15 Years

The Funeral

The sound of the pastors words were muffled to Pacifica's ears. She only caught a couple of them like, to soon, loving mother, better place, and going to be missed. But Pacifica wasn't paying attention. She was staring at the closed casket at the front of the church that held her cousin and best friend. The stain glass window over the pastors head was shinning a colorful light down on the casket. Covering it with reds, blues and all kinds of colors. This made Pacifica smile a little. Beth would of loved that. Beth graduated collage with a fine arts degree and had a thing for bright colors. She could practically hear her now clapping with joy and commenting on how a little bit more purple would be just right.

Pacifica caught a tear that had escaped her eye. She rubbed the tear between her thumb and index finger before whipping it on her pants. She took a breath to calm down and decided to glance around the room to distract herself. She saw her uncle Boris fat as always sitting next to her Aunt Sarah... oh wait that wasn't Aunt sarah that was another woman. Must be a new aunt. Well that lasted more than eight months, a new record, good for him. She continued glancing around the room and found her cousin Jake playing on his Nintendo Switch ignoring the whole service. Understandable though Beth and Jake never really knew each other. Beth's Dad, Bruce, and his brother hated each other up til Beth's parents died. So they never had family get togethers. Bruce got along great with his sister though, Pacifica's Mom, and that's how Pacifica met Beth. They didn't see each other often but at an early age they hated each other. Beth was a caring person, unlike her family, and was care free. Now that Pacifica was thinking about it Beth was a lot like the Pine twins. Which explains why they didn't get along.

Pacifica chuckled quietly to herself and continued to look around the room her eyes stoped when they landed on two little people who were quietly sniffing. Her heart sank, how could she have forgotten about Beth's two little munchkins. Davy and Lizzy were sitting by themselves holding each other's hands. Davy hugged his sister whispering words as she held onto his shirt trying to stop crying but failing. Why was no one sitting with them? Who was taking care of them. Against the wall close to the kids was a skinny man in a suit and big glasses. Pacifica had seen men like him before. Her dad had a dozen of them at the ready if he ever got into trouble. The lawyer looked from the kids and turned his gaze onto her. Pacifica quickly turned her head until she was facing forward again. Why was he looking at her? She fidgeted in her seat until the service was over. As everyone stood she gathered her things and started to walk out from behind the chairs. She snuck a glance in the children's direction but they were gone. Her heart sank. Who was going to take care of them? She hopped they weren't going to an orphanage. They were two of the sweetest kids she's ever met and needed to be loved. She sighed and exited the church. She saw the limo that was taking the casket to the cemetery. She had decided not to go because she didn't want to drag the pain out much longer. She turned to walk to the parking lot when she heard someone call her name. She turned around and was tackled by two tinny people. She steadied her self and looked down into two seats of Big brown eyes that were red from crying.

"Aunt Pacifica!!!!" Davy and Lizzy were giggling and hugging her hips.

"Hey kids!" Pacifica bent down and hugged them tight then kissed their forehead.

"Oh I've missed you little munchkins." She said with a smile but her eyes gave away her grief.
"I'm so sorry." She said trying to hold back a sob. The kids buried their heads in her chest. She held them tight until they let go. She straitened when she saw someone standing near by. It was the lawyer she saw in church. When they made eye contact he took it as his cue and walked over.

"Hello Ms. Northwest my name is Samuel Richardson. I'm Bethany's lawyer." He stuck his hand out. Pacifica flipped a switch and her business woman side came out.

"Hello Mr. Richardson nice to meet you." She shook his hand.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I didn't know Bethany long but she was a vary kind woman." He said with a sad smile.

"Yes she was thank you. Is there something I can help you with?" Pacifica asked retuning the smile. He looked at her confused.

"Were you not notified about the children?"

"What about them?"

"There must have been a mix up. I was wondering why you hadn't greeted us when we arrived. Since Beth's parents have passed,  the father is no longer in the picture and we can't seem to get in touch with your parents and also what Beth's stated in her will-"

"What is it Mr. Richardson?"

"You are the only relative that is able to care for these children."