Keeping Love

Chapter 13

We landed and outside the airport her dad and Ethan were waiting for us.

She ran for them as soon as she saw them. Hugging her dad first and then Ethan.

I hung back awkwardly not wanting to intrude.

Ethan came over to me and clapped me on the back, "thanks for coming with her mate." He said, "I don't think she could have travelled alone. We were talking about going over and picking her up."

"Of course." I nodded, "and I'm so sorry."

Ethan nodded and we all got in the car.

I didn't know where the house was but I could sense we were getting close because Olivia grabbed onto my hand and squeezed it until it ached. I didn't complain. If it helped her even a tiny bit I was happy for it.

We parked up along the street and I grabbed both of our bags. I followed Olivia as she led me down the street to a house.

When we went inside the place was packed full of people. Some of them were crying. Some of them were laughing. There were a lot of children running around too.

As soon as we walked in people instantly started pulling Olivia in for hugs. She seemed to know all these people because she hugged them back.

"I'll take these upstairs." Ethan took the bags off me.

"Let me come with you." I followed him hoping it would be quieter upstairs.

There were only children upstairs.

"It's a bit overwhelming isn't it?" Ethan asked walking into one of the bedrooms.

"Who are all those people?"

"Relatives mainly. Some friends. You're staying with me by the way if that's alright."

"Yeah that's fine. Thanks. I didn't realise you had that many relatives."

"I didn't either." Ethan shrugged, "the Australians and the Americans can't make it until tomorrow. And they're big families."

"You're related to Australians and Americans?" I asked confused following him back down the stairs.

"No." Ethan shook his head, "they're Irish. They just live there. Grandpas brother and sister and all their kids."

"How many siblings did your grandpa have?" I asked Olivia going to stand beside her.

"He is one of nine." She answered, "third oldest."

She held onto my hand as she said cried with more distant relatives.

"Mummy!" She cried out seeing her mother finally. She let go of my hand and flew across the room into her mothers arms already sobbing.

I followed behind her. I didn't want to be left alone.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here mummy." She cried, "what happened?"

"He was in the hospital. And the hospital told granny that he got up in the middle of the night and he must have had a heart episode but his heart never started again." Olivia's mum was crying to.

"What do you mean he was in the hospital? No one told me that?" Olivia asked.

"It was only suppose to be for monitoring. He didn't want us to worry you while you were away." Her mum cried. Olivia cried too. "He was only in for one day before it happened." She told her.

Olivia gave her mum a hug, "where's granny? I haven't seen her."

"Your uncle is bringing her to the hospital. They need her to sign some paperwork so they can release the body and we can bring him home. Your aunt is speaking with the funeral director now to get it all in order. He should be home in a few hours."