Thin Air (Complete EDITING)

40- Shannon

40 Shannon November 9, 2020

Eighteen years. That was Robert's sentence for taking Erin's life from her.

It's almost poetic in a way. We wondered for eighteen years what had happened to Erin, and he would have the same amount of time to think about how his actions affected our family. At his age, it's unlikely that he will see the free world again.

Robert elected to forgo a trial and represented himself, so the process was relatively quick.

"I'm glad that's over." Drew exhales a misty white puff into the crisp air.

"Me too. This whole year, it's just been a lot."

"Yeah, it has." We watch as Seth hugs Eliza to his broad chest, David's frail hands resting like birds on each of their shoulders. Erin's parents have been projecting a strong front but these last months have aged them. They both seems so much smaller, dimmer. It's driving me crazy watching them deteriorate. It's like they hung around just to get their answers and are going to float away on the wind now that it's over.

Drew has his eyes locked on them, a strange look on his face, shy, maybe even embarrassed when he says, "You know, I became a cop because of Erin."

My eyebrows raise, "I did not know that. Really?"

His voice is rough with emotion when he carries on, "Uh-huh. I hated to see Brandon secluding himself all the time, never leaving his room unless he was working. He's a shit communicator and never said it in so many words, but I knew he felt responsible for Erin. I watched the guilt eat him for years, trying to come up with what I could do to make it better. I was still a dumb kid, but I knew wanted to do something. So I joined the academy." He shrugs. "I'm just glad that we know. Maybe our weird ass brother will get a life now."

"Unlikely." We are sharing a conspiratorial laugh when Seth and Syd join us at the base of the courthouse steps.

We are still standing there when Brandon comes loping down the steps, looking more at ease than I've seen him in a long time. We sort out the best route to the Thai restaurant David and Eliza chose for lunch and part ways.

When the year began, none of us expected to plan a funeral, memorial, and wedding over the course of 5 months, but here we are, taking life as it comes. With all of the tragedies, learning to enjoy every moment we are gifted with has been the major takeaway. I try to be like Seth and let life do what it will, but the 'fixer' in me struggles to let go.

Along the same vein of 'you don't know how many tomorrow's you'll be given,' Drew asked Jamie and Nicole to sit down and talk through their issues. I don't have much confidence in Nicole's ability to stop being, well, Nicole, but I hope they can come to some sort of agreement for the sake of the boys. I'm sure I'll get the full scoop when I pick Jamie up on Saturday to go get her wedding shoes.

Brandon has been taking on more responsibility with the business since dad passed away. He's still not much help in the office, but he tries. Between the extra work Seth, Brandon, and I have been putting in, we've gotten things settled enough that Seth and I have planned a vacation for the upcoming slow season. After making it through some incredibly trying times, it'll be nice to get away from it all and soak up some Fijian sunshine come January.

Robert set into action a chain of events that brought us to where we are today. The road has been tremulous at times, but I am blessed beyond measure to have these people around me to get through it all.

A/N

Well, that's it—the whole story.

Thank you for reading and keeping me company along the way!