Victor set the car in park as he came to a stop in the cemetery car park. It was late afternoon and the sky was just starting to turn. It wasn't very often that he came to the cemetery but today he was on a mission. He only hoped that Samantha had come as she said she would. He hadn't noticed any other cars in the car park, but maybe just maybe he would get his chance to apologise.
Samantha walked slowly to Martin's gravesite. She had been here a lot since his death, but today was a little more poignant. Today she had brought her son to see where his father now lay. She crouched down beside the headstone and ran her hand across the cold grey marble that held his name.
"Hey Martin, I know it's been a few weeks since I have been to talk to you, but you know why. I brought our son to see you. Martin I only wish you were alive to see him. He is beautiful, so much like you. Even your mom said so. I went to visit her today and try to explain myself. I hope she understood. Your father didn't seem to want to know. He is just looking for someone to take his anger out on and if that is me then I can live with that." She paused as she lifted Ben from his carrier. "This is Ben. Ben this is your daddy. Daddy may no longer be with us but he will always be here. Martin I know you were with me in the delivery room, I know that you saw your son being born, I only wish you could see him now. It's going to be hard bringing him out without you but hopefully I can do it."
"Of course you can." The deep voice startled Samantha. She turned to see Victor Fitzgerald standing behind her. "Samantha I hope you will give me the chance to explain and apologise."
"Sure." Her voice didn't sound so sure, but if Victor was willing to talk, then she was willing to listen.
Victor held his hand out to Samantha, who took it and gracefully got up. He led her to the bench that sat opposite Martin's grave. "Samantha I am so sorry for the way I reacted to you being in my home. I acted like a fool, not giving you the chance to tell me why you were there. I didn't give you the chance because I didn't want to. As you said to Martin, I needed to take my anger out on someone and unfortunately you were standing in my eye line at that moment in time." Victor paused, briefly pinching the bridge of his nose. "I haven't been dealing very well since Martin passed away. I have always wanted someone to blame. No one really understood the relationship I had with my son and I can't blame anyone but myself for that. I didn't mean it when I said you ruined Martin's life. You didn't, you made his life so much better. Watching him when he was with you was like watching a different person. He was so happy, so in love." Again Victor pinched the bridge of his nose. Samantha quickly swiped at a tear that threatened to fall. "Looking at the photographs from Christmas I couldn't help but feel jealous of you for having such a close relationship with him. It was the kind of relationship I had always wanted with him, but never had."
"I truly did love him Victor. I don't know how to live without him." Samantha admitted.
"You seem to have been doing all right so far." He replied looking down to the baby lying in her arms.
"I can put up a good front. I've been doing it all my life. Victor I left my job because of Martin's death, I moved house because I couldn't stand to live in the place where we had been so happy. I am living in a tiny apartment in a not so nice neighbourhood because too many places remind me of him." Samantha wiped at her eyes again. "Coming here every Sunday gave me something. I don't know what but it was something. I was hoping that you and Catherine would want to get to know Ben, have him as part of your lives because he only has me. I figured he would do better with the three of us."
"Samantha I didn't realise you had been doing it so hard. You should have been in contact with us sooner. You should have known that we would have been there for you." Victor paused before shaking his head. "Then again I didn't give you much help and support while he was alive. Maybe now you will let me do it for you and Ben."
"I'd like that." Samantha said handing the baby over to his grandfather. Victor stood with Ben in his arms and extended his arm to Samantha. She walked into his embrace and felt warm again for the first time in a long time. "So this is where Martin got his great hugs from." She smiled up to him as he smiled down at his grandson.
Catherine stood to the side with tears in her eyes. She had never seen this side of her husband before and she hoped that she would see it again.