of his children. They were now the only part of Elizabeth that he had left, and he swore to protect them until they day he died.
Stevie stood back from the grave and drew closer to her father.
"It looks absolutely amazing, dad." She told him.
He didn't disagree, the stone was stunning, when the sun hit it, the silver flecks in the stone sparkled beautifully, he definitely had made the right choice. Etched upon the giant stone in golden letters, it read:
ELIZABETH ADAMS MCCORD
JUNE 21st 1968 – MAY 24th 2017
BELOVED WIFE, MOTHER SISTER
ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS
SHE LIKED EATING POPCORN AT REALLY WEIRD TIMES
He couldn't help chuckling to himself as he read through the final line, he couldn't lie, it described her perfectly. The four of them stood together all staring at the grave, there was a strange air of closure that came from seeing the gravestone finally sitting in place atop the grave.
Sensing the need to give their father some alone time, Stevie began to herd her siblings away from the grave. He watched after them.
"We'll be waiting in the car." Stevie said quietly, as she opened the passenger side door.
With the kids out of the way, Henry began to let go of the emotions he'd worked so hard to keep in lately. He had to be strong for his kids, but the pain was eating him alive.
"I miss you every day Elizabeth." He whispered.
"I don't know how to do this, I don't know how to live without you" He cried, staring longingly at the ground, he traced his fingers over the engraving of her name. Tears rolled down his face and fell on to the settled soil below the gravestone.
"I need to know how to live without you." He cried, choking back a sob.
The wind blew a little fiercer than before and he shivered, the sun had hidden behind a stray cloud. Slowly but surely he saw it, a tiny white feather floating slowly down in front of him, it landed gracefully on top of the gravestone, Henry gave a soft laugh. His mind recalled the letter he'd been given by Blake from Elizabeth, he remembered the words that she'd written, her beautiful handwriting, the words had been burned into his memory.
I will always be with you.