The High Life. The final stretch

Chapter 63

Rhianne's POV.

Not much happened in the run up October half term than Lilly got some rather distressing news.

"Hope everything is okay." I said Lilly had been up in her room for the last half an hour.

"Sure everything is fine." Con said It was the weekend and he was getting the kids their breakfast.

I heard footsteps on the stairs and seconds later Lilly walked into the kitchen. She'd clearly been crying. She was shaking her head.

"Oh Lilly." I said going over to her and putting my arms around her.

"Oh mum." She said bursting into tears.

"Lilly?" Casper said coming into the kitchen. She let go of me and put her arms around Casper, he knew.

"I've got to get out." Lilly said seconds later standing up and walking towards the door.

"Lilly." Con started

"Con. Let her go." I said watching Lilly walk out the door.

"Where's she gone?" Con said

"The rink." Casper said

"How do you that?" Con said

"Because I know my sister." Casper said

"Maybe I should go after her." Con said

"No Connor. I'll text James." I said

"James?" Con said

"Well he is her godfather." I said

"We should go." Con said

"She want to see either of you." Casper said

"Casper haven't you got work to do?" Con said

"Con......" I looked at him "I'm going to give James a call." I said walking out of the room
"Hey James. Can you go over to the rink please......"

"Yeah." James said

3 hours later James and Lilly walked back through the door.

"Hey Lilly." I said

"Hey mum." She said

"You okay?" I asked

"2 hours skating and an hour crying on James's shoulder yeah I think I'm better." Lilly said

"Good?" I said

"Yeah." Lilly said

"I have home work." Lilly said

"Okay." I said and Lilly turned round and went up to her room

"She'll be okay. Did you find out when the funeral is?"

"Friday." James said

"Did you find out if she wants to go?" I said

"I think she does." James said
"I'll book tickets we'll leave first thing tomorrow." I said

"Rhianne we can't just drop everything and go to the State the kids have school." Con said

"Then I'll take Lilly." I said

I went upstairs mainly to make sure Lilly was okay.

"Lill." I said knocking on her door.

"Hey mum." She said she was sat on her bed books laid out in front of her laptop on her knee

"You okay?" I asked sitting on the only available space on Lilly's bed, right at the edge

"I think so." Lilly said

"Do you want to go to the funeral?" I asked

"I do and I don't." Lilly said

"What do you mean?" I asked

"I want to go because I want to say goodbye but I don't want to go because then it means he really is gone." Lilly said

"Yeah I know what you mean." I said thinking about grandma.

"Let's go Lilly. I'll come with you and if you want James or Ben to come I'm sure they will." I said

"Thanks mum. I don't know why I feel like this. I've known him less than a year." Lilly said

"I can't answer that, sorry Lilly." I said

"It's weird. It's as if I've known him for years." Lilly said looking up at me.

I didn't say anything.

She looked back at her laptop. Then said "We kissed."

"Really?" I said

"You're not angry." Lilly said

"Why would I be angry." I said

"Because." Lilly said

"Lilly you can kiss whoever you want. I'm not going to stop you." I said

Lilly laughed

"When?" I asked

"When I was out there just before the end of tour." Lilly said

"Fair enough." I said

We looked at each other for a couple of minutes then Lilly said "I have a lot of work to do. Will you shout when dinner is ready."

"Of course." I said standing up.

"Thanks mum." She said I gave her a hug and went down stairs.

Over the next few days I booked our tickets out to the states for Matt funeral. Both James and Ben were coming with us. We were only going to the states for 5 days but that didn't stop me worrying about leaving Connor with the kids.

"Rhianne, It's going to be fine." Con said it's Wednesday night and me, Lilly, James and Ben around about to leave

"I know. Just worried." I said

"About what?" Con said

"I don't know." I said

Connor smiled moved closer to me, put his hands on my hip and pulled me towards him.

"It's going to be fine. Stop worrying." Con said kissing my neck.

"Have fun." I said

"You as well." Con said

"A funeral.......Joy." I said

"Remember you doing it for Lilly." Con said

"Yeah, I know." I said

"Good. Now I think James and Ben are here." Con said looking over my shoulder

"Okay. Lilly." I turned and shouted.

"Coming." She said coming out of the music room.

"Ready?" I said

"Yeah." She said

"Good." I smiled

"Hey." Came a voice from the hall

"Hey James." I said smiling

"Hey." Ben said

"Ready Lilly?" Ben said

"Yeah." Lilly said

"Good lets go." I said

"See you Monday morning." I said

"Yeah." Con kissed me

"You ready Rhi?" James called from the door

"Yeah." I said turning towards the door

"Safe trip and let me know when you get there." Con said

"Okay." I said I kissed him and walked out the door