A Housewives' Tale

Chapter 11 - The Time Has Come

-Oct 14, 1962-

"I was supposed to say something to them....but I just couldn't. I didn't have the heart to tell them that their father, well technically only Rosaline's father, is gone. And he is never coming back."

"The funeral is today Abigail. There is no time left. I advise you tell them straight after we are done here. It is no use dragging it on any further, they would've found out sooner or later."

"But they are my CHILDREN!" I stand up and walk towards the door, "I'm sorry but I have to go"

"No Miss Dalton, you are staying right here, now SIT DOWN" His voice was firm and direct. I drag myself back to my chair and sit back down, the leather squeaking as I make myself comfortable once again.

"What if someone else told them instead, would that be easier?" I grab a tissue and loudly blow my nose.

"No, it has to be you. You are their mother, their hero, the only person they can trust in the entire world. They may not know all your secrets, but they understand your pain."

"NO ONE UNDERSTANDS YOU HEAR ME, THEY ARE LITTLE KIDS THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL THAT WAY"

"Calm down Abigail. Now, go home, tell your children and I will see you at the funeral this afternoon." He stretches out his hand and I shake it. Better be polite I suppose.

I march out the door and run to my car before driving home blurry eyed from the tears. "I cant do this" I tell myself and almost veer off the side of the road due to the crying. I finally arrive back home and compose myself as much as possible before entering the house.

As I walk through the door, my girls are already dressed in black with their in perfect curls cascading down their backs, and a braid going across the front. "What are you girls ready for?" I ask hesitantly as I walk towards them and embrace them tightly.

"The funeral mummy" Marilyn answered first, followed by Rosaline "For daddy mummy. He is going to join grandpoppy in the sky isn't he mummy?" I burst into tears and fall to the floor at that moment.

I speak through my tears "Who told you that girls?".....Silence fell and Marilyn came closer and whispered in my ear "Grandmummy was talking about it with Jazzy and we overheard but I already knew"..."How did you already know sweetheart?"....."Because I saw you....and I saw Mr Ronan....and Daddy, I saw him too. I saw him fall down. He must've fell asleep and hit his head because he was bleeding. I guess he just forgot to wake up." I sat there on my knees completely silent, looking at Marilyn with wide eyes and a broken heart.

She saw it all happen. She saw everything that happened and never told me. Was she afraid? Sad? Confused? Unaware? I hugged her tightly and cried into her shoulder. She hugged me back and mumbled "It's okay mummy, I'll be strong for you. Like a big girl. I love you mummy" I cried harder until I could hardly breathe. I let her go and looked at her. How could a girl so young be stronger than her own mother. How she could understand such pain but not feel it so prominently.

"Can I tell you something dear. I am very proud of you....both of you. Now I know that you already know this, but daddy is going to join grandpoppy in the sky, among all the clouds. And today we are going to help him fly up there to meet grandpoppy so he can watch over us and keep you girls safe. Now you may not be able to see him anymore but he will be there. Watching over you like an angel does. So that no one will hurt you or cause you pain. I want you to remember that okay?" I stand up and take Marilyn's and Rosaline's hand and take them over to my mother's house, which is just past the garden. "Now I'm going to leave you with grandmummy while I get ready okay?"

"Okay" they reply in unison and run through the back door as soon as I let go of their hands. Once they are inside I sprint back to the cottage and run into the bedroom. I head into the bathroom and look into the mirror. All I see is a broken soul with a cracked exterior looking back at me. I stand there looking for a few more minutes until I will myself to change. I wash my face with cold water and redo my makeup. My makeup is simple: foundation, light pink blush, a thin line of black eyeliner, mascara and nude coloured lipstick. My hair is also simple: straightened with ends curled under and half of it pulled back with a hair clip encrusted with diamonds and sapphire. My dress is knee length and goes straight down, no flare at the waist and no patterns. It has mid length sleeves and a lace hem on the bottom. I put on a pair of black lace gloves and put on my black mary janes to complete my outfit. I grab my black purse and check my outfit one last time before heading over to my mother.