Chapter 6: Ashes, Dust, and Memories
When they arrived at the Tipton they were greeted in the Lobby by Esteban, who had been named manager of the Tipton in Moseby's absence. Mr. Moseby walked over to shake hands with Esteban and get an update on Mrs. Tipton's funeral. Zack walked in with London and everyone came over to talk to her. Zack could tell by the look on her face that she didn't want so much attention. She reached over and took his hand and squeezed it lightly as a sign for him to stick close to her. Zack gave her a quick smile and lightly squeezed her hand back. As he turned to look across the lobby he saw Maddie walk over and his heart skipped a beat. He wasn't prepared to see her just yet.
"London I'm so sorry," Maddie said as she hugged London.
Others came up to hug London, but amongst the crowd Zack could see her glancing back at him from time to time. While people gathered around to greet her Maddie walked over to Zack and hugged him as well.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm more worried about London right now," Zack said.
"I knew it," Maddie said with a grin.
"Knew what?" Zack asked perplexedly.
"I knew that London was the girl you were talking about in your email. It was kind of easy to figure out when London called me that same day and told me she spent all day with you," Maddie replied.
"Are you mad?" Zack asked.
"No, why would I be mad?" Maddie said. "Zack I'm happy for you. I want you to be happy and I actually think you and London would make a good couple believe it or not."
"Thank you Maddie, I really needed to hear that," Zack said.
"You're welcome, now go save her from the rush of people. She looks like she needs you right now," Maddie said quietly to him.
Zack made his way through the group and took London by the hand before whispering in her ear, "Let's head up to your room. I know you could use a break."
London turned and looked into his eyes with a thankful look.
"I'm going to go up to my room now, but thank you everyone," London said and then let Zack lead her to the elevators.
As they finally got some peace and quiet in the elevator Zack pulled her into a hug. They didn't speak, just held each other until the elevator stopped. When the doors opened Zack's Mom was standing there waiting to get on. She was a little shocked to see Zack hugging London so close.
"Hey Mom," Zack said and London lifted her head to say hi.
Any confusion over what Carey saw was erased when she saw London.
"London I'm so sorry for your loss," Carey said and hugged London as she came onto the elevator.
"Thank you Carey. Your son has been so good to me. I don't know what I'd do without him," London said and Carey looked surprised.
Carey gave Zack a quizzical look before saying, "Well I'm glad he's been there for you."
Zack mouthed the words, "I'll explain later," to his mom and she simply nodded.
"London feel free to come over for dinner tonight. I don't mind cooking for one more," Carey said and London agreed to come.
After Carey stepped off the doors closed and the elevator continued on to the top floor where Zack and London exited. They arrived at London's suite and London looked through her purse for her key card. She was searching and searching, but she found it hard to focus with everything that was going on.
"I can't find the stupid key card," she said in frustration.
"Here let me try," Zack said and took her purse.
After a few seconds he found it wedged in the back corner and unlocked the door for her.
"I'm sorry Zack I'm just so out of it right now," London said and a tear fell from her eye.
Zack placed a hand on her arm and said, "It's okay I understand."
They went inside and found the room just as she had left it. It had the air of a room that had not been used for some time, but to London it was still good to be home. She walked around the living room area to get reacquainted with the place and she stopped at a table filled with pictures. A picture of her Mom caught her eye and she began to cry again. In the picture London was a young child and her Mom was pushing her in a swing. Zack came over to where she was to look at it as well.
"This was at Daddy's mansion. He had a whole playground out back for me to play on," London said.
"She was very pretty. I see where you get your good looks from," Zack said and London smiled at him.
London placed the photo back on the table and excused herself to go to the bathroom while Zack walked around the room looking at all the photos and various things. Much to his delight he found a photo of Himself, Cody, and London from when they first moved to the Tipton and got to know London. He couldn't help but laugh at how young he looked in the photo. He continued to look around the room until he realized that London had been gone for awhile. He walked back to the bathroom and knocked, but there was no answer. Then he heard a noise coming from her closet. He went in to look, but found himself completely lost in the vastness.
"London where are you?" Zack called out.
"I'm in here," he heard her voice say from a couple of rooms over.
Finally he found her kneeling on the ground with tears pouring down her face.
"London what's wrong?" Zack asked.
"I don't have anything to wear for a funeral. All these clothes and none of them are proper for a funeral," she cried.
Zack knelt down beside her and rubbed her back while saying, "It's okay. Maybe Maddie has something you can wear."
London calmed down a little, but she still looked distressed.
"I can't do this Zack," she cried.
"Yes you can. You're strong, you're a Tipton after all," Zack said and London let out a little chuckle amid the sobs.
She finally stood up and tried to calm herself down.
"I think I'm going to take a bath and try to unwind," she said finally.
"Okay, well I'll go down to my suite and help Mom make dinner. Whenever you're ready just come join us," Zack said.
London nodded and Zack turned to leave, but she stopped him and said, "Zack, thank you for everything."
"You're welcome. You were there for me when I was hurting, so of course I would do the same for you," he said and then she stepped up close to him.
She was so close that he could almost feel her still trembling. Every fiber of his body told him to kiss her right then and there, but he still heard Moseby's warning in his head. In her current state he would feel like he was taking advantage of her. There was a hesitant moment where he thought she would make a move, but once she realized nothing was happening she backed off a little.
"Well I'll see you at dinner," she said with a smile.
"Okay," Zack said and then turned to leave.
Once he got to the hallway he was kicking himself mentally. He knew he should have gone for it, but he didn't. He still wasn't sure how to handle this volatile situation. He headed back to his suite and walked in to find his Mom busy in the kitchen.
"Hi honey," she said as he closed the door. "How's London?"
"Sometimes I think she's doing better and then she's crying again. I'm doing my best to make her feel better," Zack said as he plopped down into a chair at the dining table.
"Zack can I ask you a question? Do you have feelings for London?" Cary asked.
"Yes, I do," Zack said.
"When did this start? I thought you liked Maddie?" Cary asked as she sat down beside him.
"I did…I mean I do, but Maddie is taken now and over the last few days I've spent a lot of time with London. She's amazing and she was there for me when I was depressed about Maddie so I want to be there for her," Zack said and looked to his Mom hoping for approval.
Carey knew her son and she knew that he could be a very compassionate person when he wanted to be.
"Honey that's great and if you do have true feelings for her that's great too, but be careful with her right now," Carey said to him.
"I know, Mr. Moseby gave me the same speech," Zack said impatiently.
"Well he's right. If things are meant to be they will happen in due time, but for now you just focus on being there for her as a friend," Carey said and then got up to finish cooking.
Soon London was knocking on the door and joining them for dinner. Cody and Bailey came as well. London was thankful for the chance to get back to some normalcy and even found herself laughing a few times during the meal. She was sad to see it end, but it started getting late and she wanted to sleep. Zack then walked her back to her suite to say goodnight. After another awkward moment where a kiss almost happened they decided to hug and part ways. Zack wasn't able to sleep at all that night. He kept thinking that London was in her room crying and he just wanted to be there with her, but he knew his Mom would not approve.
Over the next two days Zack stayed by London's side as preparations were made for the funeral. London was able to borrow a dress from Maddie to wear and it helped her calm down a little bit. Maddie had a few days off of work to help cheer London up as well and London was grateful for it. Zack was a little disappointed when Maddie told him her new fiancé was out of town as he kind of wanted to meet him, but he knew it could wait for another time.
When the day of the funeral finally arrived London was a wreck. She was waiting with Maddie in the lobby for Zack to come down and Maddie was trying to comfort her. Bailey, who had been staying with Maddie, was on London's other side comforting her as well. Soon the elevators opened and out came Carey, Cody, and Zack. London perked up slightly when Zack came over and took her by the hand.
"Are you okay?" he whispered to her.
"I think so," she whispered back.
They all exited the hotel to find Mr. Moseby, Esteban and Woody, who had been staying at Moseby's apartment, waiting for them. They piled into two limos to take them to the funeral home and the whole ride London sat with her head on Zack's shoulder. When they arrived they took a seat at graveside and watched as others arrived. Mr. Tipton was there with his usual security guards, but he stayed towards the back as some of London's Mom's family did not care for him. Once everyone was seated they began. A choir sang a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" that brought tears to everyone's eyes. When it was over London reached down and took Zack's hand and interlocked her fingers with his. She held on tightly and trembled slightly as the priest got up to speak.
"Today we come here to honor the memory of Sun-Li Tipton. She was a loving mother and a strong willed woman. She will be remembered by all those who loved her as a caring and loving woman," the priest said.
London was crying hard as Zack held her close. She listened as the priest went through his speech and all her memories of her Mom came to her.
"Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear sister here departed, we therefore commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust," the priest said as he came to a close.
Once it was over Zack led London over to the casket where London placed a rose on top and then kissed her hand before touching it to the casket.
"Goodbye Mom, I love you," she said quietly.
London, Zack, and the rest then walked a short ways away from the crowd to talk. As they were talking a gray haired man walked over. He was well dressed in a designer suit and looked to be a wealthy man. London looked up at him and said, "Hi Daddy."
Everyone was shocked to finally get a glimpse of Mr. Tipton's face, because usually he was hidden behind security. He hugged his daughter and kissed her on the forehead.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm doing better," she said quietly to him. "Daddy is it okay if my friends come to the mansion?"
Mr. Tipton looked around him and noticed Mr. Moseby, Esteban, Carey, Maddie, Woody, Cody, Bailey, and Zack standing there.
"I think that would be alright," he said finally and London smiled for the first time that day.
She walked over to Zack and hugged him before whispering, "Thank you so much for being here for me. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You're welcome. I'm always here for you," Zack said.
Everyone piled back into the limos for the ride to the Tipton mansion. Zack was actually quite anxious to go as he was still not sure how her Dad would react if he found out Zack had feelings for London.