Unfaithfully

View From Heaven

I'm just so tired, won't you sing me to sleep...

It was January again. Lacie had just turned 21 two months prior and her beautiful children were already 6. She couldn't believe how time was flying. She didn't want her babies to grow up so fast. January always made her melancholy. Not just because her children were growing up so fast. She pulled out an old photo album and started flipping through the pages. She had tears rolling down her face by the time that Billie came into her room.

"Lace, why do you always do this every year?"

"Because I miss her! Maybe I'm fucking bitter about everything that happened."

"Honey, you can't keep doing this to yourself. I know it hurts, but you've got to move on with your life."

"When you're in my fucking shoes Billie, then you can tell me to move on with my life."

"I'm not arguing with you Lacie." Billie said as she went back to her own room.

Lacie closed the photo album and picked up her phone to call Patrick. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hey baby. How are you doing?"

"I've been better. Can I come crash at your place tonight?" Lacie sniffled.

"Of course you can sugar. You don't ever have to ask that. That's why I gave you my spare key."

"Thanks Trick. I'll be over there in a few minutes."

Lacie asked Billie and Andy to watch the kids for the night and headed out the door putting her coat on as she left the apartment. The cold Chicago air hit her hard, but she didn't feel it as she walked to Patrick's building. She went inside and up to his floor, letting herself into his apartment. He immediately came out of his room and wrapped her in a hug.

"What's wrong baby girl?"

"Patrick, I need to ask you for a favor."

"Anything for you Lacie."

"I need you to come to Oklahoma with me. I'm gonna see if Billie and Andy will watch the kids for me. There's something I need to do, and they don't need to see it."

Patrick looked worried. "I'll see if Elisa will keep Declan for a few days longer. What's going on babe? You're not in some kind of trouble are you?"

"No Trick, nothing like that. I just need some emotional support right now."

"Ok honey. I'm here for you."

He led her to his room and laid her down on the bed, laying himself next to her. He pulled her close and softly sang to her as she cried into his chest.

The next day, they were piled into her car on their way to Lacie's hometown. She put a CD in the player and they rode in semi-silence, singing along to Yellowcard. Patrick knew something was really wrong when Lacie burst into tears while listening to 'View from Heaven'. He pulled the car over and shut off the engine.

"Lacie, please tell me what's wrong."

"We're going to visit my grandmother's grave. I've never been there since she died when I was 13. My parents never even told me. Billie's mom finally told me and it devastated me. She was my best friend and the one person besides my aunt that really pushed me to improve my talents. She was the light of my life and we were extremely close. I never got to say goodbye to her before she died."

"So you want to visit her grave?"

"I need some form of closure Patrick, and I feel like this will help me heal and move on. I need to feel like I haven't totally ruined my life."