Conversations (in a Mausoleum)
…Ninety days later
Drake didn't know why he had the desire to run in his mind. It might have been due to
the fact that it took him this long to visit Emme's crypt at Greenwood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Watson had phone Audrey from rehab because she forgot to give Drake directions
to her mausoleum crypt on that day he forced her to talk to the person on the other end
of the phone line at the Ethridge Center. There was Mrs. Watson with her eyes closed
and her hand on the simple black gold rimmed marker. Drake could tell from his view
from the entrance that she physically looked much better. She was dressed in a proper
fitting navy blue and white business suit. Drake was carrying an open drawing pad and
was relieved that he had a place for his nervous hands. Drake had Josh bring over
some red roses because he was too fearful to do so.
He didn't know what to do and didn't have time to stop a sneeze from escaping his
nose.
Mrs. Watson turned around, her eyes guilt ridden. Children were not supposed to die
before the parents. It went against the natural order of things.
"Hello, Drake. Did you send the flowers? They're lovely." Emme's crypt was the last one
in the row. It was near a windowsill with stained glass windows. That's where Josh
thought it was best to put her floral bouquet.
"Hello, Mrs. Watson. Yes, I did, but my brother Josh delivered them."
Drake walked closer to her. She sat on the end of the pink marbled bench and offered
him to sit next to her. He put his tablet down.
"How are you? Your Mom said you are in the middle of chemotherapy."
"I'm physically okay. The doctor's thought it better to be safe than sorry."
"I'm very happy that you're going to make it."
One of them had to. If Drake also passed away it would have been another example of
God's cruel jokes.
"How are you doing, Mrs. Watson?"
He realized he was genuinely concerned about her welfare.
"One day at a time. But I think what you need to know is I haven't had a drink since you
dropped me off at the rehabilitation center."
"That's good to know," Drake stood up feeling extremely nervous all of a sudden and he
just had chemo five days ago. Even being cancer free his body was still going through
the usual inconveniences. He always found it one of the many reasons why he and
Emme were in synch with each other. Neither one of them could tolerate those new anti-
nausea medications.
"Mrs. Watson, I owe you an apology."
She stood up herself. She appreciated what this young man was trying to do.
"No. That's not necessary, Drake."
"I believe it is. I said some cruel things to you on that day. Things, I know Emme would
not have liked me saying."
"It's all right, really. I made a lot of people angry at me."
"No, it's not all right. You see, I don't know if you remember, but I had an infection
myself—and I could've died on my bathroom floor, in the ambulance, or in the hospital.
So, I don't believe that you killed your daughter. That was a terrible thing to say and if I
didn't believe it, the lecture I got from my mother would have steered me this way."
"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have mentioned that to Audrey. If I knew she was going to---"
"Can't you accept my apologies?" Drake replied in a gentle frustration
"It has nothing to do with you personally. I have a terrible disease, which you know there
is no cure for. And," She had to get a handkerchief out of her smart beige Kelly, "I know
if I wasn't drunk that night I'd have been able to take Emme to the hospital. That's if I
didn't try that selfish suicide attempt." She had to sit back down to have yet another
good cry. It was taking everything in her body since leaving the safe confines of rehab to
NOT take a drink. How grateful she was that Drake got rid of all the liquor that was in the
house. That saved her from many a temptation.
She wasn't deserving of a resolution. Drake was quite right all those months ago when
he exclaimed that she killed her daughter. She did. Being sober only accentuated that
thought. Beverly Watson knew she put her daughter through Hell.
Drake could see the anguish in her, he wasn't stupid, and could read between the lines.
He sat down and put his arm around Mrs. Watson.
"Emme knew you were sick and she never hated you. I can't say I know what it's like to
be a parent. I couldn't even take care of my pet rabbit George properly. But I do know
you'll never heal until you learn to forgive yourself."
She dabbed her eyes clean.
"I know I've told you before, but I'm so glad that Emme had you. You made her so
happy."
Drake smiled, "She made me happy, too."
Mrs. Watson needed change the subject she didn't want this young man to feel any
more uncomfortable then what he had to be feeling.
"What are these?" she asked looking at the number two pencil sketches.
"Just doodles."
Doodles?
"I think you hit on a very good idea."
"I was just drawing."
Don't kid yourself.
"Did you draw more?" Mrs. Watson turned the pages"Just a few."
For some reason he'd have been super embarrassed if she turned to the inside back
cover to see his black Sharpie heart that read Drake Loves Emme Forever.
"These are very good. Do you need to go home right away, Drake?"
"No, Mrs. Watson."
He could sense her immense need for company, but there was something else.
Something else he wasn't quite sure of.
It was one thing to have an idea in your mind; it was another realm all together to put it in
action.
Not all ideas were meant to.
"Follow me back to the house. Mrs. Simpson made some apple strudel and we can talk
some more."
"Sure," Drake let a small smile over his face, "Why not?"
When Mrs. Watson's back was turned he mouthed an "I Love You" to Emme's crypt.
There was no way he (they?) were going to let her be forgotten. Wherever she was she
had to be content seeing the two people that meant the most to her in this world thinking
about her departed soul. Each wanting to make a real difference.
It was what Emme Jessica Watson would have wanted.
Author's Note: To Midie and Mo: Ironically, I have not watched those films/TV shows
you mentioned in your recent reviews. Imagine if I had.
I caught a small error in my story. I shouldn't have used Drake Bell's real life birth
year, as he is a few years older than the fictional Drake Parker, so therefore Emme's
age is wrong. In 2006 Emme was sixteen (because she died before her birthday took
place) and Drake Parker seventeen (same reasons) respectively.