*Ruthie's POV*
"Ruthie, it's your turn." My mother told me as Simon walked back into the room. I had been dreading the moment when I would have to face my father. I was still angry, but how do you tell I dying man that you are mad at him? I nodded and slowly walked toward his room. After a moment I reluctantly opened the door and peeked inside. When I saw my father, I knew it would be even harder than I thought to say what was on my mind. He looked so weak and old. I had never seen him look so old.
"Ruthie," He whispered, raising his arm slightly. "Come here."
I took a deep breath and walked over to the side of his bed. "Dad, I'm still angry with you. I don't know if I can forgive you for lying to me. I want to, but I don't know if I can,"
Instead of getting angry like I had thought he would, he just shook his head and I saw tears in his eyes. "Ruthie, I'm so sorry. You're absolutely right, I shouldn't have lied. It's just that you're only 12 and I didn't know how you would handle it if I told you think truth. Sometimes I forget how mature you are. Please forgive me,"
His plea made my stomach twist. He sounded desperate and anguished. How could I let him die feeling that way? "I forgive you," I whispered. "I love you dad."
"I love you, too Honey. I'm very proud of you. I want you to know that. You're so smart and mature for your age. You're so observant, you notice everything. Don't lose that. It will help you in life."
"I'll miss you so much," I began to cry. "Why do you have to leave now?"
"I don't know. Only God knows. He must have a reason. I just wish He could have given me a few more years."
*Robbie's POV*
"I'm going to get the twins. They need to say goodbye, too," Mrs. Camden announced. I wasn't really paying attention. I knew that when Ruthie got back it would be my turn to say goodbye. A minute or two after Mrs. Camden left, Ruthie came back, crying. I slowly walked out of the room without looking at anyone and made my way down the long hallway to Rev. Camden's room. As soon as I opened the door, I heard his voice, only it didn't sound like his.
"Robbie, please come here,"
I stepped up to the bed and almost gasped when I saw how pale he was. "Rev. Camden, I just want to thank you for letting me into your family and being a real father to me. I feel more at home with you guys than with my real family. You have been wonderful. And I understand that I'm going to have to move out. And I'm ok with that."
"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning. "You're moving out?"
"Well I just thought that money might be a little tight and Mrs. Camden wouldn't be able to afford…"
"No, Robbie, she would never kick you out. She loves you. Everyone does. I think of you as my son."
"I love you too. You're a much better father than mine could have ever been. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too. And don't ever feel like you aren't part of this family."
"Thanks, Rev. Camden."
*Kevin's POV*
After Robbie returned, I figured it was my turn. I tried to think of something to say on the way to his room, but couldn't. When I entered the room I walked over to Rev. Camden's bed. I looked at him, and thought of Lucy, and suddenly I knew just what to say. "Rev. Camden, I would like your permission to propose to Lucy."
"Of course you have my permission, Kevin. I can' think of a better man for my daughter. I only regret that I won' be there on your wedding day."
"Thank you, Sir. And thank you for allowing me to stay with you and your family."
"You're welcome, Kevin." I couldn't help think that this conversation sounded so polite and forced. But I wasn't sure how to change that. I just didn't feel very close to Rev. Camden.
"Uh, goodbye" I finally muttered after an awkward silence.
"Goodbye", he whispered.
*Lucy's POV*
As soon as Kevin walked back into the room, I flew into his arms. I had been crying uncontrollably since I had talked to my father and I needed someone to comfort me. My mom, who had just arrived with the twins stood up and cleared her throat. "I'm going to bring the twins in to say goodbye now. Then I'll bring them back out and let your father call Matt and Mary in private. Then I'll go say my goodbyes." I was amazed at how calm she sounded. I guess she was trying to be strong so the twins wouldn't see her break down and get scared.
When she received no response from us, she walked out of the room. We sat silently, waiting. Anticipating and dreading the moment when our mother would tell us that dad was gone. I almost wished he would hurry up and die already, as horrible as that sounded, but I couldn't take this. The waiting. It was 4:00 in the morning. Less that 24 hours ago we had brought my father here for a simple double bypass. Now he was dying. How could the doctors let that happen? Eventually we all lay down on the lumpy furniture, but I knew no one was asleep. No one wanted to miss the highly anticipated moment when we would be given the news that would change the rest of our lives. I don't know how long we waited, maybe 5 minutes, maybe 5 hours. At one point mom brought the twins back and they immediately fell asleep next to me on the couch.
I jumped when I heard the door open and turned to see my mother, tears streaming down her cheeks, an expression of pain on her face. "No," I whispered, without meaning to.
"He's gone," She cried, then broke into sobs. I felt my stomach twist and the blood drain from my face. If I hadn't been sitting down I would have fallen over. Tears began to stream down my face as I stood to hug my mother. We sat down together, sobbing and soon everyone had joined us on the couch. Despite the anguish I felt, I was somewhat comforted by the presence of my family. Knowing that they were going through the same thing as me lessened my pain. We weren't ashamed or embarrassed, no one was trying to hide the fact that they were crying. Even though it was a tragic time, I felt that our bond as a family had gotten stronger. For over an hour all eight of us stayed on that couch, hugging and crying, trying to make sense of our father's death.
Hope you liked that chapter. There will probably be one more. Thanks for the reviews!