For a long time, Big Bob just sat beside his son's body, feeling completely drained. How was he supposed to tell Tina that she had lost her father almost exactly twelve hours after losing her mother? How were they supposed to tell poor Gene in the hospital? That bastard Jimmy Pesto had nearly wiped out an entire family with his decision to drink and drive. Finally Big Bob reached over and rolled his son's body closer to him. He had been distracted by Gene who had once run for a bottle of pills, then for a knife and then had tried to run in the street. They had known he needed the hospital but were trying to get them calmed down a bit. Hoping the transition would be easier if it had been Gene's idea. Though Dr. Elena did have 91 dialed on her phone just in case. Bobby was already gone by the time Big Bob got to him. If he hadn't of, been he would have at least tried to save his life. At least that's what he thought until he saw Bobby's face. For the first time in months his son was peaceful. Even lifeless his eyes shone in a way they hadn't since the accident and for the first time in months he had a genuine smile on his face. Big Bob held his boy in his arms, gently closing his eyes before completely falling apart. The door opened and Teddy stepped inside followed by Mort.
"Oh no, I am so sorry." Mort whispered knowing instantly what had happened.
"Is he?" Teddy asked.
"Yes Teddy, he is." Mort replied solemnly.
"But why? But how?" Teddy stammered.
"His body looks OK. I don't see any pills or weapons. I don't know." Big Bob replied.
"Well, we will have to call nine-one-one and they will do an investigation and he will go to the county for an autopsy but if I had to hazard a guess with the information at my disposal. I would say that he has suffered from a condition called "Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy" or in layman's terms "Broken Heart Syndrome. When a person goes through a significant loss or losses. It damages their heart. He basically had a grief induced heart attack." Mort explained.
"If I had been here. If any of us had been here. Could he have been saved?" Big Bob asked through tears.
"It's possible but like with any cardiac event even with medical treatment recovery is not always the case." Mort explained.
"It's weird though he looks so peaceful. Even though this is killing me, and I know it's going to destroy Tina and poor little Gene. I am almost glad to see him gone. He was never going to get better." Big Bob explained.
"Death can be strange like that." Mort agreed.
"Oh Bobby, it shouldn't be this way." Teddy whispered stroking his friend's arm.
"Oh, my sweet, baby boy. You didn't deserve to go this way. You didn't deserve to lose so much so young. God, I am so sorry. I know it's my fault you are gone. I failed you when you needed me most. If I'd been better, you would have coped better. You never would have yelled at Louise. Even if the accident still happened. It wouldn't have ruined your life. Linda wouldn't have left. You'd still be breathing when I talked to you. Instead of me holding your…. Oh Bobby." Big Bob cried finally breaking down/
"Hey you're not alone. I miss him already. He was my best friend." Teddy sobbed.
"He was a good man who loved his family. I know he wanted to live for Tina and Gene, but he just couldn't." Mort whispered.
As much as he hated to leave Tina and Gene. Bob was relieved to be dead. He had barely survived losing Louise. Then losing Linda with her still hating him. It was more than he could take. He hadn't wanted to end his life anymore but had resigned to death being his only escape. He had gathered the strength to grab Kuchi Kopi and one of Linda's porcelain babies. Before he collapsed on his bed and accepted his fate. Now he was walking along the shore. He could see his mom, Linda, and Louise.
"Oh Bobby" His mom called.
"Mom" Bob whispered.
"I am so sorry for the last months of your life." His mom apologized.
"You couldn't have known." Bob replied.
"Actually, one of the first things that happens up here. Is you see just how your family dies. It was hard knowing you would lose Louise and Linda so young. It was hard knowing you would get up here. Because I missed you so deeply, but I also wanted you to have those milestones I missed." His mom explained.
"Tina and Gene?" Bob gasped.
"They live long lives in spite of everything." His mom assured. "So do their spouses and children."
"Daddy!" Louise called.
"Louise! My baby. Oh, my baby." Bob whispered.
"I don't blame you for the accident. I hate Jimmy Pesto though and the people who let mom die, but I don't blame you. I wanted to tell you, but they wouldn't let me. All I could do was make sure it wasn't by your hand." Louise explained.
"Louise, I love you so much. I am so sorry." Bob apologized.
"Hey, it isn't your fault and I love you, too." Louise assured.
"Bobby, Oh Bobby I am so sorry." Linda cried.
"No, Lin I am sorry. Sorry for being so horrible to Louise. Sorry for not trying harder to help you." Bob apologized.
"No Bobby, this was all me. Losing Louise, it just broke my heart. I couldn't go on. I loved you; I really did but I just needed to numb the pain. Because it was so unimaginable, so overwhelming. I could not carry on." Linda explained.
"No Lin I was wrong." Bob assured.
"Hey, come on, let's not worry about it anymore. Let's just enjoy eternity." Louise suggested.
"Yeah Bobby" His mom agreed.
"Agreed." Linda replied.
"Sounds good." Bob agreed even though he dreaded leaving Tina and Gene forever.
Tina and Zeke clung to each other on her bed. It was getting late, and Zeke would have to return home before long but for now he was just trying to ensure Tina felt safe. The door opened once again, and Big Bob stepped inside followed by Teddy, Mort, and Dr. Elena. It was obvious that Big Bob and Mort had been crying. While Teddy was openly weeping. Dr. Elena had a grim expression on her face.
"What's going on? Is Gene OK?" Tina cried.
"Gene is OK, but Tina. Tina your dad. My Bobby. He's dead." Big Bob whimpered.
"What?! How?!" Tina cried.
"Mr. B is dead?" Zeke gasped.
"Losing your mom and all the stress that came from losing your sister. It was all too much for him and his heart. Just gave out." Big Bob explained through tears.
"But… But… But what's going to happen to me and Gene?" Tina wondered.
"I still have custody but there are some things I need to sort out." Big Bob explained.
"Is he still here? Can I see him?" Tina asked.
"Yes, we need to call the authorities, but I just am not ready. So yes, you can say goodbye really quick." Big Bob assured.
Tina stepped into her father's room. It was true. He really was dead. Slowly she approached the bed where he lay. She reached out and stroked his cheek. It wasn't icy but it was already cold. It just didn't seem fair. Why did she have to lose both parents and Louise? Why did Gene have to break down so badly they had to go to the hospital? Zeke stepped into the room behind her and placed his hand on top of Bob's. Big Bob, Teddy, Mort, and Dr. Elena all stood around the room with their heads bowed.
"I don't want to be an orphan." Tina whimpered.
Gene wept into their pillow. Therapy would begin in the morning. In fact, it would be a full day of treatments and therapies. All designed to make Gene forget they had lost their mom. They were still struggling to accept that Linda was dead. Didn't she love them anymore? Why did she have to take those drugs? Why would somebody be cruel enough to sell her drugs? They felt so alone, so lost, so broken.
"Mx. Belcher?" Gene's therapist called.
"I thought therapy wasn't until morning and I already had dinner." Gene commented.
"Gene this is not going to be easy to say and I am sorry it isn't coming from your grandfather or Teddy." Their therapist started.
"What isn't coming from my grandpa or Teddy? Where is my dad?!" Gene cried.
"Mx. Belcher I am sorry your dad passed away this evening." Their therapist apologized.
"I'm an orphan now?" Gene whimpered.
"I am sorry." Their therapist apologized.
It could not be happening. Gene could not be an orphan. How could Bob have died too? He was fine when Gene left. As fine as a new widower who had lost a child could be, but he was alive. How could he just die? What was going to happen to them now? Gene was screaming again and flailing around the room searching for something they could use as a knife. Something that could and would free them from the nightmare that was their life. The next thing Gene knew another doctor was restraining them. While their therapist shoved a needle into their butt. Gene let out one final cry before collapsing to the ground. The doctors lifted Gene back onto their bed and strapped them down.
The initial investigation was now complete, and Bob's body had been taken away for an autopsy. Now foul play was suspected, and the coroner seemed to agree with Mort's suspicions that Bob had succumbed to "Broken Heart Syndrome." The investigation was done, and the family had been cleared to return to the apartment. Except nobody and especially not Tina wanted to return. Instead, Big Bob had brought his granddaughter and one of the two surviving members of his family to his home. Returning for the first time since the accident. Tina had only a small bag of items including clothes for several days and reminders of the family she had lost. Big Bob got Tina settled in the guest room. Before walking down, the hall to Bobby's room. Which remained the same as it had since the day he had moved out. The old man sat on the bed and surveyed the room. He could not believe his son was gone. He had spent the last two years working desperately to mend their relationship. Though a good deal of the progress had only been made in Louise's death. There was still so much he had wanted to say. So many things he thought he would have time to say. How could he have been so ignorant? He heard Tina crying in the next room and his heart shattered all over again. What was going to happen to her and Gene? Yes, he had custody, but he was an old man who had ignored his health for the better part of forty years. He wanted to survive so Tina and Gene would have at least one family member present for their milestones, but he doubted that could or would happen. He wasn't even sure if he would make it until Gene graduated high school. The last thing in the world he wanted to do was leave those poor children orphaned twice.
Gayle was curled up in Mr. Frond's arms. She had spent the past several hours trying to reason with her parents, but they were not listening. She had lost her sister and now it was clear she was going to have to lose her parents as well. They were still alive, but it had become abundantly clear that she needed to severe ties with them. At least she still had Bob, Tina, and Gene. The phone rang. It was Teddy.
"Hello?" Gayle greeted.
"Gayle, it's Teddy." Teddy replied.
"Teddy? To what do I owe the pleasure?" Gayle asked.
"Firstly, I am so sorry about Linda." Teddy apologized.
"Secondly, Gayle I am sorry. So sorry, Bobby died tonight." Teddy explained.
"What?!" Gayle cried.
"He just couldn't take the grief." Teddy whispered.
Teddy turned the lights off and was heading for bed. He could not believe his only close friend was gone. Why was the world so unrelentingly cruel? There was a knocking on the door. Which he tried to ignore but the knocking soon turned to pounding. Still Teddy ignored the person at the door. He did not want to interact with anybody. Anybody besides Bobby, Lin, or sweet little Louise that is.
"TEDDY! IF YOU DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR, I AM CALLING 911!" Kathleen bellowed.
Sighing Teddy turned around and walked towards the door. He slowly turned the handle and ushered Kathleen inside. The Irish woman silently followed him over to the couch. Where they both sat.
"Oh Teddy, I am so sorry." Kathleen apologized.
"I really thought that they would survive." Teddy admitted.
"I did too, and I know saying they are at peace doesn't mean anything." Kathleen replied.
"Tina and Gene are orphans now. Bobby's dad has custody, but he isn't sure he can handle actually raising them. It was just supposed to be until Bobby got better. He was going to go to sign the papers to return them this week." Teddy explained through tears.
"So, what is going to happen to them?" Kathleen asked.
"He wants me to take custody. Besides him and Gayle. I am the only family they have left." Teddy explained.
"Gayle isn't interested?" Kathleen questioned.
"She is but she is not in condition to raise children." Teddy explained
"So, you are going to raise them?" Kathleen asked.
"I would like to. I just have to prove myself." Teddy sighed.
"You will do that easy." Kathleen assured.