We Are A Family

Chapter 14.

After the zoo, we headed straight to my parents house; the little boy Lily got into a fight with, ended up becoming her friend that same day. His name was Joey, he apologized to her and then to us; Lily was upset when they parted ways.
When we arrived at the house, I looked to CC who squeezed my hand with a reassuring smile that everything would be okay, I was nervous to see my parents again.
I looked to the sleeping Bandit and wide eyed Lily in the back seat, Mark was parked behind us; when we opened the doors. Barking was all that could be heard, I removed Bandit from his car seat and CC lifted up Lily.
Kayla and her family were tagging along behind us when we made it to the front door, I was afraid to open the door. I was afraid to face my parents, after five years of no visitation. I would not be surprised if they didn't let me inside, I felt like a pathetic kid; worse than Kyle.

Tears were in my eyes when the door opened, my dad stood there with wide eyes; full of shock. It was then, when sadness filled his eyes looking at me. I looked at him in confusion, he allowed us inside. Jace was on the couch, his eyes on the t.v. screen.
I looked around for my mom, and she was no where to be found.
I looked back to my dad, who cracked open a mountain dew then frowned.
Lily looked around frowning. "Where's grandma?" She questioned.
I frowned, I could feel this strange pain in my chest; like my heart had been broken into pieces.

I stood in front of my mother's grave, that rested next to my grandparents; flowers surrounded the gravestones as I held onto the flowers CC got me from a store.
"She passed away two years ago, she got into a bad wreck and when she was put in the hospital. She was confirmed as brain dead." Was all that my dad could manage to tell me.
I didn't want to believe my mom would be taken away from me, and the worst part of it all. I never once told her that I loved her after a fight we had over the phone, I hung up in a angry fashion and never heard from her.
All of this time, my mom's been dead; and no one has told me. I couldn't find the tears to appear in my eyes, I wanted to cry but at the same time just walk away.
I knelt down in front of her gravestone, a soft smiled appeared on my face; memories raced through my mind. Some were happy, some were sad, and in each of those memories. She was there, smiling with wide arms. My jaw clenched down, I didn't want to cry here. I wouldn't stop if I did, my mom was gone. That was all I could think about.
My mom was gone.

When we made it back to my dads house, we ended up staying for hours.
There were moments where my dad would go dead quiet, there were no pictures on the walls; when I went into my dads room. Everything that was of my moms, was gone. It was in a shed, locked up; tears kept coming to me, but they wouldn't fall.
I looked at the made bed in his room, even the pictures in the bedroom where gone.
"Your mom told me about the fight you two had a few years ago before the accident." I heard my dad say, I turned to him with tears in my eye. I had this huge lump in my throat.
He forced a weak smile. "She knows you love her Haley, don't leave here thinking she didn't know that." He told me.
It was then, finally; my turn to cry.
I sat on the bed, while my dad hugged me tightly; tears kept streaming down my cheeks. It felt like all I could do was cry for hours, I didn't want to let him go; I didn't want to leave knowing my mom wasn't going to be here with him and Jace.
After I told him I was fine, I looked at him with a serious expression.
"Come back to L.A. with us.." I offered.
My dad smiled softly before shaking his head. "I appreciate that kiddo, but I'm sure your mom would want to stay here in Texas like I will for her. Just come visit more often, it'll do you some good." He said.
I forced a weak smile. "Now that I'm here, I don't want to leave you.. I came here thinking you and mom would be upset that I finally decided to show my face, Lily was excited to see you.." I murmured.
My dad kissed my forehead before playfully punching me.
"We're going to be fine, Kyle and Ashley come around every other day to visit us; its been hard these past two years. But all I remember is seeing that beautiful smile on your mothers face saying that she loved all of us including you." He told me.
More tears slipped and all I could do was shake, I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay, I wanted this to be a dream; to wake up and know that my mom was alive and well.
Not buried under ground in a casket.

When we left my dads house, all I could do was look out the mirror; him and Jace stood out in the yard waving at us, and more tears fell. My mom was gone, she wasn't coming back. I couldn't tell her that I loved her, except in prayer.
I looked to CC who had remained quiet since we left.
"I want to start going to church." I told him.
CC glanced to me with a soft frown. "Okay, I figured you would. When I get back from tour, I'll start going with you and the kids." He said.
I could only manage a nod, tears kept filling my eyes; I forgot about tour. I forgot he would be gone, and knowing my mom was gone. Made me not want him to leave.

We stopped at Cheddar's for a bite to eat, we ended up making jokes and smiles so our kids wouldn't be upset knowing their aunt and mother was in a sad mood.
I looked at my chicken strips frowning softly, the last time I came here was when my grandfather passed away. Nine years exact, so being here now. Makes me remember begging my mom for alcohol, to my disadvantage. She told me no.
I tried my best to eat without breaking down, but when mom's and their kids walked in all smiling; made that even harder.
I escaped from the table and ran straight to the bathroom, I was chased after by both Kayla and CC. When I made it into the bathroom, four arms were wrapping around me as tightly as ever. The tears came down like a water fall.
Funny thing is, it started raining; that exact same day.