Brace yourself guys, this chapter's the tearjerker. You know, if you've remained dry eyes for the first twelve. Even I cried, and I wrote the thing! All my love,
Rhyleigh xoxox
PS: Two more chapters. Then we're done.
Dave sighed heavily, his head nodding onto the pillow. It was barely Ruby's bedtime, and yet he was exhausted.
He had arrived home that morning, to his whole family waiting. His daughters, his sons, his children in law and his neighbour- more like a son than anyone. His mother and Julie's father, gathering in the lounge room with slices of Julie's famous chocolate cake (Ruby had giggled the whole way through her slice- eating in the lounge room was forbidden, and her siblings had stuck to that rule throughout their father's hospital visits).
He couldn't help but reminisce, as they chatted.
Rachel, his oldest, precious princess. The apple of her father's eye- he had searched under her bed for monsters every night, before tucking her in and kissing her goodnight. The little girl he had almost gotten arrested for, cavity searching him for condoms ("It was only a little tackle", Dave used to protest, but he knew that it was a full on tackle that would have needed a referee, at a game. There was no way that boy was going near his little girl). He was the big friendly giant, and she was the princess- it had been that way since the beginning. While he knew Jake was a good kid- someone Rachel deserved to have in her life- it had been hard letting her go. And it was going to be even harder, come the end.
Ben, his oldest son, the cheeky little monkey who had been closest with his father. The little boy with missing front teeth and brown hair, grinning at Dave under a floppy fringe. Dave had spent hours kicking the football around their backyard, teaching Ben how to bat and bowl before the summer started. They had splashed around in the summer, Ben idolizing his father, bringing everything broken for Dave to fix. But soon Ben would be the superhero, fixing his son's toys, while Dave watched from a distance.
Nathan was his youngest boy, the tiniest baby he had ever seen. But he was determined, winning the scholarship and making it into the private school he had wanted so badly. That was what Dave loved best about his youngest son- Nathan never gave up, no matter how hard he had to try. After a full weekend of trying, the little boy black and blue with bruises, Nathan had mastered the art of riding a two wheeled bicycle. Forever in competition with his brother, Nathan tried his hardest and ended up scoring the job he had always wanted, and the girl of his dreams. And the two were there, trying to make their own dreams come true, just like Dave and Julie had.
And then there was little Ruby. Her life had barely started- still a blank page. But she had four brothers (Jake and Carbo were as much her brothers as Ben and Nathan were) and her sisters (Sammy and Melissa were just as close to the little girl as Rachel was) to guide her through life, making sure she made the right choices.
"I think I'm going to go to bed", Dave told his family, taking the time to say good night to each one separately. A gentle kiss to each of his girls' cheeks, hugging his boys, he put his arm around Ted and kissed Chel's cheek. And he ended his farewells with a kiss to Julie's lips, before shuffling off to bed.
"Love you", he coughed weakly, pulling back his blankets.
Rachel glanced worriedly towards the hallway, as Ruby wriggled in her arms.
"I think its time for this little miss's bedtime", Nathan decided, lifting Ruby into his arms. "come on, Rubes, say good night".
"Is Daddy too sick to sing?" she wanted to know.
"I'll sing it", Jake volunteered, much to Ben's amusement.
So Jake sang to his little sister in law, no one noticing the tears in dave's eyes. He wasn't going to be there to sing to his daughter. Not any more.
Julie slipped into bed quietly, careful not to disturb her husband. Pulling up the blankets, she had just rested her head on the pillow when Dave spoke up.
"I have no regrets about the past, you know?" Dave said, looking into his wife's eyes. "my only regrets are the future- I won't be there to see Ruby's first day of school, her birthdays, God forbid her first boyfriend. I want to be able to kick the ball around in the backyard with my grandson- it'll be like watching the boys grow up all over again".
"Oh, Dave". Julie was lost for words.
"I want you to be happy", he told her firmly, taking her hand in his own pale on. "If you find someone, and want to move on, he can have you for a little while. But you're mine forever".
"I love you, Dave Rafter". Julie gently kissed his lips.
"And I love you, Julie Rafter".
The two succumbed to slumber not long after, but Julie was awake long before morning came. She wasn't sure what woke her, but the silence was deafening.
She patted Dave's face gently, and was horrified to find it was cold.
Dave Rafter had taken his last breath, lying there in the bed they had always shared. He had already said his goodbyes.
She broke down sobbing, ignoring the fact that her daughter was calling out for her from her own bedroom. All that mattered was that her only love was gone.