Chapter 56

The day of Dorothea's funeral dawned sunny and unusually warm. The chateau on the Navesink was eerily quiet for a house filled with people.

Brianna checked that the food was ready for the luncheon that would follow the service while Carol and Dorothea's sisters helped the kids get bathed and dressed. Standing at the window, she took a deep breath and prayed for strength - for all of them - to get through the day. She heard a noise behind her and turned to watch Jon enter the kitchen and sit on a stool at the island. Without a word, she pulled a mug out of the cupboard, filled it with coffee and set it in front of him.

"Thanks." He sighed and gazed out the window.

Just then, Jesse walked in, went to the fridge and pulled out the orange juice. Brianna handed him a glass. He wandered to the window and sipped in silence.

The adults watched him for a moment, then Jon crooked a brow at Brianna, who considered, then walked up behind him to wrap her arms around his shoulders. Jesse stiffened at first, but quickly relaxed and leaned back against her.

The sound of the front door opening heralded the arrival of Matt and Desiree from the guest house. Footsteps could be heard on the stairs, followed by murmured voices in the foyer.

Jon glanced in the direction of the noise, but made no move to join his family. When the intercom at the gate buzzed, he sighed again, but got up to answer it and let the limos in.

It was a somber group that exited the house to climb into the limos lining the driveway. After making sure that Jon and the kids were safely in the lead car, Brianna started walking towards her own vehicle. As she passed the last limo, a hand on her arm stopped her.

"Where are you going Sunshine?"

"To get my car."

"What for?"

"Uh...to drive to the church." Her tone indicated he should have known that.

Tony shook his head. "That's what the limos are for. Get in." He waved towards the open car door.

"But.....they're for the family. I'm not family. I can drive myself."

He sighed. "Get in the damn limo, Sunshine. I'm not having that argument with you again." He shook his head and followed her in. "Do you give Jon this much trouble?"

Matt, who was already in the limo and had heard their conversation, snorted. "He'd say yes."

"She has to be stubborn to deal with him." Desiree argued.

Brianna couldn't decide if that was a compliment or a criticism, but decided it was best to ignore it either way.

At the church, while the family formed a reception line, Brianna took the two little ones to a quiet corner and kept them occupied with story books, colouring books and crayons. When Carol and Jon started down the aisle to take their seats, she gathered up the books and urged the boys forward to join their father.

When they were settled, she started down the aisle to sit with Paul and Evelyn. A tug on her hand stopped her. She looked down to see Tico slide over and pat the seat beside him. "Sit here nina."

She slid into the pew and leaned over to hug him before easing back and nodding at Alejandra and the rest of the band seated beside him.

It was a beautiful service with passages and hymns chosen by Dorothea herself. She said it would be the only time she'd be in control of the musical program with Jon around. Towards the end, Romeo started to get restless. Jon, Carol and Linda all tried to distract and contain him, but each time they restrained him, he screamed. "No! No!"

With a sigh, Jon released him and watched him wander down the aisle, his head swiveling, obviously looking for someone. "Bi! Bi!"

"Sshh..Romeo!" Brianna whispered. "I'm right here."

"Bi!" Romeo grinned when he found her and ran to climb into her lap.

Looks and nudges were exchanged amongst the congregation as people strained to see who Romeo had been looking for. Those who didn't know her speculated on her connection to the family. Those who did know her merely smiled, unsurprised at Romeo's attachment.

At the cemetery, Brianna stood with the band members, several feet behind the family. As the priest finished the final prayer and people started to disperse, Romeo broke away from his father and walked up to the open grave. Sitting near the edge, he started nattering in typical two year old speak - a lot of gibberish with the odd understandable word.

Jon could make out "Da-da", "Bi", "Essy", "goggie" and "owie" as he pointed to his arm where Copper had scratched him the day before. Then he tilted his head and laughed.

"Is he talking to someone?" Tony asked.

"Not sure." Jon replied. "Sure looks like it." He stepped forward and held out a hand. "Come on little man, time to go."

"No!"

"Here we go again." Carol sighed. "Romeo? Let's go home."

Romeo shook his head vehemently. "NO!"

Stephanie watched him and listened to his nattering for a couple minutes, then crouched down beside him. "Hey little man, who are you talking to?"

"Mum Mum."

Sniffles and soft sobs could be heard from several women who were close enough to hear their conversation, including Dorothea's sisters. Even Jon's eyes were damp.

Stephanie had to swallow and blink back her tears before she could speak. "Do you see her?"

He nodded.

Stephanie glanced around. "Where is she?"

"Der." He pointed towards the air above the open grave. He tilted his head again, like he was listening to something, then laughed.

Stephanie looked helplessly at her father, who looked at Brianna.

"Hey little man." She crouched down on the other side of him. "It's time to say goodbye to Mommy and go home now."

Romeo frowned and his bottom lip jutted out in a pout. He started to argue, but stopped, listening, sighed and nodded. Standing up, he took Brianna's hand. As they started to walk away, he stopped and turned back to face the grave. He brought one hand to his mouth and blew kisses. "Mum Mum."

Jon spun on his heel and stalked deeper into the cemetery.

The others moved towards the cars. Carol stopped Brianna. "Let me take Romeo. You go after Jon."

Brianna shook her head. "I don't think I should be the one..."

"Trust me Brianna. I know my son. You're the one he needs right now." She reached for Romeo's hand. "Come with Grandma little man. We'll go get something to eat."

Sighing, Brianna watched them leave. She turned to study Jon. Ignoring Carol's advice, she stayed where she was and let him have a few minutes to pull himself together. She knew he'd come back to Dorothea. He always did.

Jon wandered aimlessly amongst the tombstones. He just needed a few minutes on his own to get his emotions under control. Seeing Romeo blow his mother kisses did him in. He remembered all the time Dot had spent teaching him to do that.

When he came to a stop he found himself back at the open grave and stood staring at the casket. Oh baby, I miss you so much already. How are we going to go on without you? He sucked in a ragged breath.

Sensing Brianna standing near him, he sighed. "Do you think he really saw her?"

"I don't know, but children are more open to picking up on those kinds of signals and spirits."

He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "We'd better get home."

Back at the house, it was wall to wall people and Brianna was kept busy making sure there was always plenty of food available. Eventually, the non-family members left and things settled down. When Romeo started rubbing his ear, she scooped him up and held a hand out for Jake. Together they made the rounds to say goodnight.

She read them their bedtime story and tucked Romeo in. "Night little man."

He smiled sleepily.

Turning as she closed the door, Brianna saw him blowing kisses towards the corner of his room.

In Jake's room, she held up the blankets while he crawled in and tucked them in around him.

"Bianna?"

"Mmmmm?"

"Did you see Mommy today?"

"No, did you?"

"No." He paused, frowning. "How come baby Romey got to see her?"

"Well, he's little and needs to see her to understand and be comforted. You're a big boy so she can reach you other ways."

"Like what?"

"Like......when you want to do something that might get you hurt and there's a little voice inside you telling you not to do it, that's your Mom. Or when you do really well at something and you get a warm, bubbly feeling inside, that's your Mom hugging you and letting you know she's proud of you."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Yes. She'll always be watching over you and looking out for you."

He thought about that for a moment. "Okay."

She left his room to find Linda standing in the hallway.

"You're really good with them. I can see why Dot entrusted them to you."

Brianna shrugged. "I'm just doing what I think is best and praying I'm doing it right."

"You are, and the Hurley family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts." Linda hugged Brianna and returned downstairs.

Stunned, Brianna started down the hall. When she passed Stephanie's room, she heard somebody moving around and stuck her head inside the open door. "You going to bed too Steph?"

"Yeah. I'm tired. I might read for awhile though."

"Okay. Sleep well." She turned away.

"Brianna?"

She turned back. "Yes?"

"Do you think Romeo really saw Mom?"

"I don't know Steph. Maybe. Young children are more open to picking up signals and spirits. As we get older we get cynical and don't believe as easily.  But he's sure he saw her, so I say we go with that. Maybe she was trying to show him that she was watching over him.....just like she is the rest of you."

"Hmmmm. Maybe." She looked around her room and raised her voice. "I wouldn't mind seeing you too Mom!"

Brianna smiled. "Sleep well Steph."

"Thanks. You too."

Returning downstairs, Brianna made another run through the house looking for dishes, only to find that Carol and Dorothea's sisters had already cleared the rooms before they went home. She was in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher when Jon came in and sat down.

"Are the kids asleep?"

She nodded. "Or in their rooms at least." She paused. "It was a nice service."

He nodded. "Mmmmm."

"You must be exhausted. Why don't you go to bed?"

He rubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah, I think I will. Thanks for all your help today." He stood. "You coming?"

"As soon as I finish this."

"Okay. I've turned off the lights and checked the alarm."

"Okay. Night."

"Night."

Brianna slid into her bed with a grateful sigh. It had been a long day, and she wasn't sure the worst was over yet. In fact, she was pretty sure it wasn't. She glanced around the room then fixed her gaze on the ceiling. "Help me find the right way to help them through this Dot. Help me deserve the faith you put in me to take care of them."

Rolling over, she drifted off to sleep.