Surviving for each other

Chapter 12: A Long Day

"Southern Nights'' by Glen Campbell played making your kitchen a bit more homey. She sets the eggs on the counter as you sit her down at the island. You spin her around in the chair before setting a plate down in front of her. With a little bowl of powdered sugar you served your happy guests.You sit down next to Sherry Leon on the other side of her. "This looks so good (Y/N)! I don't know how you make this but it's so good!" Leon laughs a bit at Sherry's comment. "Well Sherry if you want me to teach you how to cook I certainly can." She looks at you excitedly as she takes a bite and nodded her head. " That would be so fun! My mom never was home enough to teach me anything. They were always too busy at work. I just wished they were home more. But this is good too!" You have her a sad smile, you knew what that was like. "So Sherry, what would you like to do for your mom? I thought I could wash her coat so it's nice and clean." She looks down at her food "I think that would be nice. I want flowers there too. She liked flowers." Leon looked over giving her half of his cinnamon roll. "Don't get her hopped up on sugar now." Sherry giggled as Leon smiled at you, you smiling back. "I want to look at your music too (Y/N). I want to see if you have my moms favorite song." You look over to Leon. "You're going to have to help me bring over some spare wood for a coffin. If I start right after breakfast I can get it done." He looks at you still finishing his breakfast. "I am sorry that's a trade you had to master (Y/N), but if you make it then I am sure it will be perfect for the funeral." You noticed Leon said this with sad eyes. Sherry nodded "I am sure my mom will like it." You gave her a little side squeeze as you both sat finishing breakfast. "We still have to choose where we are going to bury her, Sherry. I want to show you where we can." You all finish your breakfast and Leon gets dressed. Putting on your boots you head out the door motioning for the others. The two exit the back door to the garage as you throw open the garage door. A dim light seeps in, clouds rolled in blocking your beautiful day. It's cool outside now almost like an early spring morning. Before leaving the garage to grab 2 large shovels and gloves. Leon in his t-shirt and jeans takes Sherry's hand as you all make your way to the end of the driveway. "It's this way." You said taking a left. Leon realised even in the little tour of your neighborhood you haven't yet taken him right of the driveway. You kept walking all silent while Leon held Sherry's hand and tried to quiet the clumping of his large boots. Towards the end of the cul de sac they started to notice the many wooden crosses and a few nicer rock formations. There was a nice low fence around the homemade graveyard. Leon looked around realising what this all meant, this was all you. He looked around in horror at what you meant by we all go through a lot. At Least 70 grave markers stood some smaller and decorated some large and respectable. You took Sherry's other hand as she looked around sad. "All these people were taken from this world, some too soon. I knew all of these people, holiday barbeques and forth of July celebrations. We all knew each other and I felt that maybe they could be at peace here with their families. I made a coffin and grave for each one so they would have an honorable burial." You started walking up the small dirt path with each other. Leon noticed names carved into wood and rock with wildflowers planted and growing all over. Your watch beeped "Wow what a perfect time if you would like to join me I would like you to meet my family." You walked up the hill, on top rested 2 large graves and 2 small ones. You sat Sherry down on the large rock you usually sit on to talk. You took Leon's hand and led him over to the two large graves. One, Larger than the other, had a biker vest draped over one side and a dog collar on the other. A large bow strapped to the back of the slightly smaller one hung by the string with two arrows layne beside it. "This is my grandpa and my dad, they've both been gone longer than most." Leon grabs your hand "It is very nice to meet you sir's. I am glad to keep your daughter and granddaughter company through this. I won't let anything happen I promise, as much as you would like to see her we need her too." He lets go of your hand and wraps his arm around your waist while you lean on his shoulder. You two walk over to the other two graves, they were small and decorated. Flowers and little trinkets nestle in the long grass shown by the graves, a small glass elephant on one and a hair ribbon flowing on a stake populated the other. "These are my little sisters (S/N) and (S/N). They were with me a while after this all started. I tried for them, I tried to bring back the world to the way they remember. The way they played outside in the sun, the heat giving them an excuse to beg for the garden sprinkler. They were taken too young but maybe it was fate telling them they belong with my family. I am just glad I found a reason to stay." You hug Leon and shed a few tears. Sherry walks over and hugs your soft midsection saying she's there for you. "No no Sherry it's my job to be there for you." She looks up at you and Leon gives you the same look. "(Y/N) everybody needs someone to be there for them. You can't carry that all by yourself. Let us at least help." You hugged the two a bit tighter. "Yeah let us help we love you!" Sherry said excitedly. You wipe a few tears from remembering the good times with your family. "Sherry I think you should pick where you would like your mother to rest." Sherry started to walk around taking a look at every available grassy spot in the lot. She eventually picked a spot not far from your families but towards the edge next to a small pine tree. You placed a stake where the headstone was going to be placed. "Sherry, would you like a cross or a rock?" She looked around comparing the options. "My mom was a scientist so maybe a nice rock would be something she would like." You give her a nod of acknowledgment leaving to search for the large rock you could use. Finding a large enough rock you and Leon carried it over placing it on the head of what would soon be a grave. You dug the shovel into the soft dirt starting the long process of the 6 foot hole. Leon soon followed, grabbing the other shovel as he helped. Sherry walked around exploring the grounds. She found an old light bench carrying it over and placing it a few feet from the freshly dug hole. It's been about an hour of you and Leon digging when you finally announced you were finished. You all started to leave making your way back down the thin path. You could tell Sherry was visibly upset so you grabbed Sherry's hand, Leon doing the same. You both lift her up and she swings between you two, hoping to cheer her up. You all laugh as you reach the house. "Alright everyone we have a lot of work to do today and it's already 2:30. Leon if you could help me with that spare wood that would be wonderful. Sherry if you want to pick flowers and find your music you are welcome to, just stay in the yard." Everyone nods at their instructions as you start to head out with Leon. "I think it's really sweet how you treat Sherry. Is it just me or does everything feel like it's moving so fast. First I got you then Sherry I mean it feels like we have been together forever but it's only been a couple of days." You said as you made your way out the back door to the fence. "I don't really know (Y/N). Maybe it's this new world we live in. Maybe we are so eager to have a connection with anyone that we are ready to lay our life out. All I know for sure is I am glad I found you guys." You chuckle "Hmmmm me too." You two make your way to the back yard and start to move the wood. Leon picked up a bit more trying to impress you. "Got enough wood there." You giggle a bit as he struggles. "I'm a cop, I can handle this." You passed him carrying your wood smirking a bit to yourself. Opening the other garage door you exposed a work bench with a large red tool box and radio. After bringing all the wood you needed over to your workbench you began your trade. You pressed play on the large stereo playing whatever was preloaded into the deck. "Scar Tissue" by Red Hot Chili Peppers rang through the garage. "Do you need any help with this?" He offered and you accepted. "Sure, use those muscles and cut this wood for me. And don't use your bad arm sir." He smiles at you as you hand him some boards marked with black ink. "Just saw where the marks are and that will be the top of the coffin." You walk over to your large red standing tool box and pull out a hammer and nails. You laid about four boards for the base and built up from there. Leon finished cutting the wood and you finished assembling the base. You used the scraps to form the top as you instructed Leon on how to make the lid. It being close to 6 you were finally finished with the coffin. "Now you know for possible future reference how to make a coffin." He looked at you a bit tired, whipping a little sweat from his forehead. You walked inside bringing out a cold glass of water. "Heh thanks (N/N)." You look at him for a second. "(N/N) is that a nickname I hear?" He laughs lowly as he fixes himself up. "Maybe." He said with a little smirk. You gave him a little escimo kiss as Sherry trotted in. "Wow (N/N). My mom would have really liked this." Leon looked at you as you walked up to her. "Sherry I have one last thing I need you to do." You turn around to the large tool box pulling out a pyrography pen. "Sherry this is a battery powered pyrography pen. I would like you to write your mother's name on the lid. Don't touch the tip of the pen, it's very hot." You hand Sherry the large pen as she leans on the lid. You give her a minute to write as you went to get the dolly. Sherry finished up revealing a well written "Annette Berkin" on the lid. "You have such good handwriting. Annette is a beautiful name." Sherry leads you inside showing you the counter full of wildflowers. "I collected as many as I could find. I also found the record she used to put on when working at home. I don't know if she liked it but she played it a lot." You lead her over to the counter while Leon walked in. "Sherry I think we should dress for the funeral, you should too Leon." Leon nodded to you as he headed to his room as you led Sherry to hers. Going through the large box still in the corner of the room you pull out a small black dress. "This was my sisters. I hope that it fits, I have a pair of shoes for you too." You pull out the pair of black mary janes and hand them all to her. Folding the dress on the bed and the shoes at the base you go to leave. "I'll leave you to it." You leave and head into your room. You pull out your black dress knowing right where it was. "I hoped I wouldn't have to put you on so soon but what can you do." The dress was tight on the top and had a flared base with lace lining the bottom. The sleeves were made completely by black lace down to your wrists. You put your hair up into a tight bun and wore a pair of black strapped heels. You put in a pair of blue gemstone earrings and make your way into the living room. You see Leon in his clean full police uniform neat and tidy. "(Y/N) you look beautiful." He walks closer taking your hand. "I was just hoping I wouldn't have to wear this so soon." He pulls you into a hug, your head resting on his hard bullet proof vest. "You look good in your uniform." He chuckled; his low laugh vibrating through his frame. "I haven't worn it long enough for someone to say that." You two break the hug as Sherry walks out tugging down her dress. "Oh Sherry you look so pretty." You walk over helping her with the buckle in her shoes. "Oh I forgot I made these for everyone while you were working." Sherry's little shoes tap the tile as she walks over to the many small bouquets laying on the counter. Moving the larger one she reveals 3 handmade flower crowns one being noticeably smaller than the other two. "I thought they would look nice for the funeral." You pick up the smaller one fixating it on Sherry's head. "Very thoughtful of you to think of us too." She grabs one of the larger ones as you put on yours. She trots over to Leon as he kneels down knowing what's coming next. She snuggly fits the crown on his head. "Thank you ma'am." He said as he pushed a flower of hers back in place. She gave a weak smile as he stood back up. You walked into the laundry room pulling the red coat from the clothes line. You carry it out to her as Sherry's eyes lock onto the coat. "Sherry would you like to put it in the coffin before we take it down." She comes up and touches the sleeve. "It's all clean. It looks like when she used to wear it." You handed the coat to her as she started walking to the door. She left the door open for you and Leon to follow through. You both walked out the garage door and to the other side of the garage you watched as Sherry quietly made her way to the case. She slowly laid the jacket down folding over the arms after putting in a single purple wild flower. She closes and gives a small kiss to the lid as she starts to walk towards us. Putting the coffin on a waggon with a rope we start to make our way down the street.