I am not entirely sure the Spanish customs are like this. I mean no offense to anyone by what is written in the chapter. I did try to research as much as possible but I didn't find a lot about it.

This may be the last chapter until the week after next.

Walking into the church, and seeing the pictures of my dad placed around the church almost made me lose any grip I had on my emotions.

My mother had asked that we leave his coffin closed. She didn't want to see him this way. She wished to remember him as he was.

We headed towards the front before sitting down next to my mother, Pilar, and Gio along with Alejandro, and Marco on either side of them, while my mother held onto baby Gio.

The sermon held in my father's honor passed too quickly for my liking. Our cousin Xiomara took the kids as it ended so we could all stand in front to receive condolences.

Nati and Santi looked in disbelief around the large church as Xiomara slowly led them out of the church along with her husband Osvaldo.

I stood next to my mother as quietly cried, her hand always touching the black coffin as every person that attended slowly made their way up to us to speak, hug, and give us their condolences along with their thoughts of how wonderful my father was.

Nodding, numbly as my father's acquaintances, friends, and family members of both my parents spoke softly to me and my sister, before hugging and kissing us on the cheek.

I knew Cris had chosen to sit behind us, with his son, but I hadn't expected him to stick around and wait for me.

A few tears slipped from my eyes, as my Uncle Charlie finally reached us, and pulled me into a hug, "Mi niña, sé que te culpas a ti misma por esto, pero esto no es tu culpa, cariño. Nadie sabía que tu padre tenía una afección cardíaca, fue un hecho extraño. Nadie te culpa." He whispered in my ear. (My girl I know you blame yourself for this, but this isn't your fault, sweetheart. Nobody knew that your father had a heart condition, it was a weird occurrence. Nobody blames you.)

I gulped thickly as my vision blurred, I felt as if my heart had been torn out of my chest. Pain radiated, causing my knees to buckle.

"Oh, my sweet girl…" I heard someone quietly say as I was led slowly to one of the pews, before a pair of strong arms encircled me, rocking me as I shook violently, gasping as I tried to contain the sobs that threatened to consume me.

"Isa, listen to me. This isn't your fault. It'll never be your fault. Please understand that. I know it hurts. I know how much you loved your father, but don't let this consume you. Your kids need you. Your family needs you. I need you." I heard a familiar voice say as I slowly began to rock back and forth.

I tried to speak, but all that came out was a heartbroken, anguished sob. I clung to the person holding me, as I felt my energy slowly begin to deplete from the intensity of it all.

Every emotion that I had buried since I arrived back in Madrid seemed to be forcing its way out, suffocating me, as I lost control.

It seems that I wasn't going to be able to stop. No matter how hard I tried to.

"¿Cómo está ella?" I heard as I slowly began to calm myself, even if just a bit. (How is she doing?)

My body still shook, I sniffled constantly, and my mouth was numb, and my face was tingling from so much crying. Even my head had begun to hurt again.

"Ella estará bien. Creo que se sintió abrumada por todo lo que sucedió en las últimas dos semanas y media. Quiero decir, uno solo puede tomar hasta cierto punto antes de que se quiebran bajo presión, ¿verdad? Creo que ella estará bien. Ella solo necesita tiempo." I heard a reply. (She'll be ok. I think she just got overwhelmed by everything that has happened in the last two and a half weeks. I mean, one can only take so much before they crack under pressure, right? I think she'll be ok. She just needs time.)

"Volveré y se lo diré a Pilar y a mi suegra, estaban preocupadas por ella." I heard a soft reply. (I will go back and tell Pilar and my mother-in-law, they were worried about her.)

It took a few more minutes before I could feel myself calm down enough to sit back properly. When I finally did, I kept my head down, with my hands on my lap.

A hand with a water bottle appeared in front of me, causing me to jump up in surprise.

I sighed, before taking it and downing half of it, allowing the water to get rid of the scratchy, parched feeling I had begun to feel in my throat.

"¿Te sientes mejor?" I heard a soft familiar voice ask. (Do you feel better?)

"¿Física o emocionalmente?" I asked, twisting and untwisting the cap on the water bottle. (Physically or emotionally?)

"Los dos." He replied. (Both)

I sighed, moving my hair from my face. "Físicamente estoy cansado y con dolor. Emocionalmente, no creo que me vuelva a sentir mejor." I replied, wiping the tears that had begun to fall again. ( Physically I am tired and in pain. Emotionally, I don't think I will feel better again.)

"Sé que la pérdida duele mucho, pero sé lo que estás sintiendo. Mi padre murió cuando yo era muy joven, y aunque me siento triste de vez en cuando, puedo decirles que mejora. Puede que el dolor nunca te abandone realmente, pero se irá apagando con el tiempo." Cris said as he put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a small squeeze. (I know the loss hurts a lot, but I know what you are feeling. My father died when I was very young, and although I feel sad from time to time, I can tell you that it improves. The pain may never really leave you, but it will fade over time.)

I nodded, giving him a sad smile before looking around and realizing that the church was empty, except for the coffin.

I felt myself close my eyes, and take a slow deliberate breath, before slowly getting to my feet.

I knew my mother had wanted to have a closed casket, but I needed to see him. If I didn't see him, I would never accept his departure.

My heart began to ache as I slowly walked to the black shiny casket. Hands shaking as I slowly began to lift the heavy lid.

I gasped as my eyes fell on my father's still form. He was wearing his favorite suit, and had his hands placed on his chest.

He looked like he was sleeping. I wished he truly was. That this was nothing but a nightmare, and that I could wake up and he'd be there telling us a chessy joke or story.

"Perdoname papi." I whispered, as I kissed my fingertips and touched the glass. (Forgive me, daddy.)

"This wasn't your fault, 'manita." I heard as my sister put an arm around me, and covered my hand with hers. (Lil sister)

"Then why do I feel like it was?" I asked, leaning my head on her shoulder.

"Por ese imbécil de tu ex marido. Todo esto es culpa suya. Él y su maldita familia hicieron esto. Pero no te preocupes, la vida tiene una forma de vengarse. Él y esos mal paridos obtendrán lo que les espera." She said, calmly, wiping my face. (For that idiot of your ex-husband. This is all your fault. He and his damn family did this. But don't worry, life has a way of taking revenge. He and those ill-fated will get what awaits them.)

A sudden commotion outside the church caused us to stiffen before closing the lid of the casket and rushing outside.

When we reached the doors of the church, we gasped as we saw Uncle Charlie holding onto my mother and Aunt Renee, while a familiar blonde was held back by a familiar form.

"Hija de puta!" My mother screamed angrily as she launched herself toward the woman only to be stopped by Gio grabbing her. (Whore!)

"Che cazzo mi hai appena chiamato?" She growled. (What the fuck did you just call me?)

My sister stiffened as she saw the woman before turning to me, to which I could only respond by nodding once.

Before I could react, my sister launched herself at her and slapped her hard across the face.

"Cagna del cazzo!" She screeched as she clutched the side of her face. (Fucking bitch!)

I watched as my sister tried to hit her again only for Sergio to grab her as well. My mother had been passed on to my Uncle Lucas, my father's older brother.

"That's enough!" I called, watching as they all turned to me. "Thanya, Vorrei poter dire che questa è una sorpresa meravigliosa ma non è così che diavolo vuoi?" I asked them as I walk closer to them. (Thanya, I wish I could say this is a wonderful surprise but it isn't so what the hell do you want?)

She turned sharply, as she saw me. "Ah, solo la cagna che volevo vedere. Cos'è questo che ho sentito riguardo a te che cerchi di insidiarti. Sei tornato nel letto di mio marito?" She growled. (Ah, just the bitch I wanted to see. What is this I hear about you trying to worm your way back into my husband's bed?)

I laughed humorlessly at her audacity. "Me? È lui che non mi lascerà solo. Non oserei tornare nel suo letto infestato da malattie sessualmente trasmissibili se fosse l'ultimo uomo al mondo. Ora, per favore vattene prima di forzarmi la mano." I replied, as I made a move to leave, only for her to pull me back and slap me. (Myself? It is he who will not leave me alone. I wouldn't dare go back to his STD infested bed if he were the last man in the world. Now, please leave before you force my hand.)

I gasped in surprise, before I shook my head. She smirked at me in satisfaction, before I pulled my fist back, putting my full weight into it, and hit her right in the nose.

I had only managed one hit before I was grabbed and pulled back too, as well as her.

"Lui è mio! Non puoi averlo!" She screeched, trying to get free. (He is mine! You can't have him!)

"Credi che lo rivoglio indietro? Perché dovrei rivedere quello stronzo? Sono felice senza di lui! Non ho bisogno che sia felice. Tienilo per quello che mi interessa, voi due vi completate perfettamente." I seethed. (You think I want him back? Why would I want that asshole back? I am happy without him! I don't need him to be happy. Keep him for all I care, you two complement each other perfectly.)

"Non ti credo, lo rivuoi indietro e sono qui per dirti che non puoi averlo. Non appartieni a lui. Lo voglio." She snarled. (I don't believe you, you want him back, and I am here to tell you you can't have him. You don't belong with him. I do.)

"Credi quello che vuoi. Vattene. Vai fuori di qui." I said, exasperated. (Believe whatever you want. Just leave. Get out of here.)

I watched her leave, stiffly, allowing the car to pull away before I calmly got out of Cris's hold and walked to the car, with Gio and Pilar and got in.

Not another word was spoken. Even after we arrived at the cemetery.

I numbly walked behind the coffin with my mother, Gio, and my sister. Mumbling the prayers along with my mother and everyone else.

When everyone else was gone, I stood there for a moment longer before following my sister, my mother, and Gio to the car and heading home.