Chapter 12- Seth's Theory
You see; Seth has this theory that when things are too perfect something bad always happens.
It's 2 weeks after our wedding and I wake to Ryan's kisses. "Good Morning, Mrs Atwood" and I respond "good morning my hero I'm going to have a shower" he smiles and asks "what do you want for breakfast?" I smile and go to stand up, once again he jumps up to help "um, how about Bagel and cream cheese?" "perfect" he smiles and goes to leave "Ryan, would you mind making me a chocolate shake? I have a craving" "of course" "you're my hero" he smiles with a twinkle in his eye.
I go to turn the shower off and I here the phone ring but know that Ryan will get it.
I get dressed and walk to the top of the stairs "Ryan baby, I need a little help" I see him walk around the corner he has been crying. I want so desperately to rush to him but I can't walk down stairs. He walks up to the stop of the stairs and wraps his arms around me, he doesn't say a thing "Ryan, baby what's wrong? Who was on the phone?" he doesn't answer. As we reach the bottom of the stairs he leads the to the living room and sit me down, after pacing he sits next to me. "Marissa, that was Kirsten." he pauses and tears are now streaming down his cheeks and he whispers "I am so sorry, Riss" wit that he burries his head in his hands. I don't know what to say so I wait rubbing his back, I know that he will tell when he is ready. Lifting his head he says "Kirsten rang to tell us that, that your dad. . . Your dad died last night" I don't know what to say and ask "how?" "Kirsten said that there was a boating accident last night" "oh" "I'm so sorry baby" he puts his arms around me and I begin to rock gently and tears start to follow. I lean against Ryan burring my head into his shirt as he plants soft kisses on my head. "Kirsten and your mom are organising the funeral." "when is it?" "Saturday" "oh" Ryan knows me so well, he understands that he doesn't always have to say something; that all I really need is someone there with me. I whisper in realisation "Dad didn't ever get the chance to know his granddaughters" as I say that I place my hand on my belly, and Ryan places his hand over mine as we slowly rub.
It's Saturday, the day that I say goodbye to my dad. I can't imagine my life without him. Getting out of the limo with a lot of Ryan's help we walk inside and everybody stares. We walk slowly to the front of the church where my dad is. We decided not to have an open casket. I walk to the front row and see my little sister. I haven't seen her since I've been pregnant. After I left she ended up moving away; and she couldn't come to the wedding and by the look on her face she didn't expect me to be this big.
As she sees me she starts to cry. Hugging her I get as close to her as Autumn and Delilah will allow. She pulls back and says trying to smile "oh my god you are huge" "well thanks, that's what I really wanted to here" I don't know why but I started to cry. And I can tell by the look on her face she feels bad. Ryan having never left my side hugs her and I here him whisper "it's okay, it's the hormones Autumn and Delilah are really taking it out of her" in the mean time Kirsten and Sandy have arrived making there way over to me Kirsten notices me crying and rushes over enveloping me in a hug "oh, baby" as she pulls back she looks at me and starts to cry and Sandy hugs her. By this time Ryan is hugging me too, but my eyes don't leave Kirsten. She really loved him and I know that he loved her. We catch eyes and she starts to cry harder, and I know this time she is think about how Autumn and Delilah won't have had a chance to get to know their grandfather. Engulfed in thought I don't notice that Summer and Seth have arrived. Ryan lets go of me as Seth bear hugs him and Summer makes her way over to me. And I know that she too is thinking the same thing that most of the people here are thinking as they look at me. I pull back as I see mom arrive. She rushes over to both Kaitlin and I hugging us both at the same time.
We take our seats as the priest begins. Ryan sit down next to me and takes my hand in his, and wipes away the tears trickling down my cheeks. The funeral is a daze until the priestesses if anybody wants to say anything. I lean over an whisper in Ryan's ear "will you come up with me? I want to say something" he nods and supports my weight as I stand up. Taking my hand and rubbing it with his thumb letting me know that he is here for me. We reach the pulpit and Ryan nods at me. And I begin to speak slowly taking deep breaths "My father was the most wonderful father that any girl could wish for. He wasn't perfect but he loved my little sister and I more than anything in the world. He never thought of himself when it came to us, it didn't matter what he wanted as long as I was happy." I pause taking a deep breath "just the way that I know he would have been the best Grandfather that Autumn and Delilah could ever have." I place my hand on my stomach "daddy, I promise that I will raise these precious little girls with stories of you and Ryan and I will teach them about pure love, like the love you gave me. Thank you daddy, I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for your guidance. I will miss you daddy" with that I look at the audience not seeing a dry eye in the place. I look over to Ryan and nod, he wraps me in his arms and whisper in my ear "I'm so proud of you, we can do anything together" taking my hand he helps me down the stairs and I stop in front of the casket. "by daddy, I love you" with that I kiss my hand and place it on my casket.