Bound By Fate

5. funeral

My phone chimes and I turn picking it from the bed. I open the message from Mike that says:
I'll be there in ten to pick you up.
Staring at the message I can't seem to accept that I'll be saying goodbye officially to my mom it has been a week since she was shot and I am not sure I am strong enough to face this. I am so overwhelmed with sadness that I keep staring at my reflection in the mirror Wondering whether I'll be okay without her.

I take a moment to scan my reflection and I stare at my pale blonde hair that I just took my precious time to curl. I stare at my sad eyes that just grew darker when I remember the procession today.

The black dress that Martha got me by Leo's orders. She has a nice taste, the dress is sleeveless and I put on a black blazer from Fiona's closet to go with it.

“ hey.” Leo greets peeping from the door before walking in further. “ I am afraid I won't be able to be at the ceremony with you something came up that I must urgently attend to, but I'll have mark drop you.” he says all in one swift and I shake my head.

“ Mike is picking me up.” I say grabbing my purse on the bed.

“ am sorry again, about your mom.” he says in a more sincere tone.

“ thank you.” I node walking past him at the door and I hear him follow me downstairs.
*****
I get out of the car as Mike parks it just a few blocks from the cemetery where the procession will be taking place. I glance at my phone replying to Nadia's message of her informing me that she is already there with Amy.

Mike moves to walk beside me and I hook my hand on his arm just in case my legs grow weak at the site of my lifeless mom in her coffin. “ we got this.” he tells me and I weakly node.

There are people already beside the already dug grave and moms casket is placed on some rods keeping it stable.

We finally arrived and I felt like they were waiting for us because the padre began immediately.

“ we gather here today to celebrate the life of Mrs Jane Jameson...” I turn to look at Nadia and Amy Wondering where Lexy was and they node reassuringly which I smiled lightly as well holding back the tears burning behind my eyes.

Ben never showed up and I keep wondering what kind of a boyfriend doesn't that.
The time comes to let the casket slide down into the six feet deep hole and my tears start flowing down my cheek uncontrollably. Mike keeps rubbing my back to get me to calm down and I lean weakly to his shoulder.

“ sorry for your lose.” a couple of people tell us dropping their white roses in and moving aside.

Before long everybody has left and the dirt is filled in the hole and I am sitted on a stone just a few steps from the grave watching my brother croach infront of moms grave. He asked for a moment so I gave him that.

Nadia is seating silently beside me and Amy just walked to her car to get me some water.
“ Lexy?” I finally ask when the silence stretches and she turns slightly to look at me.

“ she said something came up and that she'll make it up to you. ” Nadia explains. “ I didn't see ben.”

“ me neither.” I answer briefly

“ when was the last time he reached out to you?” she asks sounding disappointed.

“ last week, he has ignored my messages and calls since then.“ I sit up when Amy appears with a bottled water. “ we're so over.” I say grabbing the bottle from Amy and thanking her.

I keep staring at Mike silently wiping his tears and Carlos approaches him patting him at the back. They have been friends for the longest and I am glad he has a shoulder to lean on. I honestly thought Lexy would be here for him considering they were getting pretty close.

They turn and walk to us and Nadia and I stretch to our feets. “ why don't we go to my place, order something to eat and call it a day?” Carlos says and my mind wanders to the Russians wanting us dead. I don't what to get them in trouble so I open my mouth to deny my Mike beats me to it reading my mind.

“ of course that's a good idea.” and I think to myself why not.

We all turn to go and Mike and I remain a little behind. “ I know what you're thinking. Today is about us and mom and the Russians can shove it up their asses. We deserve to spend sometime with out friends.” he tells me wrapping his hand around my shoulder.

Carlos rides with us while Nadia and Amy follow and we head to Carlo's apartment. The ride there is short since it's just less than ten minutes.

We walk into his apartment, “ everyone feel at home, the beer is in the fridge. There is also wine at the cabinets and I'll order pizza?” Carlos asks the last part and I node.
“pizza is fine.” I smile lazily at him and he reaches for his phone in his pocket.

“ you have a nice place .” Nadia observes and he mouthes thank you while already on the phone ordering pizza.

Time flies pretty quickly without noticing. We talked on a lot of things, the boys played video games as we watched and yelled for who will win. This is what I needed from everything that has been going on In just a few days.

Amy finally gets her phone and turns gasping “ I have to go. My sister is stay at my place tonight. It's my parents anniversary and I promised to watch her as they have their day.” she says grabbing her purse and coat before waving us goodbye and leaving.

I stare at the time on my phone and it's 8pm. “ I have a date with nash at 8.30” she says turning to me. “ bye babe. I'll call you okay. Stay safe.” she hugs me briefly before bidding mike and Carlos good bye.

“ I should get going as well.” I tell the boys as I make to stand.

“ you have the means?” mike asks and I shake my head.

“ I'll just get a cab.” I tell him smiling.

“ it's dangerous you can't go alone.” he insists and I flatly refuse.

“ I'll be fine. We gotta be optimistic right?” I tell him. I can't have him worrying over me. “ besides I'll be there in a few minutes and I'll inform you when I arrive.” I convince him and he accepts anyway only that he'll make sure that I am safely in the cab.

“ see you around carlos.” I say slowly walking out following Mike as he leads me out and flags down a cab.

“ thanks.” I tell him sliding in after he opens the door for me and pays the driver.

“ I'll be waiting for your text.” he says and I nod giving the driver the address.

What would I do without him. He's the only family left. At this point I don't consider my dad my dad anymore. He has been so unreliable and very selfish letting us suffer because of his crazy mistakes. Who even does that to his wife, plus he must have known what happened to mom but never even dared to show his face at her funeral.