Julie was already up and dressed by 7am, the funeral was to start at 10am.
She paced around in the library sipping coffee and talking to her
grandfather. She heard voices in the hall and tensed up, but soon relaxed
when she realized it was a few of her fellow ducks. She smiled when they
were led into the library.
"Fighting already this morning boys?" She asked stressing the s more like a z on boys.
"Hey you be the tie breaker Jules, is the east tuffer then the west or not in the NHL?" Goldberg asked taking a muffin off the table.
"The west is tuffer right Jules?" Charlie asked doing the same as Goldberg.
She smiled and shook her head. "Actually I'm going to have to agree with Charlie, Goldie."
"But...." Goldberg started but was cut off by Charlie then Julie.
"Ha! I told you!" Charlie smiled.
"You have to be honest Goldie, the western conference teams are built fast and tuff. There are maybe only two or at the most three teams in the east that could survive in the west. It's just well, ruffer, tuffer and a lot more violent in the west. Which might be why more teams have won the Stanley Cup from the west lately then the east." Julie shrugged at a thoughtful Goldberg.
"I'll have to think about that." Goldberg decided sitting down on a sofa.
"Oh!" Julie suddenly exclaimed and turned to her grandfather.
"Grampie you haven't met these two. This is Charlie Conway and Greg Goldberg. Guys, this is my grandfather." She smiled.
"Nice to meet you sir." Charlie and Goldberg said in unison.
"Pleasure to meet you kids." Her grandfather smiled then continued. "Where are the rest of the ducks?"
"On their way down." Charlie smiled.
"Good I'll have to thank my new partner in crime for his assistance yesterday." He smiled at Julie as she shook her head.
"New partner in crime?" Goldberg asked
"That would be me." Portman said walking in. "It was no problem sir." He nodded at her grandfather.
"Thank you all the same." He nodded in return then as he rose to stand; he patted Julie on the back before speaking again. "I'm going to go check on the horses working this morning. You should come down and watch them for a bit dear, you used to be the best judge of horses I've ever seen."
"Yeah I might do that, I miss being trackside in the morning." She smiled and watched him walk out of the room.
"What exactly do the horses work on? The plow or something?" Averman asked stuffing a donut in his mouth.
"More like racehorses. Working meaning working out, you know like you're supposed to do over the summer but never do?" She smirked and took a sip of her coffee.
"Man Jules, you guys have racehorses also?" Guy asked.
"Yep we do, most of the stable is down south in Florida and in California. But the ones who run in New York and Canada are stabled here for right now." She answered with a smile.
"That's cool!" Connie smiled.
Julie nodded then turned her attention to the doorbell that had just rang threw the hall. She got a knot in her stomach something she was sure would happen a lot during the day. But once the man walked threw the door she instantly relaxed. The dark hared man made his way in then promptly broke into a grin then whistled.
"Wow, who knew it!" He commented.
"Who knew what?" She asked giggling, as the ducks looked from him to her and back again as if watching a tennis match with wonder.
"That my sister was such a beauty!" He replied then swept her up in a huge hug.
"You still need to get your eyes checked Daniel." She laughed hugging him back.
"No I don't, and you still need to get an ego!" He smiled putting her back down on her feet.
"Whatever!" She quipped then turned him around. "Daniel meet the ducks! And ducks meet my real brother, Daniel Nolan." She smiled up at him bigger then any of the ducks had ever seen her smile before.
"Nice to finally meet you guys. Jules rarely speaks of anything else!" He laughed.
She spent the next little bit introducing each of the ducks to him then sat around talking about hockey till one of the butlers came in and announced the cars were there to take the family to the funeral home. Julie crinkled her nose a bit then looked over at Daniel.
"You mind if I beg a ride with you? I don't want to be in a small car with those people." She asked bating her eyes for good measure.
"Save the begging routine I've already told your grandfather I'd be taking the both of you there. And you are to stay by my side anyway threw the day, don't ask why for yet. Everything will be clear by this afternoon ok?" He stated glancing over at the door noticing Alex standing there.
Alex said nothing but gave Daniel a slight questioning look before regaining his stuffy air and walked out.
"Such a warm welcome, I've truly missed him." Daniel said seriously.
Everyone was silent for a moment then burst into laughter. Julie got up and said her goodbyes to the ducks knowing she'd see them at the funeral soon. She was putting her coat on thinking about how to ever thank them for being there.
"I'll think of something." She said softly.
"Something for what?" Her grandfather asked coming up from behind and helped her with her coat.
"Oh just to show the team how much it means to me they came." She remarked finishing with the buttons.
"I'm sure they know already, if not you'll think of something." He smiled then offered her his arm as they went down the stairs. They rode mostly in silence towards town. She got more and more uneasy the closer they got. Somehow threw this all she'd managed to almost fool herself about the real reason she was back home.
She knew she was setting herself up for a major break down forcing the truth to the back of her mind, but she'd done it anyway. Mind over matter was her official catchphrase of the moment. But she knew that was about to come to an end, she'd not wanted to see her father like that which is why she'd refused to go and see him before now. But as they pulled up and started into the church her confidence and strength started to fail her.
She walked into the old church and tried to reaffirm herself to being tuff. She wanted to be tuff to help her grandfather threw this, he was afterall his son. He'd always helped her threw things now it was her turn she reasoned. Her grandfather soon began to talk with an old business friend who had arrived early. He introduced Julie and the man then went on talking while she stood silently beside them. She tried her best not to look to the front of the church but she kept taking glances that way, hoping each time she wouldn't see what was there. She felt an arm around her shoulders and didn't look up.
"Do you want to go and see him Jules?" Daniel asked softly.
She nodded yes slowly after a minute of silence. He excused them from the conversation and with a glance at her grandfather he led her slowly up the aisle. She took a ragged breath halfway there and refused to look up from her feet as they walked. Their strides as slow as they were finally led them to the front and to reality for Julie. She took another slow jerky breath then finally tried to force her eyes upwards. She failed a few times but the reassuring presence of Daniel at her side finally convinced her to look up.
He looked like he always had blonde hair in perfect place, in his favorite deep blue suit, handsome and distinguished still every bit the gentleman he was. She sighed softly knowing it was sinking in, and she did well till she noticed the tie he was wearing.
"The tie." She spoke almost robot like. Daniel looked at it then back at her.
"What about it?"
"I gave him that when I was 5. It's so old and worn, but he always wore it. It's not even that pretty." She spoke a bit more shaken then before. He nodded saying nothing but knew it was the starting point to her breaking down. He watched the valiant attempts she put up not to cry but it was pointless.
She felt dizzy and sick, her knees then began getting weak but she couldn't stop them or ask for help before she began to slide towards the floor. Daniel held on to her as she went down then sat there holding her in his arms as the first sobs shook her. She muttered various things as she cried heavily, all the while Daniel did his best to comfort her while trying to control his own emotions.
Neither cared that more and more people had arrived they stayed where she'd fell. Her grandfather walked to the front and dropped his head. He stood there for a few minutes in silent prayer for not only his son but also for his granddaughter. Behind them her mother and brother stood greeting people, not truly caring about the scene in the front of the church, unless someone mentioned it then of course they'd say caring and loving things but meant none of them.
The ducks came in and all ignored them, that is except Portman and Fulton who sent chilling stares at them both but mostly towards Alex. Alex in returned refused to show it but he was disturbed by it none the less. They walked further in and noticed where their teammate had fallen.
"Jules." Connie said softly wiping tears away, then grabbed onto Guy's arm.
They all felt horrible knowing she'd finally cracked Portman more then the rest knowing how her mother and brother truly felt about her. He wanted to rush to her side but knew she was well taken care of and they would all have time with her later. Instead he took the seats they were led too, but none of them ever took their eyes off her. She finally started to calm down somewhat and was again able to breathe.
"I got your coat sleeve wet." She said almost inaudibly. Daniel smiled slightly and moved a strand of her hair.
"Don't worry about it."
She sighed and nodded slightly then finally lifted her head and looked weakly up at him then her grandfather standing behind them. She took a few more breaths and was about to get up when her mother and brother arrived at the front.
"If you're done making a spectacle of yourself Julie you need to move." Alex spoke harshly.
Daniel and her Grandfather started to jump on him but they were beaten to it.
"I'm not making a spectacle of myself, my emotions unlike yours are not for other people's benefit." Julie spoke with mounting force.
"Just try to calm down Julie honey." Her mother spoke sweetly trying to save face.
"Oh I'm so sorry mother, I forgot this is your show. Heaven forbid I mourn for my father!" She yelled her voice cracking slightly. Her mother flinched and Alex glared as she with help began to stand.
"Enough Julie." Alex said warningly.
"Shut up Alex, shut up or leave. You both don't even care about him, only reason you're here is to be center of attention and I'm sick of it." She took her grandfather's arm and glared at them before going to sit on the side of the church. Daniel gave Alex a daring stare then went to sit on the other side of her. She sat down and closed her eyes trying to regain some control. She opened them again after the choir's sound filled the air.
"I'm sorry I snapped like that." She said apologetically.
"It's fine angel, you have every right to." Her grandfather responded putting his arm around her as she laid her head on his shoulder. She made it threw the service with her head still on his shoulder and holding Daniel's hand. She felt so weak by the time they arrived at the cemetery she had to have help walking. She'd asked for a single tiger lily to be there, since tiger lily was her father's nickname for her. She found it and held on to it till after more words and prayers. Then as everyone began to leave she found the strength to walk over to the casket on her own and haulted beside it.
"I wish you'd have told me daddy, but I understand why you didn't. "She paused a moment twirling the flower in her hand. "I'm not sure what to say. Only thing I guess is I love you daddy, and it won't truly be life without you. I know I have to go on and try to live or else I'll be in big trouble when I get up there." She smiled and glanced upwards.
"And I don't like to disappoint you, so you have my word whatever life gives me I'll take it and make you proud. I'll keep my promise on that and what you always asked me growing up." She placed the flower on the casket then softly kissed her hand and placed it on the casket by the flower then whispered. "I'll never let anyone break my spirit. I'll always fight for what is right and what my heart tells me, just like you wanted." She smiled threw the tears and started to leave, she stopped halfway back to her grandfather and Daniel before turning back and choked out one final sentence.
"I won't say goodbye daddy. Cause its not." Her bottom lip quivered and more tears fell as she turned back and slowly made her way back towards the car.
She didn't know then but her promise and spirit would soon be severely tested.
"Fighting already this morning boys?" She asked stressing the s more like a z on boys.
"Hey you be the tie breaker Jules, is the east tuffer then the west or not in the NHL?" Goldberg asked taking a muffin off the table.
"The west is tuffer right Jules?" Charlie asked doing the same as Goldberg.
She smiled and shook her head. "Actually I'm going to have to agree with Charlie, Goldie."
"But...." Goldberg started but was cut off by Charlie then Julie.
"Ha! I told you!" Charlie smiled.
"You have to be honest Goldie, the western conference teams are built fast and tuff. There are maybe only two or at the most three teams in the east that could survive in the west. It's just well, ruffer, tuffer and a lot more violent in the west. Which might be why more teams have won the Stanley Cup from the west lately then the east." Julie shrugged at a thoughtful Goldberg.
"I'll have to think about that." Goldberg decided sitting down on a sofa.
"Oh!" Julie suddenly exclaimed and turned to her grandfather.
"Grampie you haven't met these two. This is Charlie Conway and Greg Goldberg. Guys, this is my grandfather." She smiled.
"Nice to meet you sir." Charlie and Goldberg said in unison.
"Pleasure to meet you kids." Her grandfather smiled then continued. "Where are the rest of the ducks?"
"On their way down." Charlie smiled.
"Good I'll have to thank my new partner in crime for his assistance yesterday." He smiled at Julie as she shook her head.
"New partner in crime?" Goldberg asked
"That would be me." Portman said walking in. "It was no problem sir." He nodded at her grandfather.
"Thank you all the same." He nodded in return then as he rose to stand; he patted Julie on the back before speaking again. "I'm going to go check on the horses working this morning. You should come down and watch them for a bit dear, you used to be the best judge of horses I've ever seen."
"Yeah I might do that, I miss being trackside in the morning." She smiled and watched him walk out of the room.
"What exactly do the horses work on? The plow or something?" Averman asked stuffing a donut in his mouth.
"More like racehorses. Working meaning working out, you know like you're supposed to do over the summer but never do?" She smirked and took a sip of her coffee.
"Man Jules, you guys have racehorses also?" Guy asked.
"Yep we do, most of the stable is down south in Florida and in California. But the ones who run in New York and Canada are stabled here for right now." She answered with a smile.
"That's cool!" Connie smiled.
Julie nodded then turned her attention to the doorbell that had just rang threw the hall. She got a knot in her stomach something she was sure would happen a lot during the day. But once the man walked threw the door she instantly relaxed. The dark hared man made his way in then promptly broke into a grin then whistled.
"Wow, who knew it!" He commented.
"Who knew what?" She asked giggling, as the ducks looked from him to her and back again as if watching a tennis match with wonder.
"That my sister was such a beauty!" He replied then swept her up in a huge hug.
"You still need to get your eyes checked Daniel." She laughed hugging him back.
"No I don't, and you still need to get an ego!" He smiled putting her back down on her feet.
"Whatever!" She quipped then turned him around. "Daniel meet the ducks! And ducks meet my real brother, Daniel Nolan." She smiled up at him bigger then any of the ducks had ever seen her smile before.
"Nice to finally meet you guys. Jules rarely speaks of anything else!" He laughed.
She spent the next little bit introducing each of the ducks to him then sat around talking about hockey till one of the butlers came in and announced the cars were there to take the family to the funeral home. Julie crinkled her nose a bit then looked over at Daniel.
"You mind if I beg a ride with you? I don't want to be in a small car with those people." She asked bating her eyes for good measure.
"Save the begging routine I've already told your grandfather I'd be taking the both of you there. And you are to stay by my side anyway threw the day, don't ask why for yet. Everything will be clear by this afternoon ok?" He stated glancing over at the door noticing Alex standing there.
Alex said nothing but gave Daniel a slight questioning look before regaining his stuffy air and walked out.
"Such a warm welcome, I've truly missed him." Daniel said seriously.
Everyone was silent for a moment then burst into laughter. Julie got up and said her goodbyes to the ducks knowing she'd see them at the funeral soon. She was putting her coat on thinking about how to ever thank them for being there.
"I'll think of something." She said softly.
"Something for what?" Her grandfather asked coming up from behind and helped her with her coat.
"Oh just to show the team how much it means to me they came." She remarked finishing with the buttons.
"I'm sure they know already, if not you'll think of something." He smiled then offered her his arm as they went down the stairs. They rode mostly in silence towards town. She got more and more uneasy the closer they got. Somehow threw this all she'd managed to almost fool herself about the real reason she was back home.
She knew she was setting herself up for a major break down forcing the truth to the back of her mind, but she'd done it anyway. Mind over matter was her official catchphrase of the moment. But she knew that was about to come to an end, she'd not wanted to see her father like that which is why she'd refused to go and see him before now. But as they pulled up and started into the church her confidence and strength started to fail her.
She walked into the old church and tried to reaffirm herself to being tuff. She wanted to be tuff to help her grandfather threw this, he was afterall his son. He'd always helped her threw things now it was her turn she reasoned. Her grandfather soon began to talk with an old business friend who had arrived early. He introduced Julie and the man then went on talking while she stood silently beside them. She tried her best not to look to the front of the church but she kept taking glances that way, hoping each time she wouldn't see what was there. She felt an arm around her shoulders and didn't look up.
"Do you want to go and see him Jules?" Daniel asked softly.
She nodded yes slowly after a minute of silence. He excused them from the conversation and with a glance at her grandfather he led her slowly up the aisle. She took a ragged breath halfway there and refused to look up from her feet as they walked. Their strides as slow as they were finally led them to the front and to reality for Julie. She took another slow jerky breath then finally tried to force her eyes upwards. She failed a few times but the reassuring presence of Daniel at her side finally convinced her to look up.
He looked like he always had blonde hair in perfect place, in his favorite deep blue suit, handsome and distinguished still every bit the gentleman he was. She sighed softly knowing it was sinking in, and she did well till she noticed the tie he was wearing.
"The tie." She spoke almost robot like. Daniel looked at it then back at her.
"What about it?"
"I gave him that when I was 5. It's so old and worn, but he always wore it. It's not even that pretty." She spoke a bit more shaken then before. He nodded saying nothing but knew it was the starting point to her breaking down. He watched the valiant attempts she put up not to cry but it was pointless.
She felt dizzy and sick, her knees then began getting weak but she couldn't stop them or ask for help before she began to slide towards the floor. Daniel held on to her as she went down then sat there holding her in his arms as the first sobs shook her. She muttered various things as she cried heavily, all the while Daniel did his best to comfort her while trying to control his own emotions.
Neither cared that more and more people had arrived they stayed where she'd fell. Her grandfather walked to the front and dropped his head. He stood there for a few minutes in silent prayer for not only his son but also for his granddaughter. Behind them her mother and brother stood greeting people, not truly caring about the scene in the front of the church, unless someone mentioned it then of course they'd say caring and loving things but meant none of them.
The ducks came in and all ignored them, that is except Portman and Fulton who sent chilling stares at them both but mostly towards Alex. Alex in returned refused to show it but he was disturbed by it none the less. They walked further in and noticed where their teammate had fallen.
"Jules." Connie said softly wiping tears away, then grabbed onto Guy's arm.
They all felt horrible knowing she'd finally cracked Portman more then the rest knowing how her mother and brother truly felt about her. He wanted to rush to her side but knew she was well taken care of and they would all have time with her later. Instead he took the seats they were led too, but none of them ever took their eyes off her. She finally started to calm down somewhat and was again able to breathe.
"I got your coat sleeve wet." She said almost inaudibly. Daniel smiled slightly and moved a strand of her hair.
"Don't worry about it."
She sighed and nodded slightly then finally lifted her head and looked weakly up at him then her grandfather standing behind them. She took a few more breaths and was about to get up when her mother and brother arrived at the front.
"If you're done making a spectacle of yourself Julie you need to move." Alex spoke harshly.
Daniel and her Grandfather started to jump on him but they were beaten to it.
"I'm not making a spectacle of myself, my emotions unlike yours are not for other people's benefit." Julie spoke with mounting force.
"Just try to calm down Julie honey." Her mother spoke sweetly trying to save face.
"Oh I'm so sorry mother, I forgot this is your show. Heaven forbid I mourn for my father!" She yelled her voice cracking slightly. Her mother flinched and Alex glared as she with help began to stand.
"Enough Julie." Alex said warningly.
"Shut up Alex, shut up or leave. You both don't even care about him, only reason you're here is to be center of attention and I'm sick of it." She took her grandfather's arm and glared at them before going to sit on the side of the church. Daniel gave Alex a daring stare then went to sit on the other side of her. She sat down and closed her eyes trying to regain some control. She opened them again after the choir's sound filled the air.
"I'm sorry I snapped like that." She said apologetically.
"It's fine angel, you have every right to." Her grandfather responded putting his arm around her as she laid her head on his shoulder. She made it threw the service with her head still on his shoulder and holding Daniel's hand. She felt so weak by the time they arrived at the cemetery she had to have help walking. She'd asked for a single tiger lily to be there, since tiger lily was her father's nickname for her. She found it and held on to it till after more words and prayers. Then as everyone began to leave she found the strength to walk over to the casket on her own and haulted beside it.
"I wish you'd have told me daddy, but I understand why you didn't. "She paused a moment twirling the flower in her hand. "I'm not sure what to say. Only thing I guess is I love you daddy, and it won't truly be life without you. I know I have to go on and try to live or else I'll be in big trouble when I get up there." She smiled and glanced upwards.
"And I don't like to disappoint you, so you have my word whatever life gives me I'll take it and make you proud. I'll keep my promise on that and what you always asked me growing up." She placed the flower on the casket then softly kissed her hand and placed it on the casket by the flower then whispered. "I'll never let anyone break my spirit. I'll always fight for what is right and what my heart tells me, just like you wanted." She smiled threw the tears and started to leave, she stopped halfway back to her grandfather and Daniel before turning back and choked out one final sentence.
"I won't say goodbye daddy. Cause its not." Her bottom lip quivered and more tears fell as she turned back and slowly made her way back towards the car.
She didn't know then but her promise and spirit would soon be severely tested.
