Hello Chapter Four guys. How will The Bartons cope without John? Find out here xxx
Silence. Moira awoke. Grief enveloping her as she reached over the other side of the bed. She sat up and the enormity of what happened washed over her like a waterfall. Her beloved John. The man she had been married for over twenty years had gone and he was never coming back. Tears stung her eyes as she sat there and put her hand over her stomach, the baby that she was supposed to have with John, the child that would have been doted on by him but now was never going to know him. It broke her heart as she sank back against the pillows and sobbed.
Cain was in the woolpack sitting by himself. News of John's death had just reached him and he didn't know what to feel. Mixed emotions were going through his head as he drank his pint then Andy came in, tears down his face. Cain looked up,
"He's dead. I already know. It was the paper This morning. Hey, don't bloody cry for God's sake. He don't want none of your tears." Cain said abruptly. Andy wiped his tears and nodded,
"Yeah he's dead." Andy mumbled and Cain nodded then taking a deep breath he added,
"How did he die?"
Andy sighed and spoke sadly,
"He died with a smile on his face, knowing he was gonna be a dad again. Moira told me all this. May he rest in peace now." Andy added with a cry. Cain scoffed,
"May he burn in hell! He gave me nothing but grief, that bloke! Let's hope this kid when it comes doesn't turn out like him. I've had enough with the three he already produced."
Andy, shocked by how disrespectful Cain was, walked out. He needed to see Moira.
Moira had just dressed and got up when Andy arrived. Both were clearly in mourning and that was evident.
"Hello Moira." He said and Moira nodded.
"Hello Andy, how are you?" She asked.
"I am very sorry about John. I just can't believe it. I was only speaking to him last week. He was so happy. Oh, I heard that your pregnant."
"Yeah I am. I was Happy too. Oh and before you say anything it's John's baby. I am only a few days." Andy nodded as if he knew that she wasn't lying.
"I know. I put Cain straight." Andy added and sighed heavily before adding,
"Listen I know it's a bad time but the car..."
Moira nodded.
"I know I'll pay for any damage..." She had begun to say but was cut off with Andy crying,
"I feel I've lost a brother." He sobbed as they embraced, grieving together.
Adam and Aaron were in the barn. Adam was stricken with grief and it was devastating to see. Aaron was comforting him, equally sad. Although there had been times when he and John had clashed, they did get on well and he was a nice bloke and a brilliant father, a better father than his own father.
"Mums having a baby and it will never Dad. How are we going to tell it when it's older that it doesn't have a dad? How can I bear that?" Adam cried and Aaron Sat with him,
"Shower it with love. Tell it about him when it's older." Aaron patted Adam on the back and added,
"It will get better. I promise."
Aaron had had his fair share of grief having recently lost his boyfriend Jackson to assisted suicide. Adam was there for him then so he was gonna be there for him now.
After speaking with Chas and Diane, Moira had taken to bed early so she could think about John. The years she had spent with him had been the happiest she had ever been and now he was gone, she didn't know what to do. She hoped that baby was like John, had his looks, his charisma, his complex and warm hearted personality. It would be perfect if it did.
The day after, Moira decided to visit John in the chapel of rest. Holly, Hannah and Adam had already visited and all had become emotional wrecks after doing so. Moira didn't care if she ended up sobbing, she just wanted to see him.
The undertaker lead her to a dimly lit room where John was lying. Moira walked over and gasped when she saw him.
He looked perfect. Like he was sleeping. She could see the marks on his handsome face and chocked back tears as looked at him. He looked peaceful. At rest.
"Oh darling. I don't know what I'll do without you. These twenty two years we've been together have been so wonderful. I promise our baby will be loved and cherished. The kids have been great darling. Looking after the farm and me." She leaned over stroking his cheek, feeling how cold he was. Tears started streaming.
"Oh darling. I wish you were here with me. I wish you would see our baby grow up. Stay with me. Never leave me. Haunt me if you must. Haunt me till my dying day. I need you baby. Haunt the farm, never leave it. It won't be the same without you." She sobbed as she kissed his head.
"I'll always love you John Barton. That will never change. Even if I marry again or find a new man, You'll always have a special place in my heart." She cried as she left the room, knowing it would be the very last time she would see him.
Give me hope in silence
It's easier, it's kinder
Tell me not of heartbreak
It's plagues my soul, plagues my soul
And bury me beside you
I have no hope
In solitude
And the world will follow
To the earth and down below
But I came and I was nothing
And time will give us nothing
So why did you choose to lean on
A man you knew was falling?
John's funeral arrived and the bartons prepared themselves to say goodbye. Moira saw that she was developing a small bump as she got dressed. She put her hand on it as she walked downstairs, she was playing hers and Johns song as she walked outside and saw Adam looking over at the field. It broke her heart.
They got in the car to the crematorium where the funeral would be. They didn't want John on his own in the cemetery. They wanted to set him free.
As everyone sat down, The Bartons were shocked at the turn out and were amazed at how liked their father was. It touched them all. Then Adam saw, to his anger, That Declan Macey had turned up. The two had never got on especially due to the fact that Adam had slept with his wife Ella, while in a relationship with his daughter Mia. He blamed Declan for Johns death and Declan knew this.
Finally, John had arrived. Adam helped Aaron and Andy carry him as soft eerie music played, there wasn't a dry eye as the coffin was laid on the table.
As The Barton kids gave their eulogy to their father, Moira comforted them and was silent. It didn't seem real that she was about to bury her husband but it was happening.
"Goodbye John I love you." She whispered as the funeral ended.
At the woolpack, the solemness was to much for Adam to bear and he started to lash out at everyone and Moira couldn't do anything to stop him. The grief suddenly overpowered her and she felt dizzy and faint. The room started to spin and suddenly She passed out...
When Moira woke up, she was lying in bed with her kids all around her. They were very worried about her and wanted to stay with her.
"You alright mum?" Holly asked and Moira looked around before nodding,
"What happened?" Moira asked. Adam sat on the bed,
"You passed out mum. We took you home. Jimmy and Bob helped us. You gave us such a scare."
Moira sighed and lay back while the kids went downstairs. It was clear that the Bartons would never be the same without the charismatic, handsome dark haired farmer but they would pull together and help each other. And they vowed that the unborn baby would be looked after and cherished just like John would have wanted.
Hope you loved the chapter. So do you think The Bartons will cope without John? Do you think John will literally haunt Moira for the rest of her life?
Next time
Months pass and Moira gives birth in the most dramatic way possible xxx
