Chapter 30
It's the middle of the night, Manny and Chester are asleep in each other's arms when his phone begins to ring, he sleeps through it the first time, the second time his phone rings he reaches over on the nightstand to grab his phone
Chester: Hello?
Chad: Hey man
Chester: What time is it?
Chad sniffles as his voice begins to break
Chad: You need to come over to the house
Chester: What's wrong?
Chad (sniffles): Just get over here, now
Chester jumps up in bed
Chester: What is going on?
Chad hangs up
Chester: Chad?!
Manny wakes up
Manny: What's wrong honey?
Chester: It's dad, babe. We have to go
Manny: Baby, what's wrong?
Chester gets out of bed, gets dressed
Manny: Chester, baby!
Chester looks at Manny as his eyes begin to fill with tears
Chester: Something's wrong, I think It's dad.
Chester: I got to get over to the house.
Manny: I'll get dressed and I'll take you honey; I don't want you driving when your upset
Chester looks at Manny
Chester: I swear, I don't know what I'd do without you by myside through this Manny.
Chester said as he sniffles
Manny: It's my job as your wife and partner to be here when you need me most.
Manny said as she wipes a tear away
Chester: I love you
Manny: I love you too. Come on let's get going
Chester softly kisses Manny as tears roll down his cheeks
Chester: Thank you, baby.
Manny wipes the tears away as she takes him by the hand as they leave to go his parent's house. On the drive there, Manny places her hand on Chester's lap as he sniffles and fights back the tears
Manny: It'll be ok, babe.
Chester: I know. I'm just so lost right now
They arrive at his parent's house. Chester goes in the house and sees his brothers and mom crying. Chester's mom walks over to him and hugs him
Chester: Mom, what's going on? Chad wouldn't tell me over the phone.
Mom: Your dad's gone honey
Chester: What?! Why didn't anyone call me before?!
Mom: Honey, I didn't know he was gone until I came to check on him.
Chester falls to his knees and begins to cry as Manny walks in
Manny: Chester, what happened?
Chester: Dad died
Manny grabs Chester as he begins crying in her arms
Manny: Baby, I'm so sorry, honey.
Chester: He's gone, baby. My best friend is gone
Manny rubs Chester's back as he continues to cry on Manny's shoulder
Manny: I know baby, I know. He's no longer suffering
Chester (to his mom): Where's his body?
Mom points to the back bedroom. Manny grabs Chester's hand and places it in hers, She looks at Chester and smiles, as he leads her to the back bedroom where his dad's lifeless body is laying.
Chester (softly cries): Daddy, it's me. I need you to wake up, this needs to be a dream
Manny (rubbing Chester's back): It's ok baby, I'm here
Chester feels his dad cold hand and begins to cry, Chuck walks in the bedroom
Chuck (to Chester): He's gone, man
Chester and Chuck cry on each other, Manny walks out of the room and finds his mom
Manny (hugging Chester's mom): How are you holding up?
Mom: I'm ok, it's the boys I'm worried about. Especially Chester and Chad
Manny looks at Chester, crying in the back bedroom
Manny: It breaks my heart seeing Chester this hurt.
Mom: Honestly, he's stronger than I thought he would be
Manny wipes a tear away from her eye
Manny: He was a great man, and I know he's happy he got to see Chester and I get married.
Mom: That's all he talked about up until yesterday
Manny smiled through the tears as she looks over at Chester when Chad walks up
Chad (softly): Hey mom
Chad gives his mom a hug
Mom: Hey honey. You doing ok?
Chad: Yea, I'm hanging in there. Hey, Manny
Manny: Hey Chad.
Chad gives Manny a hug
Chad: How's my brother?
Manny: He's a mess, he's lost and he's heartbroken
A short time later, Chester comes up from behind and wraps his arms around Manny, as she places her hand on his then turns around
Chester: Hey babygirl
Manny places her hands on Chester's cheeks
Manny (softly): Hi baby. Are you ok?
Chester (sniffles): I'll be ok, yea.
Chester gives Chad a hug as Chad begins crying on Chester's shoulder
Chad: I'm sorry I didn't tell you on the phone. I didn't want you to find out that way
Chester: It's ok buddy. I get it
Chad: I love you bro
Chester: I know, I love you too.
Manny consoles Chad and Chester
Manny: He's not suffering anymore, he's pain free.
Chad: I just didn't expect it to happen so soon. I thought we had a little more time with him
Chester gives Manny a soft kiss on the cheek and pulls her in close
Chester (softly): Thank you baby. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be as strong as I am
Manny looks deep into Chester's eyes
Manny: Sweetheart, you were already strong when we got together. Your parents raised you and your brothers to be strong, baby.
Chester smiles through the pain and tears and lets out a small laugh
Chester: I like to think my incredible and beautiful wife has something to do with how strong I am.
Manny (smiles): It's all you, mi amor
Manny said as she softly kisses Chester
Chester: Why don't you go back to the house and get some sleep baby, I'm gonna stick around with the boys and mom. At least wait until they come get dad's body
Manny wraps her arm and hand around Chester's as she looks up at him and smiles
Manny: I'll stay with you.
Chester: I love you, so much. You know that
Manny: I love you too sweetheart.
A couple hours have gone by, and the funeral home has since come to pick up his Dad's body. The house is filled with laughter and smiles. A short time later, Chester notices Manny falling asleep in his lap on the couch. He softly runs his fingers through her hair
Chester (softly): Babe, you want to go back to the house?
Manny: Yea, if you're ready to sweetheart.
Manny lifts her head up and rubs her eyes
Chester: I swear you look more and more beautiful, every time I lay eyes on you.
Manny: Babe, I look like a mess, what are you talking about?
Chester: No, my girl is gorgeous, even if she's half asleep
Manny smiles and she stumbles awake
Manny: I guess it's a good thing I married you then
Chester laughs as he gently kisses Manny
Chester: Come on honey, let's go back home.
They leave his parents house and on the way back to their place, Manny falls asleep in the car, Chester looks over at her and smiles, reminding himself how lucky he truly is to have Manny not only in his life but as his wife, he don't know where he'd be right now if it wasn't for her. She truly made him the man he is today.
Chester (softly): Princess, we're home
Manny (softly): Ok.
She smiles as she drifts back to sleep, Chester laughs as he gets out of the car and unlocks the front door, then goes to Manny's side of the car and carefully picks up Manny and carries her into the house and into bed, where she curls up in bed and falls asleep. A few minutes later, Chester climbs in bed next to his wife as she curls up in his arms
Manny (softly): Goodnight mi amor
Chester smiles as he kisses Manny's forehead as they drift to sleep. Next morning, Chester wakes up and quietly gets out of bed and goes in the kitchen to make breakfast for him and Manny. A few minutes later Manny begins to wake up. She rolls over to his side of bed and feels he's not there
Manny: Babe?
A few minutes later, Chester brings Manny breakfast in bed
Chester: Good morning beautiful
Manny: Baby! What's this?
Chester sets the tray on the bed in front of Manny as she sits up in bed
Chester: My way of telling you, how much I love you and how thankful I am that I have you not only as my wife but by my side during this
Manny: Awe honey this is amazing, you didn't have to do all this baby.
Chester: I know, but I wanted to honey. I can't begin to tell you how much it means to have you by my side through all of this.
Manny: Chester, I love your parents, there's nowhere else I'd rather be than by your side, Chester.
Manny enjoys her breakfast in bed as Chester climbs in the bed next to her
Chester: My dad loved you like his own, you know that?
Manny: He was a very special man, honey
Chester's phone rings
Chester: Hey mom, are you ok?
Mom: Hey honey, I'm ok. I just wanted to see how you were holding up.
Chester looks at Manny as he rubs her back
Chester: I'm hanging in there, How's Chad and Chuck?
Mom: You boys are so strong, all 3 of you. You take after your father. He'd be so proud of all 3 of you
Chester: I miss him so much already.
Mom: I Know you do honey, I do too. I was married to your dad for over 35 years.
Chester (sniffles): I'm happy he at least got to watch me marry Manny.
Manny turns around, smiles at Chester, and takes him by the hand
Mom: We meet with the funeral home director, later today, Manny's more than welcome to come along, son. After all she is family.
Chester: Ok, we'll meet you there, I'm going to let you go
Mom: Ok honey, love you.
Chester: Love you too.
Mom: Hey Chester, remember your dad is always with you.
Chester: I know mom, he's with you too
Chester hangs up as he lays in bed holding back tears as Manny climbs in bed next to him
Manny (softly): Honey, it'll be ok.
Chester: I'll be ok, I promise. I need to get in the shower.
Manny: Want me to join you?
Chester: No
Chester kisses Manny's forehead
Chester: I just need to be alone right now
Manny: Ok, I love you, you know that.
Chester: I know, I love you too
Chester walks in the bathroom and turns the shower on and gets in the shower. Meanwhile, Manny's in the bedroom and calls Emma
Manny: Hey.
Emma: What's wrong?
Manny (voice breaks): Chester's dad passed away
Emma (gasps): Oh, I'm so sorry, Manny.
Manny: I'm worried about him, Em.
Emma: I know sweetie, he's got you there with him for emotional support
Manny: If he even wants me by his side. I don't know anymore.
Manny gets up and gazes out the window
Emma: Why? What do you mean?
Manny: He just had a conversation with his mom a few minutes ago and after he got off the phone with her, he just started acting funny.
Emma: How?
Manny: He laid in the bed next to me as he was trying not to cry, I was trying to comfort him, and he tells he needs to get in the shower.
Emma: Honey, he's going through a lot. He just lost his dad
Manny: Here's where it gets weird though, I asked him if he wanted me to join him and he tells me no, he just needed to be alone.
Emma: Just let him know your there for him, give him a little space. He'll come around, Manny. He's just going through a lot right now.
Manny: Yea you're probably right. I just hope he doesn't completely shut me out.
Emma: You both are madly in love with each other, just give him some time Manny, he's grieving and mourning.
Manny: Yea, I know. It just breaks my heart seeing him like this
Manny hears the shower shut off
Manny: He just got out of the shower
Emma: Maybe he'll talk to you and let you in Manny.
Manny (voice breaks): He means the world to me, like I said, it breaks my heart seeing him in such agonizing pain and heart ache. I'm worried for his sake, his families sake, and I'm scared he's going to shut me out Em. The whole 4 years we've been together we've never experienced a loss like this.
Emma: I know Manny, I promise everything will work out. But I got to go, I'm at the doctors, call me later if you need me, ok?
Manny (sniffles): Ok
She hangs up, Chester appears in the bedroom, and hears Manny quietly crying to herself
Chester: What's wrong?
Manny turns around and wipes the tears from her eyes
Manny: Just worried about you, Is all.
Chester: I told you, I'll be fine.
Manny: I know, it's just the whole 4 years we've been together we've never experienced a loss like this. Last night, seeing you with Chuck in your dad's room, it broke my heart seeing you hurting like that.
Chester: Manny, I'll be fine, It'll take me a little while, but I'll be fine
Chester gets dressed
Chester: I have to meet my family at the funeral home.
Manny: Ok.
Chester: Come with me.
Manny: Do you want me to?
Chester: Of course, I do
Manny: Ok, I'll get changed
Manny changes and comes back in the bedroom
Chester: Come on, let's go.
Chester takes Manny by the hand as they leave their rental and head to the funeral home. They arrive at the funeral home a short time later, they meet with Chester's family and the funeral director. A couple hours later, they all leave and Manny's phone rings
Manny: Hello?
Danny: Hey, Manny. It's Danny
Manny: Oh, hey Danny. What's up?
Danny: I just wanted to check in and make sure everything's ok. I noticed you haven't been at the studio lately.
Manny: Yes and no, We had a bit of a family emergency come on, Chester's Dad's cancer returned, and it wasn't a very good prognosis
Danny: Was?
Manny: He passed away, the other night.
Danny: Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. How is Chester holding up?
Manny: He's managing, We're grateful that his dad held on long enough to witness us get married
Danny: Well congratulations! You could of lead with that part
Manny: Thank you, really. We just left the funeral home. So can I talk to you when I come back home?
Danny: Yes, Of course. Please, give Chester and his family my deepest sympathies.
Manny: Thank you, Danny. I will
They hang up
Manny: Danny sends his sympathies about your dad, honey.
Chester: Oh.
Manny: He called to check on me cause I haven't been at the studio lately
Chester: Oh, ok.
Manny: Hey-
Manny places her hand in Chester's
Manny: He's not a threat to our marriage, You are all I want. Remember that
Chester jerks his hand away from Manny's
Chester: You don't think I know that Manny?!
Manny: I didn't say you didn't
Chester: As much as I appreciate his cheap sympathy, I don't really care, I have enough on my plate like burying my father.
Manny: I know you do, and I'm trying to be as supportive as I can for you and your family right now.
Chester: Well, don't Manny, I don't need anyone's fucking sympathy or support.
The rest of the car ride grows quite with slight sniffles. They get back to the rental and Manny goes in the extra bedroom, shuts the door, and begins to cry, when she hears the front door slam shut. Manny picks up the phone and calls Chuck
Chuck: Hey, Manny.
Manny (Crying): I'm worried about Chester
Chuck: Why? What happen?
Manny: He's lashing out at me
Chuck: What do you mean?
Manny: He's getting angry at me for just trying to be there for you all.
Chuck: Ok, I'm coming over, is he home?
Manny: No, he left, I don't know where he went
Chuck: Ok, calm down. I'll be right there
Chuck hangs up, a few minutes later, he arrives at Manny and Chester's rental. Manny opens the door
Manny: Hey, come on in.
Manny starts to cry as Chuck walks in the house.
Chuck: Come on, come sit on the couch
They sit on the couch
Manny (crying): I'm so scared for him, Chuck. I've never seen him like this before. I've never seen him... so angry
Chuck: What happened?
Manny: It started out this morning after he talk to your mom, he got cold with me, like he was pushing me away.
Chuck: Ok.
Manny: Then I thought he was ok when we went to the funeral home, but as we left, one of the guys from the studio called to check on me
Chuck: That Danny guy?
Manny (crying): Yes. I talked to him for a minute, told him what was going on, what had happened, he told me to give Chester and you guys his sympathies and that's when he started getting weird. I went to hold his hand and simply tell him; Danny isn't a threat, and he jerked his hand away and blew up at me. Basically, he told me leave him alone in more or less words.
Manny sobs onto Chucks shoulder
Chuck: Manny, I'm so sorry he's treating you like this; he don't need to be acting like this, you've been nothing but supportive and helpful.
Manny: I don't know what I did wrong, Chuck. Why he's acting like he hates me all of the sudden
Chuck gives Manny a consoling hug, when Chester walks in the door
Chester (to Chuck): What the hell are you doing?
Chuck: You and I need to have a talk little brother.
Chester walks over to the couch and grabs Chuck
Manny: Chester, what are you doing?
Chester: Manny, this has nothing to do with you
Chester takes Chuck outside
Chuck: Don't talk to her like that, she didn't do anything.
Chester: Stay away from my wife
Chuck: Whoa man you're reading shit all wrong
Chester shoves Chuck
Chester: You have Tori back home, unless you'd like me to call her and tell her I caught you with my wife
Manny steps outside, crying still
Manny: Chester, stop it! What has gotten into you?
Chuck: Manny, Its ok.
Chester: You don't know a damn thing, Chuck. I'm so sick of everyone acting like they know me and what I'm dealing with.
Chuck (yelling): Your angry at Dad for dying, I get it! But that doesn't give you the right to treat your wife like shit!
Chester punches Chuck
Chester: Screw you
Manny: Chester! Stop it!
Chuck: I'm mad at him too dude, I'm upset too. It's not fair. You think you're the only one who wanted him to see get married?! I just proposed to Tori when he took a turn for the worse. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to ruin your and Manny's moment!
Chester: It's not fair!
Chuck: I know it's not. But this isn't the way to grieve buddy
Chester: He was supposed to be here to watch all of us get married, and be here for his future grandkids
Chuck: I know buddy, I know
Chester: Why dad? Of all people, why him?
Chuck: Sometimes, life has other plans Chester, it sucks but that's how life works sometimes
Chester: I hate this life!
Manny runs in the house as she goes upstairs and locks herself in the extra bedroom, weeping into her pillow. A few minutes later she stops crying enough to hear a knock on the door
Chester: Babe?
Manny ignores him as she starts to weep again
Chester: Manny, please baby. Open the door
Manny continues quietly crying in her pillow as she hears Chuck's voice talking to Chester, outside the bedroom
Chuck (to Chester): Are you happy now, idiot?
Chester: Shut up, Chuck
Chuck: You know that woman behind that door, loves you more than anything else in the world, she loves you enough to put her dreams, her wants and her needs aside and travel 4 hours to Ottawa, to be by your side and be here for the family during Dad's final days, hell she even made sure you got your dream of having Dad be here to witness you get married.
Chester: I don't need a lecture or reminder
Chuck: Look, lets go downstairs and give your wife some time alone, cause let's face it, this is worse than you accusing her of cheating, which you're still an asshole for.
The guys go downstairs and sit in the living room
Chester: You don't think I know how much I mean to her?
Chuck: Well, clearly not because you're treating her like shit and shutting her out. She called me worried about you.
Chester: Why?
Chuck: Um, let's see, your being cold toward her and your shutting her out! Dude, dad would be so pissed at you for this if he was here.
Chester: Well, guess what, he's not here, is he? No, he's not. He's fucking dead
Chuck: Dude, come on. Quit being an asshole. I know you're hurting but this isn't the way to be grieving
Chester: Don't tell me how to feel, Chuck. You don't know what the hell I'm feeling.
Chuck: Dude, look at yourself, you're a damn mess, your wife's not even talking to you, you're picking a fight with me
Chuck punches Chester across the face
Chester: What the hell was that for?
Chuck: For you to snap the fuck out this fuckin spiral you're going through
Chester: So, you punch me?!
Chuck: And it's payback for punching me
Chester: Care for a black eye to match?
Chuck: Tomorrow's the funeral, so help me, if you make this harder for mom then it already is going to be, I will knock your ass out in front of the whole family
Chester: Yea, whatever.
Chester walks outside. Chuck follows behind him a minute later.
Chuck: You better get your head out of your ass and realize how lucky you are. If I was Manny, I would've left your ass and went back home
Chester: Yep
Chuck shakes his head as he leaves. Chester goes upstairs to check on Manny. He knocks on her door
Chester: It's me.
Manny doesn't answer, instead she lays there awake, weeping
Chester: I love you, I hope you'll be at the funeral with me tomorrow.
Chester walks away from Manny's room and goes into the master bedroom and goes to bed. Meanwhile in Manny's room, she calls Emma
Emma: Hey, is it getting any better?
Manny: Nope. It got worse, Emma
Emma: What? What do you mean?
Manny: I called Chuck, cause I'm worried about Chester, I've been crying on and off since we got home from the funeral home, making the arrangements
Emma: Honey, what happen? Do I need to come get you?
Manny: No, it's not like that. He got colder with me, and when we got home, he slammed the door and left, so I called Chuck and then Chester come home and he flipped out on Chuck, got in a physical fight with him
Emma: What?!
Manny: He said he hates his life in front of me and Chuck, I came upstairs to the spare bedroom, and I haven't left the bedroom at all, I've been up here crying, and worrying. He's tried talking to me, but I don't want to talk to him, when he's like this
Emma: Oh, Manny.
Manny (cries): I don't know what to do Emma. I feel so helpless
Emma: I'm sorry Manny.
Manny: I understand he's grieving but he shouldn't be lashing out at me and his brother
Emma: Yea, I get it.
Manny: I- I just don't know what to do. I don't want to leave him in his time of need, but I also don't want to stay and put up with his lashing out.
Emma: I don't know Manny. I wish I knew what I could tell you.
Manny: My heart is breaking for him and his family, but my heart is also breaking for how he's treating me and Chuck. I mean I know he's obviously hurting and he's not meaning to be like this but damn it Emma. This is not the guy I fell in love with and married.
Emma: All I can say is just to be there for him, because right now he feels like he hit rock bottom losing his dad.
Manny wipes the tears from her eyes
Manny: We're coming home the day after the funeral. So, we'll be back home by the end the week.
Emma: I love you, get some sleep, you guys both have a stressful day coming tomorrow. You know I'm here if you need me.
Manny: I know. I love you too
Emma: Remember, he's in a lot of pain. Try and go easy on him
Manny (sniffles): I know
She hangs up and looks at the picture of her and Chester smiling and happy on her phone screen as she falls asleep, she wakes up in the middle of the night, quietly walks out of her room and goes to Chester's room to check on him. She sees him sleeping and decides to slip in bed next to him, and just lay with him, just as she gets comfortable, Chester rolls over and feels her next to him
Chester: What are you doing in here?
Manny: I vowed to be with you for better or worse. Your grieving, just because you're being an ass doesn't mean I'm going to leave you.
Chester smiles as he falls back asleep with Manny next to him