Chap 31
The next two days were spent alternatively in silence and loud talking. Ianto heard many stories about his father-in-law and watched Jack lead his family with a calm, grim determination.
The coffin was redwood, dark stained and the gold filigree around the sides accented the gold handles. Jack has never seen one so ornate and he glanced at his mother and saw her satisfied look.
It would do.
The suit was the one he had worn to the wedding, his favourite and Jack knew the tie had been fixed by his husband as he saw the perfectly tied Windsor knot his father had preferred.
The music was country and western, another favourite of Dad's "Gambler" which left him in tears.
Walter had placed a photo of them laughing in the coffin and Jack had almost lost it when he looked at his sweet boy's face next to his father's as they had hammed for the camera at his last birthday.
The service was simple, like his father. A few prayers, a song or two and then speeches. He was surprised when Ianto stood but also grateful because his own speech had wound up in the floor in a ball.
"Hello. For those of you who do not know me, I am Ianto Harkness-Jones. Jack's husband. I was also, for some time, Carlton's Son-in-Law for which I am grateful. This man was calm, soft and friendly. He loved his children, loved my children and to my forever gratefulness, he loved me too.
In the few short years that I knew Carlton, I knew that he loved golf. One of the things we argued about as he mocked my hockey just as freely."
Laugher filtered through the chapel and Jack felt his mother's grip relaxing.
"He had this habit of winking at you at the oddest times. I was never sure if he had something in his eye or was coming on to me," Ianto frowned at the casket, "you flirt."
Everyone tittered and Jack saw a soft smile cross his mother's face.
"I once asked him what his favourite colour was" Ianto smiled, "and he said, his wife's eyes. I asked him what colour they were and he said … "Perfect" so I was none the wiser. The wink was weird as well."
Even Jack snorted and relaxed.
"My son, Walter loved Carlton and his hugs. I never questioned the weird golf pants when he showed up for a coffee in the middle of the day. Carlton never questioned the time he caught me trying on his wife's fur coat. That could have been embarrassing. Cue the wink."
Laugher boomed as Ianto glanced at Victoria, complete with fur coat as she laughed softly as well.
"What I am trying to say ... Well. I told him already." Ianto smiled softly as he remembered.
"I am grateful for you having raised such a wonderful man, preparing him for the world, then throwing him out there for me to find. We had both experienced loss and were both damaged but within each other we found peace. Carlton thanked me for seeing his son for the good man that he was."
"We danced in the garden, in the dark. As my sister danced inside with my husband and her new husband danced with their mother I was outside the tent dancing in the moonlight with my own handsome man."
"Carlton, thank you." Ianto said as he touched the wood and let a tear fall. "I'll take care of them now. As promised."
He walked back to Jack and accepted the handkerchief held out for him as everyone clapped.
As the coffin was lowered into the ground Ianto found the strength to sing.
Green, green grass of home brought fresh tears and Jack thanked god for his wonderful Welshman.