Supermarket Flowers

1 Month on

Jack sits quietly in the chapel of rest, Nikki's body layout next to him on the slab, he still can't get over that Nikki has died. Her body had finally been released to family and preparations for the funeral were underway. "... Scarlett smiled for the first time today Nikki, it was a proper smile Niks... she looks so much like you" He smiles as he strokes her blonde hair. 

He leans forward and kisses her forehead, "God I miss you so much" He mumbles against her cold forehead, a tear slips from his face down onto Nikki's face. He wipes it away and smiles. 
"I promise you, Nikki, I will make sure Scarlett does you proud... I love you with all my heart, there will never be another woman in my life. You are the only one for me... You're gone, why... I want you back Nikki" He says as he breaks down and holds her hand tightly. 

Jack sits there for a moment and thinks to himself before coming up with a brilliant idea, He kisses Nikki's head again and then excuses himself from the room and goes to reception. "Excuse me... I need a had, I've decided I want to make my 1-month-old daughter a memory box of her Mum. I want to take some of her hair, and also take a print of Nikki's hand so my Scarlett can put her hand in her Mummy's hand when she is feeling upset our ill" Jack speaks as he starts to break down again. 

The receptionist smiles and follows his request within the hour she had managed to her a print fo Nikki's hand and take a cut from her hair, she even plaited it for him. Jack hugs the receptionist and then heads back into the chapel of rest and cleans up Nikki's hand. 

Later on, Jack returns home to Thomas and his daughter Rosie looking after Scarlett. Thomas smiles at his friend, "how is Nikki?" Thomas smiles. 

"She's good, I don't want to let her go... I can't face it tomorrow... I can't say goodbye to her, Thomas... I need her here with me, ranting at me for doing something wrong, helping me with Scarlett, sharing the night feeds... I don't want her to go" Jack says and breaks down again. 

His friend tries his hardest to console the grieving man. Rosie looks at her Dad and then gives a friendly smile and leaves the room, Carrying baby Scarlett in her arms. "Jack I know this is going to be so hard... I miss her too, everyone misses her. But she will be at rest Jack" Thomas breathes feeling his heart sinking and the tears threatening to overflow. 

The following Morning Jack dresses in a smart black suit with a Rose in the top pocket, there were Nikki's favourite flowers, she had told this him on a number of occasions and that if they were to ever get married they were to have Red and White roses everywhere. 
Jack picks Scarlett up and cradles his child and kisses her head, "Be a good girl today Scarlett... Mummy loves you always baby girl" He says and starts to cry again.  

The ceremony comes around and there is a small turn out of close friends for Nikki who has come to mourn the loss of her so soon, Clarissa, Thomas, and Rosie all sit on the same bench row as Jack and support him through the entire ceremony. 
Clarissa keeps Scarlett beside her in the car seat and gently rocks the car seat. Soon Jack stands up and delivers a speech to the people and to Nikki. 
He kisses his hand and then places it on Nikki's coffin before delivering the speech, "I really don't know what to say... Nikki loved life, she would always laugh at me for saying she should look to the future, the day Nikki found out she was pregnant with our daughter changed everything, we were going to be a proper family... now nothing has changed she will always be with me..." Jack breaths as he looks at the coffin and takes a deep breath in. 

Jack continues to deliver his speech to her friends and family, Jack soon finishes his speech and once again kisses his hand and places it on the coffin before whispering 'I love you'.

He sits back down beside Thomas who hands him another tissue. Jack looks over at his daughter sleeping soundly in the car seat blissfully unaware of what is happening, his heart breaks once again into a thousand little pieces then he starts to openly cry even more. 

Thomas paces his arm around Jack and comforts his friend, The vicar beings a prayer for Nikki and the whole church follows. Soon the ceremony is over and the curtains slowly close around Nikki's coffin, Jack tries his hardest to stand but finds himself breaking and his legs buckling under himself.
The song begins to play a song that Nikki has always loved by Eva Cassidy. 
Midnights in winter
The glowing fire
Lights up your face in orange and gold
I see your sweet smile
Shine through the darkness
Its line is etched in my memory
So I'd know you by heart

In an instant Nikki was gone, Jack's heart was breaking from the loss of his lover and the idea that in a few years time Scarlett will be asking where her Mummy is and why she can't see her. These ideas haunt Jack but he knew he needs to stay strong for his daughter.