Four Weeks Later
"I'll put one hand in the air
I'm closing my eyes
My whole heart's beating for the first time. That boy here in town says, "Darlin', just drive. " I swear the gates of Heaven just opened up wide."
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The mother stood in the center of the flower field; the colors seemed more vibrant this year than ever.
She plopped down amongst the purple wildflowers admiring the rose buses, two now.
"London, the roses are back." She spoke out of habit; she turned her head to the side, half expecting her little girl to be sitting beside her.
Instead, she heard a car in the distance and saw a little blue car slowing as it grew closer to the field.
"You're finally here."
The radio in the car was blaring, and the pretty young driver was singing and smiling, one hand in the air. Next to her sat that adorable boy who was so devoted to her.
She slowed and stopped the car, and he got out first, then ran over to open her door.
Good boy, she noted.
He handed the girl a box and she took it carefully into her arms. She kissed his cheek and whispered something in his ear, and he nodded, and sat back, waiting to give the two of them their moment.
She then turned and smiled as she walked toward the mother...
....well, grandmother, waiting for her in the field.
"Leondra! You're glowing! Are you feeling as good as you look?" Stacey asked as they drew closer to each other.
"Better every day," Loni was all smiles as she carefully handed off the box to Stacey. "Here she is."
Stacey took it and held it close to her. This wasn't how she imagined London returning to this special place, but she was glad she was here.
"Welcome back, Sweetheart," Stacey said out loud. "There are two rose bushes this year; we waited so long for the one to return, and now look."
She carefully set the box by the bushes as Loni approached to look closer.
"My gosh!"
"What is it?"
"It's a pink rose bush," Loni said. "That's my grandmother Elizabeth; we always felt like the pink rose was her sign. I think she and my grandpa are here to care for London on her way home."
"That's beautiful!" Stacey sobbed, and Loni quickly embraced her. They'd spent a lot of time together her since the surgery. She'd begun spending as much time at the hospital as Kit and her husband Luca. Leondra was finally released a week ago.
They stood for several moments in peaceful quiet, enjoying the field and feeling the presence of London.
"My mom let me, by the way, I'm guessing you helped?" Loni rolled up her sleeve to show her.
She'd tattooed the heart of London sketch on her inner wrist. Stacey lifted her own sleeve and showed Loni she'd gotten the same tattoo on her inner wrist as well.
"I told her how much I'd love for us both to have them and I knew she'd agree," Stacey smiled. "I think she may get one too."
"They look perfect," Loni said as they held the matching tattoos close and admired them.
More cars came and broke up the quiet moment.
"It's time." Loni said.
She waved and nodded to Manny, who started walking towards them carrying his guitar.
The other two cars parked, alongside the field. Johnathan and Gus climbed out of the first one. and Kit, Luca, and the adorable Lissa got out, of the second one. She, like her parents, insisted on her short name being used, so Stacey was getting used to that. Lissa, looked a lot like London and Kit with her red hair, but she reminded Stacey of a young Gus with her spunky attitude.
Stacey picked up the box and held it close to her as everyone approached.
"Ready, Mom?" Kit asked gently.
"I am," Stacey gulped.
They all began to walk through the field slowly as Manny started to play a lullaby on his guitar.
"Wait." Gus stopped him. "She'd want it to be a love song."
"Yeah," Stacey agreed. "She would."
"Now I know there's no such thing as enough time"
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...And so Manny played a love song as Stacey opened the box that contained London's ashes. They all reached in to pull out a handful of ashes out and tossed them into the air. They begun to walk as they continued on. One handful after another until the box had been emptied and someone had taken it from her.
Stacey watched with misty eyes as what was left of her daughter was carried by the wind across the field of flowers she loved so much.
A hand took hers, and she looked at her older daughter Kit, who was offering a comforting smile. Her other hand than was also gently grasped, and she turned to see Gus on her other side.
"We got you, Mom," he offered. "We'll get through this."
"Look." Kit motioned ahead to where Loni was walking hand in hand with her boyfriend, a big bright smile on her young face. Like London's, her eyes were so pretty, a soft honey-brown. They were full of hope, love, dreams... life. They were full of life.
Her granddaughter now had time to bloom, and her daughter finally found peace.
Someday with the help of her children and grandchildren she would too.
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"So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls."
-The end-
I would like to dedicate this story to, Jess, Mark, and now Libby, the time we had you was to short far too short. May you all rest in peace. Gone but never ever forgotten
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Thank you so much to everyone for reading, voting, and supporting this story. It means the world to me. I'd always wanted to delve into something very family drama style. And this was such an emotional experience to write about. I hope you all liked it!
A Dying Man's wish and The Heart Of London were very personal to me, my family has seen a lot of tragedy over the last few years, and it's one of the reasons I escape to writing as much as I do. But digging into stories that hit close to home can so be therapeutic as well.
Thanks again for reading!
Much love~
Heidi Mae