A/N – I'm looking to wrap this story up soon. Our lovely ladies have had a long hard journey and they will be getting their official happy ending soon. Enjoy the last few chapters. REGINA'S VIEW.
Chapter 30: See You Again
"Okay. Come on then." I gave her hand a little tug and we started making our way up the stairs. And I had the feeling that tonight, when we went to bed, I would actually be holding my girlfriend as we go to sleep. I wouldn't be staying a foot away from her scared I would break her. I wouldn't keep myself up half the night thinking she was going to have a night terror and need me to calm her down. Tonight, it would be just her and me. Holding each other. And sleeping with each other in our arms.
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Daddy's funeral is tomorrow.
That's all I keep thinking about. Emma had been so amazing recently. She had been with me every step of the way. From all the lawyers. Funeral arrangements. Financial documents. She wouldn't leave my side through any of it. And Mr. Gold was so understanding. He made sure we were given financial support from the town bank. My Daddy's money was taking a while to come through due to all the arguments my Mother kept filling for in court. And Emma and I had taken time of work with no arguments from the hospital or the Sheriffs department. They were so understanding. And then there was my Mother. She was being put on trial for assault and it seemed over the years my Mother had done far more than any of us had ever thought.
People from all over town came forward with cases against my Mother. Blackmail. Theft. Fraud. She really had done it all. It wasn't long before it looked as though she was going to be put away forever. The judge on her case had asked me to take the stand and make a personal statement. At first, I panicked. But Emma was there. She held my hand through it all. When I took the stand the only question I was asked was,
"Miss Mills, in your own words. How would you describe your Mother, Ms Cora Mills?" I looked at the judge for a moment and thought. I looked back to Emma who sat in the front row of the seats. She gave me a small smile and I knew I could do this.
"My Mother…" I took another second. "My Mother is a highly unique woman. She has her own set of ways of doing things. She has her own set of morals in life." This needed to be done. But I never said it was going to be the easiest thing to do. "My Mother raised me to be a strong willed, independent woman. And she was successful in doing so. But the methods my Mother used to create me in such a way…" This was going to be the hardest statement to ever leave my lips. "My Mother beat me. She kept me confined to my room. Withheld meals from me. I did not have the normal childhood growing up." I was about to start crying. I had never admitted that to anyone other than Emma. I never imagined I would be admitting any of this to a room full of people I hardly ever spoke to. But here I was. Because I knew that the time had come. The time to stand up against my Mother and make her pay for the crimes she has done. "In one simple statement. My Mother is an abusive, volatile woman. She is manipulative. Controlling. She has no regard for the life of others." My voice was beginning to rise. The passion and anger I had held in for so long was finally spilling over. "She cares for no one other than herself. My Mother is one of the most, no, she is the most despicable person you will ever meet in your life. And if you ask me," I looked directly to my Mother who I had chosen not to look at since I walked into this room. And I saw the look on her face. And she knew she was finished. "My Mother needs to be locked away for the safety of everyone else."
And with that I was finally finished. I looked to the judge and he gave me a nod of the head. I started moving from the stand and made my way straight to Emma. She took me by the hand, and we walked straight out of the room without looking back. I couldn't look back. I know what I had just condemned my Mother to. But I needed to do it. She finally got what she deserved.
The only issue was that my Mother still had the right to attend Daddy's funeral. Which meant that tomorrow I would have to stand there and watch as my Mother played the grieving widow, when quite honestly, I still believe she aided in him getting so bad. She never cared for Daddy. Not a day in her life. And for that I could never forgive her.
Emma and I sat in the living room the night before Daddy's funeral. We had the fire going. I had poured us each a glass of apple cider. And we snuggled under the blanket together. Emma wrapped her arms around me, and I snuggled straight into her.
"Thank you." Was all I could muster out. It was hardly a whisper. But Emma wrapped her arms around me tighter and I knew she had heard me. "Thank you for being with me these past few weeks. I don't think I could have done any of this without you." I grabbed hold of her arm and snuggled myself down deeper into her.
"I will always be here for you. And I will be with you tomorrow. I will be right by your side. And I know tomorrow will be hard, but if there is one thing I can say for certain about your father, it's that he would want you to remember him as the man he was." I could already start to feel the tears swelling in my eyes. "Your Father was a special man. He was a joyous man. And he loved you. He loves you. And I say he loves you because he is still here." I couldn't hold the tears in anymore. Because everything she was saying was true. "I believe that he is with us always. He never left us. He just stays with us in a different way." Emma moved one of her hands and rested it over my heart. "He has stayed with you in here. He will never leave you." I was gone. I was a sobbing mess in my girlfriend's arms. But I knew she had me.
I took a deep breath trying to calm myself down, but it wasn't working. I knew what tomorrow was and I couldn't bear to even think of it. It broke me too much to think of it. But I knew I had to. I knew I had to accept the reality of tomorrow. And I would. As soon as I had gotten through tomorrow. Until then, I was just going to take it minute by minute. And remember to keep breathing. I couldn't cope with doing much else right now. My tears started to slow and relaxed again into Emma's arms. I didn't want to think about anything right now. I just wanted to enjoy a night in alone with my girlfriend. It had been hard to be alone with her recently. No one wanted to leave me alone. They thought I would break. But I had Emma. And so long as I had Emma, I could never break. I may me broken and fractured. But she held me together.
"Would you mind if we put a movie on? I just want to have a peaceful night with you before all the chaos and emotion of tomorrow." I turned and looked to Emma. I knew I probably looked like a complete mess. But I knew she of all people would understand. "Please." Emma gave me a gentle kiss on my head and picked up the remote. Turning on the TV I settled back down and decided I wouldn't think of anything tonight. I would just take the time to feel Emma around me. She flicked through the movie channel for a little bit when I saw one of my favourites. What Dreams May Come.
"Do you want to watch this one?" Emma hovered over the movie and I knew there was a reason I loved her.
"Please." She selected the movie and we settled down for the night. I wasn't sure which one of us drifted off to sleep first, but I know Emma had already set an alarm on her phone for the morning. So, I didn't care. We fell asleep together on the couch and I hadn't had such a peaceful night sleep in a long time.
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We pulled up to the graveyard. Emma sat with me until I was ready. And I didn't know if I would ever be ready. But when Emma took me by the hand, I knew I could do this. We climbed out of the car, and Emma was by my side before I even closed my door. As we walked down to the gravesite, people started turning and looking at me. The looks on their faces. Sympathy. Sadness. Sorrow for me. But I didn't recognise half of these faces. The other half I hadn't seen for years. But all I could think about was the amount of people who came to pay their respects to my Father. And I felt honoured to be his daughter.
The closer I got, the more my stomach got into knots. For two reasons. Firstly, I knew this would be my final goodbye to my Daddy and I really wasn't ready for that. I never wanted to say goodbye to my Daddy. But this would be the final time I got the chance. And secondly, I was about to see my Mother once again. She would be restrained. And she would have guards with her at all times. I wasn't scared to see her. I simply didn't want to. I didn't know if I could hold my tongue long enough to get through the ceremony. But for the sake of my Daddy I would do just that. So, I walked down to the site he would rest now forever.
Emma was the first to see my Mother. She gave my arm a gentle squeeze and it made me turn to look. I saw as she turned her head to look at me. She was wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, and a small part of me was proud to see her looking the way she did. She had no pride or respect for herself. And without any of that, my Mother was nothing. Seeing that made me feel stronger in myself. Emma and I walked over to our seats and sat down. But she never let go of my hand. And I never let go of hers. I don't think I would let go of Emma's hand all day.
Everyone gathered around and took their seats. The priest began his speech. I didn't register much of what he said. I heard parts of it, but I could tell it was just the standard service for him. He didn't really know who was being put in the ground. Everyone around me was crying. They had handkerchiefs to keep their makeup from running. Emma and I were the only two who sat there and just looked. Felt. And connected to what the funeral meant. It allowed you to feel the ones you loved. The ones you had lost. And the ones you were saying goodbye to. Being here didn't mean feeling sad or sorry for yourself. Or for others. Being here meant you gave your love and respect to the person that meant the most to you.
Once the priest finally finished, I stood up and I held the single rose in my hand. I looked over my Daddy's grave, and there was only one thing I could think to say.
"Do me a favour Daddy. Keep a spot warm for me until I see you again." I dropped the rose on top of the coffin, and with that, I had finally been able to say my last goodbye to my Daddy. I turned back around, and Emma stood there and held her hand out for me to take once more. Taking her hand, we walked past everyone as they made their way to the grave themselves. Tears in their eyes. I had nothing to say to any of them. Least of all my Mother who was waiting to be escorted back to the prison. As we climbed back into the car, I let out the breath I had been holding in all day. It was finally finished. I could finally let go.
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A/N – I know there wasn't much development in this chapter. But I felt it needed to be done. And I hope I did its justice. I found it incredibly difficult to write. No, I haven't been unfortunate enough to lose my Dad, but I did have to stand in the church and give a speech whilst I watched my Dad cry as we said goodbye to his Father. I was only 18 myself. And I remember it all so vividly. And what Regina says to her Daddy, is exactly what my Dad said to his Father. And it still makes me cry to this day. Please be kind in the reviews to this chapter as it holds a lot of meaning to my heart. Thank you.