Keeping Love

Chapter 12

That night I was shook awake by my mother.

"What's wrong?" I asked sitting up she looked worried, I looked over at my alarm clock and saw it read just after 3:30 in the morning. Something must have happened, "tell me." I said.

"Olivia's grandpa died." She said, my heart sank, "her mum just phoned Carol. We think you should be the one to tell me."

I nodded and got out of bed pulling on a hoodie and pushing my feet into some shoes. I didn't want to tell her this news. I didn't want her to ever hear this news. But if she had to hear it I wanted to be there for her. 

I ran over to Carol's house.

Carol and Joanne stood anxiously by the door waiting for me.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"In my room. We didn't wake her." I wondered briefly how Joanne was awake and not Olivia but didn't bother to ask.

I nodded. Carol and Joanne had more experience with grief than anyone I knew.

I went up the stairs and into Joanne's room. I paused briefly when I saw Olivia sleeping on the bed. She looked so peaceful. I didn't want to disturb and tell her the worst news she could hear but I knew I had to.

I walked over to her side and leaned over her. I stroked the hair out of her face gently, "Olivia." I said in a soft voice waking her up.

"Joe?" She asked clearly confused, "what are you doing here?" Her hand came up to hold onto mine that was still on the side of her face.

I didn't want to tell her.

She must have seen the worry in my face because she sat up, "is everything ok?" She asked.

"Your grandpa died." I told her softly. I didn't want to sugarcoat. She needed to know.

"No." She shook her head.

"I'm so sorry."

"I don't understand." She was crying now and I pulled her against me into a hug.

"I know. I'm so sorry love." I said stroking her back. I didn't know what to say. I knew nothing I said could make this feel better.

"Are you sure?" She asked pulling back to look in my face. Her eyes were red and puffy and her face was covered in tears. My heart broke looking at her. I felt like I was going to cry myself but I begged myself to keep it together.

I nodded, "your mum phoned aunt Carol."

"I need to go home." She jumped out of the bed and started shoving her clothes into her bag.

"Sit down." I said gently, "let me help you."

"No." She shook her head, tears flowing freely, "I need to go home right now." She was sobbing now her hands shaking so bad she could barely hold her bag.

"I know you do." I hugged her again, "we'll get you home." I took the bag out of her hand and put all of her belongings inside it, "come on." I led her down the stairs where Joanne and Carol were waiting for us.

"Joanne," I said, "Will you run to my house and pack me a bag. Just basics. Couple change of clothes, toothbrush, that kind of thing. Grab my wallet as well it's on my bedside table. Ask mum where my passport is."

Joanne nodded.

"Why do you need that?" Olivia asked me through her tears.

"You don't think I'm letting you fly home by yourself, do you?" I asked her pulling her into a side hug and kissing the top of her head.

"I'll be ok." She sobbed, "and I don't know where you can stay."

"Don't worry about me." I shook my head, "I'll find somewhere. If I can stay in a hotel or something. It doesn't matter."

"Thank you." She hiccupped giving me a hug.

I hugged her back.

"Have you got everything love?" Carol asked her softly.

I handed Olivia the bag I had helped back, it was possible I had missed something. She looked inside it and nodded.

"Do you want any food before you leave?"

She shook her head, "I just want to go home." She cried.

"I know." Carol said giving her a hug, "we'll get you to the airport as soon as Joanne is back."

Joanne came back with my bag, "you're mums not happy but she gave me your passport."

I didn't care if my mum was happy or not. I took the bag off Joanne.

Carol drove us to the Airport. I sat in the back with Olivia. She held onto my hand so tight it hurt by the time we arrived.

When we got to the airport Olivia was so pale I was afraid she was going to pass out.

"You two go sit down. I'll go speak to the airline see what we can do." Carol said.

I nodded and directed Olivia towards a set of seats. As Carol joined a queue to speak to someone.

We sat down and Olivia was still crying. People were looking at her now. I don't think she cared as she curled up into my side and I wrapped my arm around her.

"You'll be ok." I said to her softly.

Carol came over to us. "There's only one flight to Belfast from Birmingham today and it's not until 1pm."

Olivia started sobbing more. She wanted to get home now.

I spoke with the man and he said there is another flight to Belfast from England. From London. That leaves at 10am. We would make that if we leave now it's not even 5am."

"Can we?" Olivia asked.

"Whatever you want sweetheart." Carol said.

Olivia nodded and we left for London.

We got to London at 8am. We both hugged Carol goodbye.

"Thanks for driving us around the country." I said.

"You take care of her." She replied.

We went through airport security and then found a payphone.

Olivia's dad picked up the other line.

"Daddy?" Olivia cried when he answered.

"Joe is coming with me." She said a few minutes later, "we are flying from London. The flight leaves at 10 we should be in at 11. Will someone be there to pick us up?"

She talked to her dad for a bit longer until she couldn't talk any longer because she was crying too much.

She put down the phone and I hugged her. She cried into my arms. "I can't believe it. I just can't believe it." She said.

"I know." I hugged her because that's all I could do.

We got on the flight and Olivia leaned on me the whole way.

The closer we got to Ireland the more real it seemed to get to her. She grew paler and paler.

When the pilot announced we were landing she turned to me tears streaming down her face, "I don't think I can do this." 

"You can." I took her hands and kissed them, "you are stronger than you know. You can do anything."