Scarlett

29 - Scarlett

10 Years Later:

"Scarlett, baby are you ready?"

No, I wasn't - how could I possibly be ready for this day. I smiled at the man standing in front of me, he had definitely become more handsome with age, the beard he kept neatly trimmed was a fairly new addition but suited him well.

"I don't think I can do this" I sighed,

"You can do this beautiful, I know you can" he held his hand out for me to take, giving me a reassuring smile

I nodded, taking a hold of the hand that was held out in front of me,

"Where are the kids?" I whispered as I allowed myself to be wrapped in warm arms,

"All ready to go - except Loges - he won't go down without you"

"Ok, I'll go get him"

I stopped at the door of my eldest sons room, Logan had turned 17 only a month ago, he was the spitting image of my Dad when he was the same age, same dark hair, same grey eyes, same sun kissed skin.

"Hey baby, are you ready?"

"Yeah, I guess"

I walked to him, taking his hand and pulling him to me,

"It's going to be a tough day baby, it's ok if you feel a bit strange"

"It just sucks Mum, he was only here a few days ago" Logan smiled "We we're talking about girls" he pulled away though I kept my arms around him "And now he's gone and I can't"

"Loges, baby - I know this is awful and I am so sorry that you have to go through this, if I could take your pain away baby I would - but I can't" I felt the tears that had built up in my eyes flow free when they saw Logan's trickling down his own face, "He loved you so much Loges, and we were so lucky to have him in our lives - now we need to carry on with him in us, he will always be with us Logan"

"Sorry to interrupt you two - the cars are waiting, we really need to head out"

"Ok, we're coming" I smiled at Carson who stood by the door,

I grabbed Logan's hand holding it tight in mine,

"Come on baby, we need to do this?"

Logan nodded at me,

"I really loved him Mum"

"I know you did baby, and he loved you so much too Loges, I think you were his favourite" I leaned in whispering to him and he smiled "Let's go ok?"

He nodded, grabbing his jacket that was hanging on the back of his chair we made our way down stairs.

The church was full, overflowing with people actually, though I didn't recognise hardly any of them, the first two pews were kept empty for us.
My mum held onto Seb's arm tightly as he walked next to her - taking the seat alongside myself and Logan.

The dark mahogany coffin in front of us was closed. It had been almost a week since the day that he left us, it was sudden and unexpected even given his 87 years of age.
My father Hunter Stilton woke up on the Thursday morning, had breakfast with my mother and complained only slightly of a headache, he went for a swim like he had done every morning then a shower before taking my Mum out for lunch.
She found him a short while later, laying on the floor of the bedroom, partially dressed - but not responsive, he was pronounced dead officially at the hospital, brain aneurism.
Shocked and devastated are the only two words I can use to describe how I felt when I got the call, Seb and Kira arriving shortly after so Kira could watch the kids while Seb and I attended to Mum, it had only been a few days since we had saw him - Sunday dinners had been introduced almost 10 years ago by him at our family home - all of us had to attend unless there was a damn good excuse and I mean it had to be real damn good.
The priest took his place standing behind the coffin, I grabbed Logan's hand held it tightly and placed my other arm around Carter pulling him to my side, Deacon was snuggled against my mother while Mya and Zeke sat alongside Carson, Seb sat on the other side of Mum, Kira, Harper and Hudson next to them, Jax and Shay sat next them.