They are all in the living room, other. No one is really talking, yet they don't want to leave each others presence. They are taking comfort with just being together, a family unit. Erin walks down the stairs, visibly still upset, and says "Linda, mom would like to see you." Linda pauses to hold her sister, only by marriage, but for this family that is enough.
"I love you sis" she whispered as she heads up the stairs.
"Knock knock" she says quietly when she reaches the door.
"Come in sweetness."
Linda smiled hearing her mother in law use the phrase she started long ago. "Mary, you haven't called me that in forever" She said smiling as she sat down at Mary's side.
"Well that's what you are, you always have been. Danny is tough, rough around the edges. Doesn't show his softer side often. You are his weakness, his sweetness. Your kind heart brings out the best in him, when the job and life brings out the worst." Mary pauses, reaches to her side and hands Linda an envelope "I've written a letter to my son, I'm afraid I wont be here to give it to him. If this is true, he is going to need you more than ever. You will need to put the pieces back together when he breaks. I know my boy, and I know he will blame himself for not being here with me. Please make sure he doesn't. Be his rock."
"I will" said Linda crying," I promise."
"Linda, sweet girl, you're my daughter and I love you. Can you do me one more thing?"
"Anything" whispered Linda.
"Be a mother to Jamie and Joe, Joe won't need it as much, he is almost a grown man. But my sweet Jamie, he is going to need a mother's touch, a mother love, a mothers voice to get him through the next few years."
"I will" said Linda strongly, "I promise Ill take care of all your boys."
Mary smiled. "I know you will." she said closing her eyes. Linda stood up, then turned, bent over, kissed Mary's cheek and whispered "I love you ma."
Later that night, when the house was quiet, and all the kids were sleeping, Frank and Mary were still up, holding each other not wanting the morning to come.
"Take care of my babies" pleaded Mary.
"I will" answered Frank kissing the top of her head "and they will take care of each other."
"Don't let them stray, from God or the family. You need to stay together. Attend mass together, eat together, holidays together. You need to stay together"
"We will baby, I promise you. Ill keep our kids together"
"And keep yourself safe. You're all they have left, don't be shot again or anything stupid like that."
Chucking at Mary's bluntness he whispers "I wont darling, I'll be careful, and stay safe."
"Frank, honey, take care of yourself!" She exclaimed suddenly, "fall in love again."
"Mary" said Frank sternly, "We're not discussing this tonight. I just want to be here, holding you. Loving you." And they stayed that way til morning.
The kids stayed with her in her room the entire next day. They noticed how weak she was. Her eyes barely opened. But they stayed. They softly played her favorite took turns holding her hands and talking to her. They hugged and comforted each other. Mary died later that night, her family by her bedside as she took her last breath.
The following morning all the kids were in the living room, just sitting, feeling, waiting. Waiting for direction. Waiting for their grandpa. Waiting for Danny. Just waiting. Waiting and crying. Suddenly Linda's cell phone rings, she pauses a moment, and says hello as calmly as she can.
"Linda I'll be at JFK in 3 hours can you come get me please?" It was Danny. While they waited for his call, Frank decided they would not tell him of his mother's passing over the phone. He wanted Linda there with his son when his world crashed down.
"Yes baby. Ill be there."
"Okay", he said quickly " gotta go, but 3 hours. I love you."
"Love you more" she managed to reply before the tears started again.
Frank took Linda into his arms and wrapped her in a fatherly embrace. "I know it's hard, but I don't want my son falling apart, on an airplane, alone."
"I know" whispered Linda. An hour later she headed to the airport, wanting to have time to control her emotions before she had to be there for Danny. She found the terminal he would be coming in at, and sat to wait.