CHAPTER SIXTEEN
(chapter title – Cedric's Memorial Service)
The following morning, Cassidy got out of bed and went to get ready for the service while Marius slept. She, Evanna, Thomas and Bridget needed to get to the church first to get it ready.
Twenty minutes later, Cassidy was ready and was bottle-feeding Ryan when Marius came into the room. He sat on the extra chair and bottle fed Cosette.
"You look beautiful." Marius told Cassidy.
"You say that about every outfit I wear." She teased, kissing his cheek. She then put Ryan back to bed, while Marius did the same to Cosette.
Ten minutes later, the twins, Marius and Cassidy were ready to go.
"You all right?" Marius asked as they drove to the church.
"Yeah, just not wanting to do this right now." She answered, looking out the window.
"I'm so sorry about your brother." Marius said, taking Cassidy's hand for a moment. She smiled and squeezed his hand back.
They reached the church five minutes later and went to help set up for the memorial service.
As Cassidy placed flowers on a table, she looked over at the picture on the front of the program. It showed Cedric smiling broadly at the camera, his blond hair blowing in the breeze. He had his hazel eyes focused on the camera, a goofy grin on his face. Cassidy smiled at the picture and returned to her work.
Marius kissed Cassidy's cheek and leaned against her. She looked down and saw Cosette asleep in Marius' arms.
"Where's Ryan?" Cassidy asked, looking around frantically for her son.
"Evanna has him. There's no reason to panic." Marius answered, placing an arm around her waist. He kissed her cheek as Evanna, Thomas and Bridget walked over to them.
"Time to begin." Thomas told his sisters. Cassidy, Bridget and Evanna hugged their brother, hoping it would be all right.
Cassidy went to the front of the church where her siblings would be. Marius, Ella, Anton, Cosette and Ryan sat behind them, along with the rest of Marius and Cassidy's friends.
The service started with the priest saying an Irish blessing. A hymn was sung as Evanna and Bridget sat in the chairs behind the pulpit as the hymn finished.
Evanna spoke first, saying how kind and compassionate Cedric was. She also spoke about how he loved the youngest member of the family, Cassidy.
Evanna finished by saying an Irish prayer before returning to her seat.
Bridget sang one of Cedric's favorite songs – My Heart Will Go On from his favorite movie Titanic. There wasn't a dry eye in the church after she was done singing.
There was a hymn that was sung as Evanna and Bridget returned to their seats. Cassidy and Thomas sat in the chairs behind the pulpit. Cassidy would be speaking first then Thomas would be giving the eulogy.
When the music finished, Cassidy placed her hands on either side of the pulpit to steady herself. She then fished out her note cards and read from them.
"I didn't grow up with Cedric – he was ten years older than I was. What I do remember about him was that he was kind, considerate, compassionate, positive, plant-lover, moviegoer and a lover of poetry.
He was also extremely dedicated – both to his work and family. His marriage didn't work out, but he still loved his wife and twins with all his heart.
I also remember Cedric being strong and fighting for what he believed in, no matter what anyone said or did to make him change his mind. I guess you could call him stubborn.
Wherever he is, I hope he's safe and know that we all miss and love him." Cassidy read from her notes. She sat down as Thomas went to the pulpit.
"This is the third eulogy I've given this year," Thomas started. He then got serious, "Cedric Jonathon Davis was born on September 25th, 1969 and died on August 24th, 2013. He was forty-four years old. He was also my twin brother, older by ten minutes.
Growing up, Cedric was fascinated by plants and bugs, but mostly plants. He would go to our mum's garden and study her plants. I guess that's why he went to Trinity University to become a scientist.
He left behind a wife of twenty-two years and twins who are seventeen years of age. He also left behind not only me, but also his three sisters – Evanna, Bridget and Cassidy.
I'm going to end with a blessing our mum used to say to us. It goes like this – May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.
May Irish angels watch over you, Cedric. God bless." Thomas finished the eulogy and went to sit down as You Raise Me Up was played on an Irish flute. Cassidy felt tears in her eyes and sobbed into Marius' shoulder. He held her as the music finished.
"Come on, Cass. It's all right, love." Bridget assured Cassidy, putting an arm around her shoulders as they walked to where Evanna and Thomas were waiting for them. Cassidy and Evanna stood on one side and Thomas and Bridget stood on the other.
It seemed like hours before the procession was finished, but it was only half an hour. Cassidy hugged Marius as he joined the procession line.
There was a reception afterwards, but Cassidy didn't feel like staying – she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She found her way to the nearest bathroom and threw up for ten minutes.
Marius and Cassidy headed back to Evanna's cottage. Cassidy went to the horse stable while Marius and Bridget put the twins down for a nap.
Marius went to the horse stable and saw Cassidy on a beautiful black Fresian. Currently, Cassidy was having the beautiful animal at a trot while music played from an unknown source.
He leaned against the rail and watched Cassidy. She turned the horse and trotted to the rail. The elegant horse put its head over the rail and nickered.
"This is Hydra. She's mine – I raised her when she was a foal. She's twenty-nine-years-old now." Cassidy told Marius.
"She's beautiful," Marius said, looking into Cassidy's beautiful eyes, "our flight leaves at 8:45 tonight, so we need to get packed."
"Okay. I'll be right there." Cassidy assured Marius, cantering off. Marius noticed she was bareback and didn't use a bridle. Instead, she used the horse's mane to guide her and keep her balance.
Marius headed back to the house, just as Cassidy came up beside him. She kissed his cheek and leaned against him. Marius stopped walking and pressed his lips to Cassidy's, his hands on her waist.
She broke out of his grasp, took his hand and led him to the bedroom. The two of them took off their shoes, not breaking contact. Marius placed his hands under Cassidy's shirt and lifted it off her head.
The two of them were in bed, Marius on top of Cassidy. She gasped as she felt him enter her, his hands on either side of her body.
They made love for a while before getting dressed. Cassidy sang You Raise Me Up as she bottle-fed both twins and changed them. Marius packed the suitcases and diaper bag while Cassidy tended to the twins.
An hour later, Evanna and Dean drove them to the airport. She gave all four of them hugs as Dean helped Marius with the car seats.
They checked the car seats and baggage at the gate and went to find something to eat. Cassidy bought herself and Marius a slice of cheese pizza. She looked up and saw Ella, Javert and Anton sitting at a table with Marius and the twins.
Marius and Cassidy quickly ate their pizza before taking the moving sidewalk to their gate, Javert and Ella right behind them. Javert held tightly onto Anton's hand.
Cassidy, Marius and Javert sat next to each other while Ella and Anton sat across the aisle.
All of them did separate things on the plane – Ella and Anton played a game, Cassidy and Marius slept, Javert watched the in-flight movie. Cosette and Ryan also slept.
Marius woke up and looked over at Cassidy. She had her head against the window and was breathing lightly. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her to him. He then carefully removed his sweater and placed it over her shoulders. Cassidy moaned in her sleep, but didn't wake up.
As he continued watching her, he didn't know what he would do without her. She was his everything.
He closed his eyes and rested his head on Cassidy's shoulder, dreaming of their years to come.