Okay my beautiful #Shandy lovers, I hate to end things but this is the last Chapter of Beat This Summer With You, it's been a joy to write and all the lovely reviews make me continue with this and all other Major Crimes stories. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement and feedback and thank you for never giving up on me, I love you all xxx
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Chapter 11
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The sky was bright blue and the sun shone down on Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery as everyone gathered to bury Stephen-Francis Hobbs. Andrea was standing beside her Cousin Samantha and her Mother Veronica was on the other side of Sam. Andrea had agreed with Sam that she'd keep a safe distance from her Mother who had asked Andrea to stay away from the funeral. Louie stood beside Andrea, his hand around her shoulder as she cried in to the tissue Louie had given to her half way through the ceremony. Sharon and the team were on the other side of the grave as the coffin was lowered in to the ground; her heart broke for her best friend as the tears became louder and Louie had quickly gathered Andrea in his arms.
"Poor kid." Andy whispered to Sharon.
"Kid?"
"Well…she's his kid, always will be. I can't believe the nerve of that woman, forbidding her own daughter to attend the funeral."
"At least Andrea stuck to her guns."
"I could never treat Nicole the way she is treating Andrea."
"Not everyone is as loving as you my love." Sharon smiled, as she glanced towards him.
Andy smiled back before taking tight hold of Sharon's hand, giving it a small squeeze and urging her closer to him.
Rusty stood quietly beside Buzz , Mike and his wife while Amy and Julio stood on the other side of Sharon and Andy, Julio's arm around Amy's waist. All that was going through Rusty's mind in that moment was how he hadn't realised that Julio and Amy were together and for how long. He looked up when he felt Buzz nudge him slightly.
"You okay."
"Huh…yeah, I'm okay." He smiled, before turning back to the grave.
Veronica sniffed in to her tissue as she looked passed Sam and saw her daughter crying in to Louie's chest, she shook her head before turning back.
"I can't believe she came when I specifically asked her not too." She whispered to Sam.
"Give it a rest Aunt Veronica…it's her father for god sake, show some compassion.
"Compassion, I've lost my husband, my soul mate."
"And she's lost her father, the man she will forever compare other men in her life too…you're not the only one breaking right now. Forgive me but you need to grow the hell up, you only have one daughter, don't spend your remaining years hating your own daughter." She whispered, before turning back to the grave and wiping tears from her eyes.
Veronica stood in a state of shock as she processed what Sam had said to her, so many thoughts running through her mind. As the priest finished the ceremony, Veronica went over to the edge of the grave and picked up a handful of dirt to through on to the coffin, as she did so she then turned back and stooped in front of Andrea, who stood frozen when her mother made eye contact. She jumped when her mother took hold of her hand and led her over to the grave, retrieving a small amount of dirt and placing it in Andrea's hand.
"Are you sure?" Andrea cried.
"He was your father." She said through tears.
…
The wake was held at the house of Andrea's parents, the house was full of friends of Stephen and Veronica and some old neighbours Andrea hadn't seen in years. Andrea was stood by the patio doors looking out as Louie came up behind her, Sam accompanying him.
"Hey Andi…you okay." Sam said, hugging her.
"Yeah, I will be. I just can't believe he's gone you know."
"At least he's no longer in pain I guess."
"True."
"Do you guys want something to drink?"
"I wouldn't say no to some white wine."
"A beer for me." Louie added.
"I'll be back soon."
Louie moved closer to Andrea, placing a small kiss to her lips.
"What was that for?"
"I don't need a reason to kiss the woman I love but…I just want you to know how damn proud I am of you. It took a lot of courage to come here today and face you mother like you did."
"Did you see her at Dad's grave, It was almost like old times."
"Give her time, she might come around."
"I doubt it, not after all this time. I may just have to face the fact that my family are drifting away."
"Not all." Sharon said, coming up behind her, followed by the team and Rusty.
"Oh hey guys, thanks for coming today…it meant a lot." Andrea smiled, hugging Sharon.
"Of course we'd be here, we're your friends and listen…we're your family too, remember that. We will always be here for you." Sharon smiled.
"Thank you, all of you."
"How are you holding up kiddo." Andy asked.
"I'm okay, Louie's been great, I don't know what I'd have done without him."
"You too." Rusty spoke up.
Everyone turned to Rusty, a look of confusion on their faces.
"Rusty honey, what are you talking about?"
"What the hell was in the water at that beach house…seriously? First you and Flynn, then Julio and Amy and now these two."
"First of all, watch your language young man and secondly, you can't stop the inevitable." She smiled, as Andy kissed her.
"Okay, I need some air…Buzz you coming."
"Right behind you."
Sharon was about to say something when Veronica came over to Andrea, a smile on her face.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but could I possible borrow my daughter for a moment?"
"Of course, Andrea, we'll be right over there of you need us okay." Sharon said.
"Thanks guys."
Andrea waited before turning back to her mother.
"What is it?"
"Come with me." Veronica encouraged, taking Andrea's hand.
Andrea was led up the stairs to her parent's bedroom; she took a seat on the edge of the bed as her mother rummaged through the closet. Veronica came back over to her daughter, a shoe box in her hand as she took a seat beside Andrea.
"I know that I haven't been the best mother I could have been, I was reminded of that fact today. I let my anger rule my head for so many years and have missed out on so much with you."
"Mom I…."
"Please, allow me to finish."
"Sorry."
"I was angry yes…I wanted you to be the best that you could be. It wasn't the money, it was the fact that you gave up a job that could have given you security for life…however, I didn't realise just how unhappy you really were. When we found out you'd been doing various jobs to put yourself through law school I was angry, I let my anger over rule everything else, I know I never said it but I was proud of you. Here." She said, handing Andrea the box.
"What is it?"
"Open it."
Andrea did as she was told and opened the old show box to find various cuttings from murder trials she had worked on and won and other mentions of her.
"Mom."
"You father wasn't the only one who was proud of you darling, I was too, I was just too damn stubborn to tell you."
"Why did you keep the cases I lost on?"
"Because you were still a part of them, my daughter the great DDA."
"I guess I should have tried harder too, like mother like daughter I guess."
"On some things perhaps, in this case…I'm entirely to blame and I am so very sorry. I've missed out on so much of your life already."
"What's this?" Andrea said, bringing out a silver box.
"Open it."
Andrea opened the box to reveal a silver bracelet with a small emerald.
"It was your great grandmother's, I'd like you to have it."
"Oh Mom, are you sure."
"I'm sure, there's nobody more deserving than you. You should have had it a lot sooner, I'm sorry."
"It's beautiful Mom, I love it." Andrea took the opportunity and hugged her mother tightly.
A small gasp of surprise escaped Veronica's lips before she returned the hug, mother and daughter staying in the moment for a few moments.
"Now, listen to me…I would like to get to know you all over again, I want to know the beautiful, powerful woman you've become."
"I'd like that too Mom."
"Starting with that man of yours and your friends."
"It would be my pleasure."
Andrea stood up from the bed and took hold of her mother's hand as they made their way back down to their guests. Louie saw them and made his way over.
"Now look lady, I know it's a sad day for you but Andrea lost her father and if you…"
"Louie, it's okay…we've been talking…a lot."
"Oh."
"Louie, I would like to apologise to you for my behaviour both at the hospital and today and I suppose for all the years a mistreated my daughter."
"Really."
"I haven't been the best mother to my daughter but…that's all about to change and as I said to Andrea, I'm making a start with her friends and her boyfriend. Louie, I'm Veronica Hobbs and it's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled.
Louie looked past her to Andrea who was smiling and holding a piece of jewellery as she nodded to Louie.
"Veronica, it is a pleasure also."
"Treat my daughter well won't you; you have an amazing man to compare too."
"I will do my very best Ma'am." He smiled.
"Andrea darling, take me to your lovely friends."
"Yes Mom."
…
The rain battered against the window of the Condo and Sharon and Andy lay snuggled up together on the couch as music played in the background. Rusty had already gone to bed, exhausted from the day.
"This is nice isn't it?" Sharon quietly spoke as her head lay on Andy's chest.
"No where else I'd rather be right now."
"It was a lovely funeral wasn't it."
"They got a good day for it."
"I'm so glad things worked out with Andrea and her mother, I can't imagine going through years of anger like that with my Mom."
"Me either."
"It's just a shame that it took her father dying to make her mother realise her mistakes."
"At least things will be better with them now, which in the end is all Andrea's dad wanted."
"You're right; it's been a strange few weeks hasn't it."
"You're telling me, but I wouldn't change it for the world."
"I'm glad you told me how you felt about me, this has been one of the best summers of my life."
"Mine too, I love you Sharon."
Sharon looked up at him, placing a chaste kiss to his lips before returning to her former position.
"I love you too Andy."
…
-Fin