The last three days have been very trying and emotional for Chloe and Stanley. Perhaps not so much for me. Chloe and her father are struggling to communicate their feelings. He’s shutting her out and she keeps trying, only to come to me later and pour out her heavy load of emotions. I’ll carry them with her. I’ll carry her burdens for her. I know they’re both hurting, but they need to talk.
They’ve had fights about things to do with the funeral. Her father wants something big and for it to happen in the city, but Chloe says that her mum would have loved something small and not so public. This has been the constant argument for the last two days. And it’s the first thing they bring up the moment we arrive at his hotel room today.
“Dad, please do this for her. Something small.” I see the pleading in her eyes as she begs her father.
His face contorts. I wonder if he’s fighting with his inner self or if he’s ignoring her pleas. Watching his lips twitch I can’t help but involve myself even though usually I’d try not to. But when it comes to Chloe, I’ll do anything to help her. “Mr Saunders, do you mind if I suggest something?”
He doesn’t look my way, but waves his hand for me to continue. Chloe nods, encouraging me to keep going. We spoke about this last night. She believes it’ll be perfect.
“This is what we did for my family.” Usually talking about this stirs up painful memories. Not anymore, though—now I think of it as growing and helping someone I love and care about. “We had a small ceremony on the Thomas Point Lookout. When the ashes were ready we threw them into the wind.” I clear my throat before my emotions completely take over. Memories of my family’s funeral flicker though my head like an electric picture book. Just Nan and I with a few friends from town.
Mr Saunders looks up at me while I stand there feeling slightly awkward. “You’ve lost your family?”
I nod.
“All of your family?”
“All except Nan, or Sherri, as you know her.” Perhaps Chloe didn’t tell them all the details, or she told her mum and it never got passed on to her dad.
He says nothing for a moment. Chloe and I look at each other; she has one of her beautiful smiles on her face. It’s a knowing look. She knows what her Dad has decided before I even do.
Then he speaks. “Alright, let’s do that.” Without saying another word, he leaves, so Chloe and I begin to make arrangements.
She gets up from her seat and walks straight to me wrapping her arms around my waist. I catch her and hold her. Right now, in this moment, it’s only us. She’s all that matters.
“Let’s do something today,” I whisper into her long locks.
“I can’t; I need to get things finalised. Dad’s not with it, and I don’t know if I have the strength to keep trying with him right now.”
“Come on. Let me do something special for you, and I’ll talk to your dad.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you.” As I speak it, I know it rings true. She has taken a hold of my heart and now steers it.
Standing on her tiptoes, her lips meet mine. We become lost in the sea of each other.
Reluctantly, I pull away; the loss of her lips pains me. “I organised something for you yesterday.”
“Me?”
“Yep, so you get to spend the next three hours worrying about yourself at the day spa, and I’m going to look after your dad.”
She leaps towards me, grinning. Her arms fly around my neck. “Thank you!” she squeals, “I’m so grateful to you for being here, not only for me, but Dad as well.” She leans up placing a kiss on my lips.
I send her to the day spa here at the hotel for the next couple of hour. Now my job is to seek out her father. I know the exact place he’ll be.
When I step into the dimly lit bar, I spot him right away. After I lost my parents, even though I was underage, only a few months off turning eighteen, alcohol became my close friend. Not to the point where it became a problem, but enough to help me deal with the open wound of my pain at the time.
I weave my way through the tables and sit myself down beside him.
“What do you want?” he asks, his words beginning to slur. He takes another shot of the bottle that sits before him, then orders another glass for me from the bartender. I shake my head towards the bartender to decline. He’s already beginning to smell like too much alcohol has passed through his system.
“I’ve just come to talk.” I place an order for a Coke with the bartender.
Mr Saunders scoffs at me. “Whatever. So, you’re an orphaned child? Hell, I don’t even know what to do anymore. I’m not sure if she’s really my daughter, but I still love her like my own. Do you love Chloe?”
It’s a sucker punch to my gut. “I’m not an orphan. Sherri is my grandmother, and, yes, I love your daughter, so that’s all that matters to me.”
He opens his mouth to responds, but stops.
My hand goes up, stopping him in his tracks. “I understand you’re hurting. Believe me, I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. I lost my mum, dad, and sister on the one day. It’s taken me years to finally accept things how they are.” He remains silent, staring down at his empty glass. “The thing is, whether Chloe is your daughter by blood or not, she thinks of you as her real father. She loves you and cares about you. Don’t ever forget that she is here, right here, right now. Love her, support her, and don’t ever forget she’s your family. She needs you.” I feel nothing more needs to be said.
“You’re right. I’m sorry about the orphan question. Thanks for putting things in a different perspective for me.” He finally smiles after days of not showing any emotion. Hopefully things might be different from here on out.
“Hey, that’s what I’m here for. Not just a pretty face.”
“You’re a good man, Seth. Thanks, and I’m sorry about your family.”
I shrug. “It’s okay. I’m happy now.” I am.
“Well, I guess I better stop downing these shots and start helping Chloe.”
“Chloe will be happy.” Taking the final gulp of my drink, I stand. “Let’s go and get started.”
“Where is Chloe?” He glances around.
“I sent her to have a spa.”
“You’re good for her, and apparently for me as well. Thanks.” He stands and we go out and begin finalising things.
A few days later, we stand on the lookout at Thomas Point, the cool salty breeze swirling around us. It’s been a week since Chloe’s mum passed away. There are heaps of people here, not as many as we expected, but she was a very loved woman. It’s wonderful to see how many people made the trip this far north. She made an impact on so many lives. Chloe has been sharing lots of stories with me about her mum. Some bring her to tears, and some are tears of laughter. We feel her here. My family is here, as well, watching over us.
Today is the perfect day to give Chloe’s mum something beautiful. Chloe and her dad will take turns releasing her ashes into the wind at the same spot my family’s were. I know my mum, dad and especially Olive, are waiting right here to welcome her with open arms.
Chloe releases my hand and steps forward, closer to the edge. Releasing the cap off the urn, she stops and ponders for a moment before she shakes some ashes into the strong breeze. They swirl around momentarily before taking off into the open sky. Handing the urn to her dad, he follows suit.
After replacing the cap, he walks back towards Chloe, wiping a lone tear away. She opens her arms for him. Placing the urn on the ground at their feet, he quickly wraps her in his embrace. They share a moment of sadness. Tears fall, including my own.
“I love you, honey,” he says.
“I love you too, Dad.” They step apart and there are some friends there who open their arms to Chloe’s father. She quickly bypasses them and comes directly to me. I take a step towards her and her fruity scent engulfs me, capturing me. I don’t hold back; I gently press my lips to hers, savouring her taste.
After a moment of desire, she pulls back, gazing into my eyes, and smiles. “It’s as though Olive put you in my path. I’m so grateful she did. I love you.”
My chest feels like it might explode with the amount of happiness I feel coursing through me. It’s the first time she’s said it. I knew she had a lot going on and didn’t want to pressure her.
“I love you too,” I breathe before I take her lips and make them mine once again.
After the storms we’ve both been through, there’s a rainbow.
We finally found our someday. A new day. A new beginning. For both of us.