In The Darkest Hour

Part Two - Chapter Twenty-Seven: Theodore's Funeral

Isla took a deep breath as she climbed out of the car, she stared at the coffin as it was slowly pulled from the hearse; it just didn't seem real that her father was laying in there and this was his funeral. 

Gerard wrapped an arm around Isla and held her close, he ignored the stares knowing that this wasn't about him; he had to focus on Isla, she needed him most right now. 

Isla took a deep breath, she held onto Gerard knowing that there was no going back now; she was here to bury her father and she hoped that everything was going to be okay. 

Kieran peeked at his sister, it had all happened so quickly and he wanted nothing more than to have a good day for their father's sake; he hoped nothing detracted from that on a day like this. 

Slowly the family all moved into the church following after the coffin, no one said a word knowing that this wasn't going to be easy for any of them. 

Kieran kept close to his sister and Gerard, he peeked around a little worried what would happen when Tracy showed up; no one had heard from her since Theodore had died and he was worried what she might do. 

Isla stared at the coffin, it seemed so unreal to her that her father was in there; it looked so small and she was worried that he wasn't in there sometimes. 

"Are you okay?" Gerard asked softly, he held Isla close as they took their seats at the front of the church and he knew that he wasn't going to be letting her out of his sight today. 

The last thing that Gerard wanted was for anything to happen to Isla and he knew there was a large chance that Tracy was going to show up; it wasn't going to be an easy day for any of them.

Isla nodded her head, she held onto Gerard's hand frightened that she would be left alone to deal with this; she didn't want to be alone right now.

***

"Gracias," Gerard said nodding at Jeremy Sanz, he was surprised about how well he was getting along with Isla's uncle and he was glad that Jeremy didn't hold the same opinion as Tracy did about him. 

Jeremy smiled, he was happy to see that things had worked out so well for Isla and he hoped that they would be okay; he couldn't believe what his sister had done to her own daughter in the past few months. 

Gerard looked across the room to where Isla was talking with her cousins, he had rarely left her side all day and he wanted nothing more than to protect her in some way. 

"You really love her," Jeremy mused watching Gerard closely, he was pleased to see how in love the footballer seemed to be with his niece; Isla deserved something good after everything that she had been through in the last few years. 

Gerard blinked staring at Jeremy, he wanted to make a good impression even if Jeremy wasn't like Tracy; he didn't want to mess things up and he knew that he was going to make things right again. 

"I'm glad," Jeremy said smiling, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a letter that he had been carrying for five years and he knew it had always been meant for Gerard. 

Isla had no idea that the letter existed and Jeremy knew that he had been entrusted with it for a reason; the writer had never been fond of Tracy and he wanted Isla to be happy. 

"What's this?" Gerard asked when he was handed the letter, he turned it over in his hand not recognising the letter that had been given to him. 

Jeremy smiled sadly and he knew that Isla could never know about this, she would only be upset and that was the last thing that he wanted to happen while she grieved for her father.