It took Della about a year to fully recover from the effects of her treatment and surgery. For a while, she'd needed help with everything. Once she was all better, she was her radiant self again. Perry made good on his promise and the two started traveling. In 2000, Irene Tragg passed away. Then, in 2003, Denny died from brain cancer. He never told his family until he was close to death. He was terminal when he was diagnosed and just wanted to enjoy the time he had left without people feeling sorry for him. Penny died a month later from congestive heart failure after battling heart disease.
Two months after Penny's death, Paul received a phone call from his mother that she wasn't feeling well. Paul rushed to the house and called an ambulance once he realized the situation was more urgent. He'd called his wife who rushed to the hospital. Bella and Dean soon joined them. The doctor had finally emerged, "your mother had a massive stroke."
Paul began to get choked up, "can she recover at all?"
"No," the doctor said, "she's on life support right now."
Paul and Bella looked at one another, "mom always said she never wanted to be kept alive by a machine," Bella said.
Paul looked at the doctor, "let us call our kids to say goodbye. Then, we'll reunite her with our dad."
The six Drake grandchildren arrived at the hospital within the hour. Perry and Della joined them as well. While Paul and Maureen's children still had Perry and Della, Dean and Bella's children were losing their last grandparent. Everyone was very emotional. The others had sent messages to the Drake children offering their love and support. No one wanted to overwhelm them. Perry walked into Gertie's room. "Well, Mrs. Drake, you sure have kept that husband of yours waiting. Hopefully, he didn't revert to pre-Gertie Paul and start chasing the angels around went he got there. There are times that I still can't believe he settled down. When he told me he was getting married, I was stunned. When he threw his little black book into the fireplace, I knew she had to be something special. That man loved you with everything he had. You were a great friend to me and Della all of these years. A wonderful mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law. Not to mention the best damn receptionist anyone could ever ask for." Perry kissed her forehead before leaving. Then, it was Della's turn.
"When you became Perry's receptionist, I had no idea that you'd forever be a part of our lives and even a part of our family. Paul may have called me 'beautiful,' but he only had eyes for you. He truly loved you as much as Perry loves me. Paul was just never comfortable showing it as much in public as Perry was. You're the sister I never had. My best friend and confidant. When my daughter went missing, you helped look for her. When she ran away, you comforted me. You helped to support her after the girls were born and protected me from getting my heart broken again. You were something else. I have always admired you. I love you, and I'm going to miss you. Until we meet again, my friend." Della kissed her cheek, "say 'hi' to everyone for me."
When Della had finished, Paul and Bella went into the room with their spouses. Paul gave a small smile. "What are you thinking about?" Bella asked.
"Remember the time that mom came home from work and found us playing mad scientist in the kitchen with dad?"
Bella started cracking up, "she was so pissed."
"It took a week to clean everything up."
"Remember when someone drew on the kitchen wallpaper and mom thought it had been us, but it was dad playing connect the dots?"
"I thought for sure she'd smack the crap out of him."
"What's really funny is she never changed it and then all of a sudden, there were more drawings."
"He kept drawing on the wall?" Maureen asked.
"Yep, but mom joined him," Bella said.
"He was just a big kid and he could easily convince her to throw away her maturity in favor of fun."
Maureen started to smile, "I remember one time when she had been watching Faith and Grace. I picked them up at eight that night and they were all hopped up on sugar. She said that she never gave them any, but I found out later that she had made them these sundaes that could put anyone in a diabetic coma."
"Don't even get me started on her spoiling the kids," Dean laughed. "If they wanted it, nana got it for them."
"That goes for toys too," Maureen added. "You know, she's always been there for us. All of them have been. Gertie just knew how to have fun and make you forget the darkness that surrounded you."
"There will never be another like her," Dean said. He leaned in closer to Gertie, "thanks for welcoming me into this family after I stupidly broke your daughter's heart. I'm really gonna miss your smile, your laugh, and your hugs. Rest well, mama," Dean kissed her cheek before placing a hand on his wife's shoulder and kissing the top of her head.
Maureen stood and looked at Gertie, "you saved me from self-destruction. You helped me settle into motherhood and kept my secret when I was too afraid to tell my parents. You've been a second mother to me. Someone I could always count on. You may have spoiled your grandchildren, but that made you a pretty awesome nana. They couldn't love you more." Maureen kissed her mother-in-law's cheek, "I love you, mama." Maureen kissed her husband's cheek before she and Dean left to wait in the hall.
Bella looked at her brother who nodded to her, "mom, I don't know what to say. You were the best. We'd screw up and you'd love us even more. After dad died, you encouraged us to go away and heal. You always had our backs. I'm everything I am today because of you. The wife and mother I am is a tribute to you. I'm really going to miss you, but I bet daddy has missed you more. I love you, mom," Bella kissed her mother's cheek.
Paul sighed, "well, I don't know what to add. Everyone has said everything. I guess, don't be afraid to leave us. You've made sure to raise us to be strong and to survive what life throws our way. We're going to be okay. It'll be hard, but we'll be okay. You don't have to hold on for us. It's time to go back to dad. I love you, mom," Paul kissed her cheek, and then the nurse came in. They had been gradually turning down the life support. They turned it off and within minutes, Gertie Drake had left the Earthly world. Paul and Bella walked out of the room and into the arms of their spouses. Dean knew what his wife was going through. He'd already lost both of his parents. Maureen was always a solid rock for her husband. While this was going to be hard, and while it was sudden, they were going to survive because they had each other.
