An Inheritance

Chapter 30 - FINAL

Lauren felt sad, of course, but she still didn't feel that connection, that link; no more so than when she had sat next to that bedridden man who had told her his story.  She took a side-ways glance at Gracie who was holding her head up with a small smile at the corner of her lips.  Then looking around her to Danielle; she wasn't surprised to see tears flowing down her face.  It was Danielle who had lost so much more than she had.  Their father had started to pull away when Lauren was only six, while Danielle had been nine.  He had turned his back on Lauren, but had focused all of his attention on her sister and it wasn't until their father had really started drinking that Danielle had also felt his disapproval and wrath.   

Closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, Lauren felt the sorrow from her sisters, but only a mild sadness from the other attendees.  She realized that not many here really knew her father, most were Gracie's friends, probably from school, and the rest most likely from the nursing home.   

The minister motioned to Gracie and she went up to the podium.  Licking her lips nervously, she took a deep breath, pulled her chin up and started to speak. 

"My father was the center of both my Mom's and my universe.  He helped my Mom and Grandmother keep the farm going, with his hard work and love.  He raised me with that same love and compassion and taught me to believe in the unimaginable, to trust in myself and those around me."  She paused for a moment, her lips were starting to tremble and she looked at her newly found sisters. 

"But that's not how he always was.  Before he came into my mother's life, he had another life, right here in New Jersey.  He had a wife and daughters who loved him, too.  But there were things beyond his conscious control that caused the destruction of that life.  Although he never did fully explain it to us, he acknowledged that this estrangement had been entirely his fault.  But no matter what, he would always love the daughters he had left behind.  And now, I have a chance to get to know them, and hopefully, create a relationship that will transcend that past."   

With a tentative small smile, Gracie left the podium and sat back down.  Danielle and Lauren each   leaned into her to offer their comfort.  A shiver went down Lauren's spine followed by a warm glow enveloping her body.  A feeling of restfulness and comfort;  a feeling of love, and acceptance.  She knew it was her mother, forgiving her father for all of those bad years and giving her the chance to forgive him too.  She started to cry and the weight lifted.  Gracie grasped her hand and placed it on her own cheek where Lauren felt her sister's tears. 

The service ended with a few more prayers, then the minister walked over to the sisters, spoke a few words, before walking out the side entrance.  The three of them walked back up the aisle to stand and accept the condolences of those that had come to pay their respects.  Gracie introduced Danielle and Lauren to her friends and to some of the nursing home residents that had managed to come. 

A few people stood behind Gracie and talked quietly while the rest filed out of the mortuary.  Gracie faced Lauren, "Would you both like to come with me?  Some of my friends and I are going to lunch, then I'll be back here just to make sure the arrangements for the cremation are in place." 

Looking at Danielle, Lauren shook her head.  "No, just go ahead with your plans, but we'd like to get together with you before I go back to Slidell.  How about Sunday or Monday, if you're not doing anything." 

"Sunday would be great.  Where would you like to meet?" 

"How about at my house?  Lauren's condo is in a shambles right now with her packing, and you  might want to meet your nephew, Jack and my husband.  We eat early on Sundays, around three, so, why don't you come by around two?  No need to bring anything, it'll just be a family dinner."  Getting a pen and piece of paper from her purse, Danielle wrote down her address and a few simple instructions.