STAY

One hundred and Four

Here's the second last chapter, yes it quite long as I felt it all needed to be read in one sitting. Enjoy x
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I was frozen in shock, I could feel my body trembling. "What .... what, happened?" I stammered. "Sit down, Genevieve, sit down" I heard Jared say. I felt hands on my arms and I was pulled over to the sofa, made to sit. Thankful really, because I felt as though I was about to collapse. I looked up at my dad and he looked sad, I knew though that the sadness was because of my hurt and wanting to spare my feelings. "I received a phone call from her lawyer. Late last night. She was in Cabo. She had been drinking, and .... had taken something, they still haven't determined what it was. At any rate, she went back to her hotel and fell asleep, in the morning her friend couldn't wake her up. She'd died sometime after she'd returned" he said. "Was Antonio there?" I asked, he shook his head. "No, he is in Italy, she had been planning on returning there in a few days" he replied quietly. I sat there stunned. I wasn't sure what to say or how to feel, our last moments together were awful and I resented her. Not just for what she had done that day, but for how she had behaved throughout my life. "Gigi, you don't need to say anything, just take some time to process it" said Jared gently, his hand on my arm. He'd come to sit on my other side, I hadn't even noticed until just now. "I'm fine, it's fine. I'm okay, what are they doing? I mean, when are they bringing her back to New York?" I said abruptly. I didn't want to feel the loss, not yet. I needed to push it away, I needed to have a plan and a focus. My dad shook his head, "she's not, coming back, she wanted to be in Italy" he said. I looked at him in shock, "are you kidding me? Her home is New York, that's where she should be" I said furiously, I stood up and started to pace. "What are you doing about it dad?!" I demanded. He stood up trying to reach out to me, shaking his head, but I stepped back. "No, I asked you a question! What are you doing? You need to fix this" I shouted, I could feel the hold on my control slowing ebbing away. "Genevieve, I'm doing nothing. It's what she wanted. I can't change that" he said calmly. "That's not good enough!" I screamed. I heard Isabella start to cry, I'd forgotten she was there and my heart sank at her distress, "Gigi you're scaring her, stop, please. Just calm down, we're going to try and work it out" said Jared standing up, he gave Isabella to his mom and made to put his arms around me but I stepped back, "there's nothing to work out! Didn't you hear him?" I said angrily, trying not to raise my voice. "Baby you need to calm down" he said, I tried to push him away, but he pulled me to him anyway. "I don't want to calm down, don't ...." I said shaking my head. The tears that had been threatening finally tipped over.
But he wouldn't let go, he held me tightly, whispering soft words, telling me I'd be okay. It would be okay.

Jared's POV -
I held her in my arms as she cried, heartbreaking sobs that tore at my insides. I would have done anything to take her pain away. I rubbed her back gently as she finally started to stop, taking some deep shuddering breaths. She looked up at me sadly, I lifted a hand and wiped her tearstained cheeks. "Caroline, could you organize some lunch, please?" I asked her, she nodded and smiled, "of course, let's get everyone something" she said kindly. "That's a great idea" agreed my mom, so they took over, both of them doing everything for us and Isabella. I was grateful, my attention was on Gigi and trying to keep her from falling apart. The rest of the day passed quietly. Gigi had barely said a word following her initial outburst. She just sat there, picking at her food, just staring past us all. Nodding occasionally when she was spoken to, but I could tell she wasn't really paying attention. It was still relatively early in the evening, I glanced over to see that she had laid her head on a cushion and closed her eyes. "Look, please stay here, make yourselves at home. I'm going to put Isabella and Genevieve to bed" I told them with a sigh. Gigi stood up, giving them a small smile of thanks as she let me lead her upstairs quietly. "Sit here while I sort her out" I told her as I sat her on the bed. "Sure" she nodded, not before standing up and kissing her forehead gently. I tucked a very tired baby into bed, she had closed her eyes before I'd even put her down. It was almost as though she had sensed the mood of the day and was tired from it like the rest of us. I walked back into our bedroom and found her curled up at the end of the bed. "Gigi, get up, come on, you gotta change" I told her. She opened her eyes and nodded, slowly getting up. Taking her time, stopping to sit and sigh, but finally slipping into bed. I slid in next to her, wrapping my arms around her, holding her tight against my chest. She didn't need any words now, she needed peace and quiet. I kissed her forehead and she looked up at me and smiled, a beautiful blinding smile. Warm and filled with affection. "I love you" I whispered to her, she nodded, "I love you too. Thank you" she murmured. I nodded and she closed her eyes, thankfully sleep finally relaxing her.
*
The next few days alternated between being busy and frantic, to feeling like we were forever waiting. Friends rang, a few came to visit to pay their respects, I was thankful to them all. My emotions were all over the place, I hardly knew how to feel. My moms two best friends had been tasked with organizing her final wishes. I was relieved, I hadn't really wanted to be involved. It had disappointed me to know she hadn't wanted to be in New York, but in the end I had to respect her choice. The only concession she had made was a memorial service there. "Here Genevieve, I made you some tea" said Jamie, walking into the lounge. I looked up and smiled thankfully, taking it from her. Isabella was having a nap so I was enjoying the peace and quiet. Jared was filming pick ups, Caroline and my dad had gone back to New York, so she had come over to 'visit' but really she was babysitting me. I was secretly grateful not to be alone, Jared's staff didn't count as company. "Jamie, shit, with everything that has happened I forgot to ask you. Did you find out, what you're having?" I said, remembering suddenly. She smiled at me as she rubbed her belly, "yes, it's a girl" she said. "Oh wow, that's fantastic, I'm so thrilled for you" I said happily. She nodded, "thanks, we didn't care but we were both secretly hoping for a girl" she laughed. "God, I hope they don't turn out like us" I said with a giggle. She rolled her eyes, "can you imagine, the two of them together are going to be a nightmare" she groaned rolling her eyes. I laughed and nodded. "What are you laughing at?" I heard Jareds voice ask, as he appeared. "I'm so happy to see you, I thought you'd be much later" I said, thrilled to see him. He leant over kissing me softly, "I finished up early, so tell me, what's so funny?" he prompted. "The baby, it's a girl" I said pointing to Jamie's belly. He raised an eyebrow, "well congratulations ..... oh boy, if those two girls are anything like you two ...." he shook his head and rolled his eyes. I laughed again, "that's pretty much what I said!" I told him. "God help us all" he mused in his southern lady voice, making me giggle a little more. "Well, I might go, it's that time of day, that I nap" she laughed. I nodded smiling, "I remember that, I could barely move by the end. I think I napped continuously" I said, Jared nodded in agreement. "Well I can still move but it's getting slower" she said. She had wanted to come to New York, but had been advised that flying wasn't a great idea, so she hugged me goodbye, promising to call me in a few days.