Chapter 8: Symbols of Love
"Ms Kane would you like some time alone before the memorial service. I can open the casket if you would like'" the director asked Erica.
She nodded in agreement. With Jack and Bianca by her side, they approached Kendall. All were taken aback at the sight of Kendall. She looked so beautiful and yet so still. Had they not know that she was gone; they would have believed that she was merely sleeping. Bianca had picked out an outfit for Kendall that was totally her. She knew that she would have loved it. Jack, Erica and Bianca all drew near Kendall.
Jack was the first to speak, "Kendall, sweetheart, I love you … gosh I'm going to miss you. I always, always thought of you as my daughter." He gently placed a kiss on her forehead and a tear escaped his eyes and landed gently on her face. He backed away from her, unable to keep his composure in front of Erica and Bianca. He removed himself from the room. Men are supposed to be the strong ones, but even this rocked the men in Kendall's life.
Erica and Bianca remained there with Kendall. The Kane women together, as it should be. Both just stared at her for a few moments, still trying to comprehend how all of this could have happened. Erica reached for an item in her purse. She pulled out the velvet box and opened it. It held the pearls, the same pearl necklace that she had ripped off Kendall's neck when she was at Michael's funeral. Erica was so angry that day. Things were so different back then for them. Things had healed, and Erica had the necklace fixed. She was going to return it to Kendall, prior to her wedding. She had planned to present it to her at the rehearsal dinner, a bridesmaid gift of sorts. She pulled out the necklace which brought a smile to Bianca's face.
"I was going to give this back to you, as a gift. It belonged to you from the start. I know your grandmother would have approved that you have this. My only wish is that you would have been wearing it on my wedding day, standing right beside me and Bianca." Tears streamed down her face while she placed the necklace around her neck. She kissed her cheek and continued talking to her. "I will always, always love you and I will miss you forever, until we meet again, sweetheart."
Kendall's tears freely fell. She observed the love that her mother showed for her. She knew that Erica loved her, but she always had some lingering doubts. Now there was absolutely not doubt. "Why are you doing this to me," Kendall asked the man that was in her room. "What have I done to you, what have we done to you?" Kendall's attention returned to the monitor of her mother and sister. She was shocked that she was watching all of this. It was surreal to her. How could they believe that was her, but then how could they not. The resemblance was uncanny. She wept at the thought that her presumed death was causing her family so much heartache. Kendall continued to watch.
Bianca helped support her mother, but she too mourned her own loss. She kissed Kendall's forehead and whispered to her sister, "I love you - forever. Thank you for being my protector, but more importantly I am so proud that you are my sister."
Bianca and Erica knew it was time and looked at the director and said, "We're done." The director reached over Kendall to begin to close the casket when Ethan came in.
"Wait!" Ethan shouted and looked at both of them.
Erica told the director to stop. Bianca hugged Ethan and Erica squeezed his hand in approval. They left Ethan alone with Kendall. Ethan slowly approached the woman he had loved more than anyone in this world. It was so strange to see her there, but he needed to say good-bye to her. He stroked her hair as his eyes began to water.
"I'm so sorry; I was not there for you." Ethan tried to choke back the tears. "I should have been there with you. I know about our baby, and you would have been a great mother. I was so looking forward to our life." Ethan wiped the tears from his face. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out the ring box. He removed the ring from it and it was a brilliant diamond, befitting Kendall's taste.
"That night, I was going to give this to you," he paused as he held the ring with his finger tips. "It was supposed to be the best night of our lives. Now I realize that your gift would have trumped mine. Either way, you would've made me the happiest man on earth. I know that I would've made you happy." He paused to look at her. "We would have been great parents together. God -I wish you were still here." He gently placed the ring on her left hand and in a soft voice told her, "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you." He kissed on her lips and then placed a teddy bear near her. It was a gift for the baby he would never know. He walked out of the room, but hesitated, he then turned back to get one last look and then mouthed the words 'I Love You Forever' and walked out of the room.
It was agony for Kendall to watch Ethan in so much pain. She needed to know why she was here. Her body had begun to heal, and the baby was fine according to the doctor that was caring for her. But, why she thought? If they wanted her dead, why would they nurse her back to health? What could they want with her? She knew she had enemies and her mother had enemies, but what did that have to do with the situation. Her mind raced at all the possible reasons for her captivity. She could not find a plausible reason, but as Kendall patted her belly she looked at Ethan on the screen. One thing she did know, without a shadow of a doubt, she loved him more than she had realized. She recognized his true love for her and their baby. She knew she would have to fight to get back to him, to get back to all of them.
A/N: I know that this story is slowing progressing, but stay with me. The next few chapters should be more revealing about where this is going. Thanks for the reviews and all the compliments.
