Don't Leave Us (Book Three in the Don't Leave Series) (Watty Awards 2014)

Chapter Four: Come On Skinny Love, Just Last The Year

Chapter 4

Tyler and Chris stood beside me as we visited Mat's grave. 

"I failed. I failed him," I whisper, looking down at the grave in front of me. Sadie and Trinity's were beside his, the reflections of our bodies shining off them. Tyler places a hand on my shoulder as Chris wraps her arm around mine. She leans her head on my shoulder as she takes hold of my arm.

"He was so good to me," I say shakily. "I could've done this one thing for him, and I couldn't do it right." Starting to cry, Chris wraps her arms around me. I shake slightly in her grasp as Tyler rests his forehead on my shoulder, crying with me. Within seconds, the three of us were crying and shaking, leaning on each other for support. 

Tyler's arms were wrapped around Chris and I as his forehead was still pressed to my shoulder. I had my arms wrapped around both of them, my face buried in Tyler's hair. Chris had her arms around me, one hand holding Tyler's. We were crying in front of the three that changed our lives. 

It felt good to cry, yet...very, very sad. 

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Reegan didn't come back until later that December for Christmas. Mathew had grown quite a bit, and Reegan had started to grow out her hair. It was shoulder length and she looked even more beautiful than she did months before. She was starting to look like Sadie everyday. 

Mathew looks a lot like Mitch, and he almost started to walk. I was becoming the proud grandfather every minute of every day. Reegan kept me updated every time little Mathew hit a new milestone. I knew that Mat was watching his grandson and his daughter from above. 

He would be so proud. 

Mitch came with to Christmas at our house and it was different considering he was a father to my step-daughter's baby. 

We all sat around the fire. Tyler holding Chris on the recliner, who just announced she was pregnant over five months ago. She started showing already and Tyler was very happy to be a father. Mitch, Reegan, and Mathew all sat on the couch, Reegan holding Mathew. He was already seven months old and a very hyperactive child. 

Adam, Alesa, Graham, and Grace came up to my home in Canada this year to celebrate Christmas. Graham wasn't exactly thrilled that Reegan was with Mitch now, but he announced that he was dating a girl from his school named Jesse. Adam and Alesa seemed to like her a lot. 

Grace was now nine months old and Alesa and Reegan were already planning on having their children date when they get older. Adam and Mitch found it funnier than anything. 

Kyle also came with Heather and Shelby. Shelby and Tyler were still really close friends, even though Tyler and Chris were together. Shelby told us that she was dating Dartron, who was still living in England. He and his girlfriend didn't work out, so Shelby stepped in and helped him through it, which made the two closer and then Dar got the courage to ask her out. 

Kyle and Heather have been married for three years now, and were extremely happy. Heather was pregnant with twins, and being eight months along, she was still the happiest woman we knew. 

As we all sat around the fire, Mitch held Reegan hand as Reegan held their son. I watched them with a slight smile on my face. Mitch suddenly sighed, surprising Reegan slightly. 

"What's up?" she whispered to him. Mitch slipped off of the couch, bending down on one knee and taking something out of his pocket. 

"Reegan, I've been contemplating this for a while. But..." he opened the small box that was in his hands, "will you marry me?"

Reegan sat there shocked, Mathew trying to reached for the ring. I leaned forward as all the girls let out aws and Tyler, Adam, and Kyle let out "you go Mitch!" Graham didn't seem very happy about this, and he shared the same expression I did: complete and utter shock. 

"Y-yes!" Reegan exclaimed and Mitch smiled, slipping the ring onto her finger. Everyone started to clap except for Graham and I. We still sat there with the same expression written across both our faces. 

"I approve of this," I say after the cheers had died down, "but you have to promise no marriage until you're eighteen." Reegan nods and looks to Graham. His shock had turned into anger. 

"I DON'T!" he yelled before storming out of the house and out into the backyard. Adam sighed and followed his son.

The rest of us stayed inside, waiting on their return.