A Convenient Wife - A Norman Reedus Fanfic Romance

Chapter 40 - All My Earthly Goods

FIN

"Git away with yer, divil child"  I mutter under my breath, chastising myself out of tears by pinching my own nose.

Then I tug out another few shoe boxes from the top of the wardrobe. Sit back on the floor to see what they hold in store.

"What's that, Skip?"

"Nothing, Daggy. Just talking to myself."

"Poor baby....are all your imaginary friends ignoring you again? Well, at least you've got a captive audience now. Ummmm....think I'll just go put some more boxes together?"

One of these days? I'll have to rock up to one of those acting workshops he attends now and then. So I can teach my facial expressions how to use their indoor voices.

Norman sprinted from the bedroom with a chuckle. After he took the risk and bent down to kiss the top of my head.

It's Friday morning and we only have a few hours to finish what's left. Before everyone arrives at Win and Ed's house for the wake.

***

Unc left very strict instructions. No funeral service....whatsoever. Nor a bunch of maudlin, feckin eejits moping around a hole in the ground.

"Lots of porter and whisky to get the craic going, darling girl. That's all he wanted. And what Unc wanted, Unc must get!"  Win decreed firmly last night.

Who are we to argue?

He managed to pull himself back together somewhat. A far cry from the tear-stained mess who greeted us when Lou's cab pulled up. Mind you, Norman and I weren't holding it together any better ourselves.

For much of the flight up from Georgia, we took turns wiping each other's faces. In between crushing hugs and sad sobby kisses.

We settled into their living room and they told us.

"Knew something was wrong when he didn't answer my daily check-in call. So I woke Win and we both went down"  Eddie hiccupped forlornly, tossing back the rest of his wine to cover the crack in his voice.

"He was sitting in his chair with the telly on. Looked as if he was sound asleep....and even had a little smile on his face"  Win took over.

"He went gently, Fin. It's how everyone prays they'll go. Our hearts are breaking, but I can't help but be happy for that."

"I rang the funeral home and they did the rest as per Unc's instructions. Then I rang Norm and he....he said he'll tell you himself."

"We love you both so much and so did Unc. Thank you just doesn't really cut it, for always being there for him....for us. You're family. Always."

Win and Ed waved away my words, but never wave away my hugs and kisses.

I waited until we got home to our apartment before placing the call to Gramps and Kami.

It's one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. And Norman never let go of the hold he had on me throughout, never stopped nuzzling my forehead.

And he kept up that hold right through the night until we woke up this morning. When I rolled in his arms and kissed him gently.

"What is it, baby?"  He looked down quizzically....sleepily.

"It wasn't Win, it was you."

"You  came home....for me....so I wouldn't be alone. You hurt bad too and I never thanked you for coming home. I'm sorry, babe. Thank you. I love you Norman, I love you."