Nine year old Debbie and her father arrived early at St. Patrick's Catherdral to join the others. As they walked hand in hand up the aisle, she pulled him back suddenly. They stopped and focused on Sydney who is up front near the alter surrounded by floral arrangements. It finally hit them, for today would be the last time they would all be together. Already seated on the front pews were Jarod and Miss Parker. No one one else who was associated with The Centre were in attendance for the ice queen made sure the services was in an undisclosed destination.
Michelle and Nicholas arrived a few minutes before the services were to begin and took their places up front with Jarod, Miss Parker, Broots and Debbie. Sydney's close friends and neighbors filled up several of the pews.
Fond memories entered their minds of the gentle man who was much more than just a psychiatrist to them. There were tears throughout the church as they listened to his euglogy of the kind doctor who touched many lives. He was loved by everyone.
Nicholas held on to his mother as they paid their final respect. Debbie walked slowly up with Broots as she held her father's hand. She was the stronger of the two. Jarod pressed his fingers on his lips, then onto the casket.
"Goodbye, my father," he said softly as he broke up in tears.
Miss Parker took her place next to Jarod and bowed her head. As the funeral director closed the coffin, she cried out loudly.
"Sydney! No! Please don't leave us! Sydney?" Jarod grabbed her as they both crumbled.
At the graveside services Miss Parker ran her fingers across the marbled casket, laid a single carnation on it and placed her lips on his cold hard coffin.
"A kiss for you, Sydney," she says softly as she cried silently.
They stood under the sweltering sun as rose petals were thrown atop his casket as he was lowered into the ground. Jarod wrapped his arms around Miss Parker as she buried her face on his chest.
Jarod stayed back as everyone else left soon after. He stood motionless staring at the ground.
"Thank you for being a part of my life. I love you, Sydney. Thank you for everything. I'll have memories of you always."
He bent down to pick up a single rose petal that was left on the ground. As Parker looked back, Jarod slowly had begun to fall down on his knees.
"Why did you have to leave us?" He yelled. "Come back, Sydney. Just come back!" He cried out emotionally.
He felt her arms around him. "He's gone. Sydney's gone," he cried as Miss Parker held him tightly as if comforting a little boy who just lost his daddy.
"Shh, I know. I know."
After several minutes, he composed himself and whispered. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."
Broots and Debbie stood afar as they watched the heartbreaking scenario when suddenly the little girl embraced her father.
"Why did Sydney have to die?"
"Well, sweetheart, it was his time."
"You aren't going to leave me too, are you daddy?"
He answered truthfully. "Everyone dies. We just don't know when. So, we should always take the extra time to tell someone how much they mean to you. I love you, sweetie."
"I love you, daddy. You think Jarod and Miss Parker know how much they love each other?"
"I don't know."
"Jarod? Come on. Are you ready to leave? Broots and Debbie's waiting for us." Miss Parker held her hand out and slipped her fingers between his.
"Goodbye, Sydney," he said painfully leaving him at his final resting place.
It's been two months since Sydney's death. Jarod touched the engraved name on the marbled stone. He read his name sadly out loud, "Sydney Green." Without turning, he knew Miss Parker stood a few feet away from him.
"I talk to him all the time."
"Where have you been, Jarod. I've been so worried about you. You left suddenly after Sydney's services."
"Needed to be alone. I can't believe his gone."
"He's in your heart, Jarod. Both of ours."
"Why do people touch our lives and then leave? Now I know exactly how you felt when you lost your mother."
Miss Parker knelt down and sat beside him. "At least we got to say goodbye."
Jarod sat back with his legs pulled up, his arms around his knees, as he watched Miss Parker quietly arranged her flowers with his. Maybe Sydney had wanted them together. She turned to face him, her voice trembled as she spoke.
"Do you want me or not?" She asked in a whisper. Not waiting for an answer she continued, "I love you more than anything, Jarod, with all my heart."
He played with her hair, gently stroked her dark locks and wiped a single tear that fell slowly down her cheek. "I'm sorry for what I've put you through."
Her sky blue eyes sparkled as the rays of the sun shone directly into them. "You're beautiful, you know that?" He pulled her close as she sat between his legs, his arms wrapped tightly around her. "I love you, Parker," he whispered into her ear. There was silence between them as they sat and held each other for several minutes.
"You didn't have to die to bring us together."
"What?" Miss Parker stroked his stubbled face from what looked like weeks of not shaving. "It's okay, Jar, go ahead and cry all you want." He reached out and hugged her tightly letting his emotions explode.
"Oh Jar, I wish I could make your pain disappear."
They felt a slight breeze and he pushed her hair away from her face. He stared at her deep blue eyes then kissed her. It wasn't a hard and passionate kiss, but a soft and sweet one.
"I love you, Parker."
"I know. I love you, too."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her again, this time hard and passionate while her arms twined securely around his neck.
As they pulled apart, Parker began to cry.
"Hey, what is it?" Jarod asked as he cupped his hands on her face.
She just shook her head.
"I'm not leaving this time, Parker, if that's what you're worried about. Not this time, not ever."
TBC - Chapter 7
A/N: My apologies to everyone for killing off Sydney.