Remember When....

Home Sweet Home

First thing Stacey did when we got to the house was lay Caylen down on her bed and asked me to go make some soup for her. As I made my way down to the kitchen I saw Robert sitting on the couch hunched over so his elbows were on his knees and his hands covering his face.

"You okay dad?" I asked somewhat quietly so I didn't startle him.

He took a deep breath and sat up. "Yeah I'm fine" he said wiping a tear from his cheek.

I went over and hugged him tightly and didn't let go until I felt him stop sobbing.

"You're so good to her," he said with his head on my shoulder "thank you for being so great to her. All I want is for her to be happy."

"She deserves it dad." I said rubbing his back he let go and I got up "I'm making soup for Caylen do you want me to make you anything?"

"No that's okay sweetheart I'm not hungry." He said turning on the tv.

I nodded and headed to the kitchen. I made Caylen her favorite chicken noodle soup with a grilled cheese sandwich cut diagonally into two triangles. I grabbed a cup from the cabinet and green tea from the fridge. I poured almost a cup full of tea and grabbed a couple napkins. I grabbed everything and started walking upstairs.

As I came across the living room I look to see Robert sleeping on the couch while the tv plays in the background. I entered Caylen's room and set the food on her desk. I walked over to her and gently kissed her forehead while rubbing her hairline with my thumb.

She smiled and asked "what did you make my love?" I smiled and walked over to give her the food and set it on her bed in her reach.

"How about a movie babe." She nodded smiling and I turned on Frozen.

Man does she love Olaf. It's the cutest thing when she sees him. She gets all excited and the little kid inside her comes out. Damn I love her. Near the end of the movie, I hear Stacey yell my name from downstairs.

I look back at Caylen and say "I'll be right back baby." She nods and I walk downstairs.

"How is she doing sweetheart?" Stacey asked me.

"She's doing okay right now. She ate most of the grilled cheese and all the soup." I replied

"That's great. Here," Stacey said handing me 2 horse pills, "she needs to take these."

"She has tea up there should I get her water?" I asked looking at the pills.

"No tea will work just as good."

I nod with the pills cupped in my hand and walk back upstairs. I walk into her room looking at the pills

"Babe you gotta take these real quick."

I didn't hear anything so I look up.

"Babe?" I ask noticing she wasn't in the room.

I walk over to the bathroom door and knock on it.

"Babe? Are you in there?"

There was no response so I slowly opened the door. She wasn't in there either. I think for a second and then walk out of her room and down the hall. Two doors down, on the left, was Shane's room and the door was open.

I walk in and see Caylen looking at the pictures hanging on his wall. I walk up behind Caylen and rest my hand on the small of her back. She's crying and I kiss her tears. She looks at me and just melts into my arms.

"I know baby" I whisper in her ear while she's whimpering.

I stand there holding her for a while until I remembered that she still hasn't taken her pills.

I slowly let go and say "Baby, c'mon you need to take some pills."

She nods and I wipe her tears. As we walk back, she says "He was too young babe. I can't believe he's gone."

"I know babe. I know. He'll be missed very very much but you can't change what happened."

We enter her room, she sits on her bed and I grab her tea. She held out her right hand to take the cup and her left hand to take the pills. After she takes her pills we lay on the bed together and slowly doze off.