Bad Blood (h.s.)

Part Fifty-Three

Part Fifty-Three

My mother's hand is gripped tightly, her heart monitor slow. Her eyes are closed, her breathing barely even a whisper, so slow and faint.

"Beth, I think it's her time," the doctor whispers.

I nod and bury my head in our hands. She's warm, but I can feel it fading, just like her breathing. Her chest isn't moving anymore, and her eyes are closed, permanently.

"I love you mom, forever and always."

My father's ring runs along her hand, her wedding ring becoming connected with it. A few tears leave my eyes, but I know she's safe. She's in a good place and she is with my dad. They are back together finally and they will be happy. I know it.

~

"Today we celebrate the joining of a soul in heaven, loved by many; a daughter, a wife, and a mother. We will remember her in our prayers and Connie Jones will be with us forever."

The funeral ends and multiple people meet me and my grandmother who flew in from upper Washington. We were the only family she had left and are the last of us. In her will, my mother left me all her money and my father's, but she also gave me her wedding ring, which rests on my middle finger.

"Beth, everything is perfect now. She's finally with him again," my grandma tells me. I nod and she rubs my back, continuing to talk to people. My heart warms when I see Emma, Morgan, and Gabby. They all give me a massive hug and I return it, treasuring the time I have with them. They are my sisters, always there for me. An unexpected guest stops by, my ex-boyfriend Ray is here and I give him a hug. He always knew how to hug, he was excellent at it. All the times running from Greg from when he inflicted the scar, was spent in this boy's arms, his security helping me through it.

"How have you been Beth?" he asks, pulling away and looking down at me.

"Alright. I have a boyfriend now and he's keeping me on my feet. We are getting through it."

He smiles and tells me he proposed to a girl we used to go to high school with, my happiness for him growing. I give him another hug and he walks away, gripping onto a girl's hand, Francine. She was so nice and sweet, anyone would be lucky to have her and I'm happy it's Ray.

A few more people leave their condolences with us and we go to a reception, sharing how much we will miss my mom and telling our favorite stories of her. There wasn't a dry in the room, either from laughing so hard or from the loving memories.

"Feel free to come by my house okay?" my grandma tells me, getting ready to go back home.

"I will grandma. I will."

I hug her and she kisses my cheek, getting into the taxi and driving away. A sigh leaves my lips and I walk into the hotel, alone. Harry is still in England and has been there for almost a month. It was frightening to hear that his father and him had an encounter, but I assured him he's safe.

Harry calls me every day and we talk for hours, two nights ago being the longest since I told him about my mother's passing. He wishes he was with me but I told him I was fine, considering she is now with my father.

I decided to go into bed, not bothering to change, and I fall asleep, wishing more than anything Harry would cuddle with me.

My phone blares at four in the morning, my hands rubbing my eyes. I pick it up and my favorite voice flows through the phone.