The Game

Chapter One:

Everyone came. Everyone, including Carol, Don's first wife. She moved across the country after their divorce was finalized, that was nearly 15 years ago. Sadly this is the day of Donald's funeral. Minutes later the hearse and a limo arrived at the funeral location where the service took place. Don's family filed out of the limo, as the drivers of the hearse unloaded numerous flowers.
Watching Don's wife Amanda exit the limo first, followed by Their three children Austin, Ali and, Donald Jr.. Standing right beside the 6 foot hole, I closed my eyes trying to trap any tears that dare to try and escape.
"Casey?"
Fluttering my eyes open I saw Amanda making her way over to me, along with the kids.
"Hey guys!" Opening my arms to the kids, faint smiles appeared on their faces.
"Hi, aunt Case."
Ali squeezed me tight, hugging her back I gently kissed her forehead.
"Kids can I have a moment." Amanda sternly asked turning her body away from me momentarily. They all quietly nodded without making eye contact with theirs mother, walking away to speak with other people. Now looking at me Amanda cleared her throat, "Don would have been happy with the turn out." Her eyes scanned the crowd. I nodded in agreement. Catching Amanda repeatedly scratching her arm and biting her lip out of the corner of my eye. I swiftly grabbed her hand, yanking it a bit snapping her out of her day dream.
"You were doing so good."
She looked at me chuckling a bit, ya king her brand out of my grip.
"What are you talking about, Casey?"
Taking one step closer to her, getting in her face I looked into her eyes.
"Lie to me one more time and I'll report you."
Amanda chuckled stepping away from me.
"You wouldn't dare report me considering I'm the only family those kids have."
"Those kids deserve better than you."
At that very moment I tuned out the chattering a noise, I noticed right I front of me. What we all came here to see...the casket.
On each side of the casket sat two large white candles. Above the casket was flowers the hearse brought from the house and in the background, faintly playing, was Bon Jovi's "it's my life".
As the casket lowered into the ground, many tears were shed. Amanda even had a tear shed, but it honestly wasn't sadness. It was happiness. Amanda believed she had every right to hate her husband after all her drug addiction nearly destroyed their marriage . She knew he didn't leave her any fortune and he knew she hated his guts just as much as he hated hers. For Amanda to have attend this funeral was a miracle in and of itself but she only came because the kids asked her to.
I happened to be the last to stay. Why? Because that man laying in that casket was my best-friend , my partner in crime, my family.
"Hey Casey, you coming to the dinner?" A man's voice said.
I looked up to see who it was and waves4 of relief rushed through my body.
"Hey Dom."
Standing up from the chair I have my brother a hug along with a quick peck on the cheek.
"How are you doing."
I shrugged.
"Better than how I was doing a week ago."
Dominic nodded in agreement.
"I saw the service and it was very well. He would have liked it."
"Yeah. But heyyy dinner at moms right? Can't miss that or she'll kill us."
"Right. Dinner. Meet yah there?"
"You betcha!"
Watch Dominic walk away I took one more good long look at Don's casket and gave the man a thumbs up. Basically saying.
"You can lower him 6 feet into the ground now."
Walking away I turned around from one more look, I hope that this was all a dream and that he was standing behind me, smiling.
But this was no dream.
This was my life.