*Lucy's POV*
Just as I walked into the house after work, the phone started to ring. I hurried over to it, hoping it would be Matt again. I was eager to find out what was going on with Mom. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's me." Matt answered
"How is she? Did she see the psychiatrist?"
"Yeah, I just brought her home. I think it helped a lot. She didn't say much on the ride home, but she didn't look as sad. The doctor gave her a prescription for anti-depressants, and he wants to see her twice a week. She called the high school, and they hadn't filled her job yet, so she got it back. She's only going to teach a few times a week, though, because the doctor said she should take it easy."
"Wow. That's great." I said, but I felt sort of jealous. I had been trying to bring the family back together for over a month and hadn't succeeded, but Matt had in only a few hours. "So, do you want me to come home?" I asked, hoping he would say yes. I hadn't realized how much I missed being needed by my family.
"Well, I don't think they need you. I'm going to stay for a week or so. Mom doesn't have to pay for the psychiatrist, my friend Doc took care of it. I talked to several church members, and they agreed to donate some money to help the family. We called Robbie, and he is going to move back in in a few weeks too. I wouldn't want to bother you when we're doing fine by ourselves."
We? I thought Until a week ago, I had been included in we, not Matt. He had left us, and now he was taking over. "Ok, great." I said, in a fake cheerful voice. We talked for a few more minutes before hanging up.
Did they really not need me anymore? After all I had done for them, they didn't need me?
*Simon's POV*
After two weeks of therapy, mom was acting a lot more like herself. It was almost like the whole family had been going, because the rest of us were starting to act normal too. After a long lecture from mom, Ruthie and I had started taking school seriously again. Luckily my teachers let me take re takes on the test and quizzes I had failed in the past month, because of the hard times we were going through. Matt had gone back home yesterday, and Robbie had moved back in. Everything was getting so much better so fast that it was hard to believe.
I was doing my homework when the doorbell rang. Since I was eager for a break, I jumped up and opened it, seeing Lucy on the steps. She had suitcases with her.
"What are you doing?" I asked
"Moving back in. I know you guys think you don't need me, and that Matt is some kind of genius for bringing the family back together, but you're wrong. Who do you think was trying to do the same thing for over a month? Just because Matt has some friends at the hospital does not mean that he should get all of the credit!" She looked angrier than I had ever seen her. Thinking back, I vaguely remembered her coming into my room everyday and asking about school, but I had ignored her. I guess she really had been trying.
"I'm sorry, Lucy. You're right. I guess the only reason we listened to Matt and not you was because by then we knew how hard it was to run the house by ourselves, and we would do anything so we wouldn't have to anymore. I'm really sorry."
"Thank you." She said, finally smiling, hugging me, and walking into the house.
*Annie's POV*
As I was getting ready for my counseling session, my door flew open, and I saw Lucy. "I want an apology right now." She demanded angrily. "For a month I was the only one in the house even trying to get on with my life. Robbie and I took care of everything! I talked to everyone and walked around smiling and happy all the time just trying to get you all to act like yourselves. Then Matt comes, gets you an appointment, and suddenly, he's the hero? What about all I did?"
"Honey, I'm so sorry." I said, reaching out to hug her. She was right. I had ignored her efforts and only thanked Matt because he was the one who had actually gotten the appointment. "I was just so depressed I didn't want to see anyone. I heard what you were saying to me, but I didn't really understand what was happening. You were the only one that did. We would have fallen apart long ago if it wasn't for you, and we appreciate it. Would you please move back in? I don't know if we can fully recover without you."
"Yes, I'd be glad to." She said, smiling at me.
*Lucy's POV*
One year. It had been exactly one year since my father had died. One long year. After the family had moved into a larger house, and mom had completely recovered from her depression, I had moved back with Kevin. I had two years of college left before I could become the new minister at Glen Oak community church, and I knew dad would be proud of me. Robbie was about to graduate from college, and he was going to be an elementary school teacher. He and his new girlfriend were moving into their own house a few minutes away, but we would still see him often. Simon was a senior in high school now and had gotten early acceptance from the University of Arizona. He would be moving in with our grandfather and Ginger while he attended school. Ruthie was doing so well in school that her teachers suggested that she move up a grade, so she was now a freshman in high school even though she had just turned 13. The twins had starting kindergarten, and loved it. Mom was doing much better. She had been promoted to principal at her school and was completely back to normal.
I was a little worried about how the family would handle the anniversary of Dad's death, but they seemed to be doing fine. Although we had switched to a new church after his death, I had been offered a chance to speak at our old one that Sunday, at a service in Dad's memory. I was both honored and terrified. I wasn't sure if I could keep from breaking down in front of the huge audience while talking about my father, but I had to try for him.
I walked up to the front of the church, and everyone became quiet. I nervously cleared by throat. "O-o-one" I began, then stopped, and took a deep breath. I saw my family, sitting in the seats we had always sat in. They all smiled encouragingly. Being in this church, where my dad had stood so many times before, made me feel so connected with him. It was like he was sitting with them, watching me. And he was smiling. As long as he was watching me, I would be ok. He would always be there with me, giving me the courage to go on. So I began to talk.
"One year ago, I lost my father, the greatest man I ever knew. He was the most loving, caring, thoughtful…"
*Finished*
What did you think? Was the ending stupid? Please review! Thanks!