Page 101 of Rebound

With my free hand, I console my wife. Jeannie and Coach sit on the other side of her, and Jeannie holds Layla’s other hand. Every few moments, Vickie, who is sitting behind us, will touch my shoulder and Layla’s.

After the eulogy, we stand, and Amazing Grace is played. I manage to wrestle my hand from my dad’s to wrap both arms around my wife so she can weep against my chest. Dad looks around like a fish out of water. I look behind me for help, and Vickie gets it. She and Chastain stand next to my dad, and Vickie takes his hand.

If I thought the funeral mass was hard, that was nothing compared to the burial where I have to physically hold Layla up to keep her from falling. I have one arm wrapped tightly around her while Jeannie holds her hand. By the time they lower the casket into the ground, I’ve picked her up and am taking her to my waiting car. Even though we rode in the limo, I had my driver follow us here. I’m glad I did because my dad sat in the car while we were in the cemetery.

“Do you want to go home?” I say against Layla’s temple. We’re in the back while Dad sits in the front with the driver.

It takes her a few minutes to get herself under control enough to answer me. I put my hand under her chin and dab her eyes. All her makeup is gone. Her eyes are as puffy as her lips. Her nose is running, and I’ve never seen her look more beautiful.

“I have to be here for it all,” she says, and I nod. I’m not going to argue about it. Today is about her and her family, not me. I take a bottle of water and put it to her lips. She takes a few sips before pushing it away.

She takes the tissue from me and blows her nose.

“Lord, that sounds like a foghorn.” To my relief, she laughs and blows her nose again. “How can such a cute little nose make that sound?”

“Let’s go,” she says a few minutes later. “Are you coming, Pete?” she asks my dad. I open my mouth to say he’ll be staying in the car, but my dad opens the front door and steps out. I exit and extend my hand to Layla, and she says, “I’ll be okay. I promise.” I pull her close and kiss her temple.

“Fall apart and I’ll be here to catch you.”

“You guys get out of here,” Layla says to Jeannie and Coach. “Kiss the babies for me. Thank you for coming.” She croaks out the last part before she takes Jeannie into a hug. She hugs Coach next, and they leave.

There was a reception after the burial, and afterwards her immediate family and a few of our friends return to our apartment. By that time, my dad was spent and he’s likely napping in his room.

The event is subdued, and Stella is sitting in the corner looking off into the distance. Donna is sitting there holding her hand while Leon talks to Chastain on the other side of the room. June Bug is standing by the window talking to a woman I met at our wedding reception. She was also at the church and cemetery, though she stayed in the background.

“We’re going to go soon,” Vickie says. “Colt has to nap for the game tonight.”

Layla hugs her, and I do the same. “Tell Chastain I’ll see him tomorrow.” Once they leave, Layla takes both my hands in hers.

“Why tomorrow? What about tonight’s game?” Then she looks at her watch. “You need to rest. Maybe we can take a family nap.” She smiles, but it’s sad.

“I’m going to stay home with you tonight.” I stroke her cheek. “You need me. We can still take the nap.”

“I need you to play. I like watching you. You’ve been here for me, and I’m gonna be here for you by making sure you get to work tonight. I’m okay. You can hold me tonight, but only if you win.” She gives me a sad smile, and a tear slips out. I wipe it before kissing her forehead.

“You can land a plane on this forehead. The Walsh jet should use it as their runway.” She hits my chest, but she throws her head back and laughs. I pretend to hit her back, and when she tries to punch me again, I run. She follows, giggling along the way.

Chapter 64

Layla

“We’re all going to be there for you tonight, Seth,” my mom says. “You’ve been our rock. You’re such a good boy. Your daddy raised you right.” I look at my husband, and for once, he’s not rolling his eyes.

“Well, okay,” Seth says. “I’ll play my ass off for Gaga.”

“She used to do the Sethheads dance all the time. You were her favorite,” my mom says. “And you did so right by her. You gave her the care we couldn’t.” She starts to cry and her words stop. June Bug puts an arm across her shoulders. I notice that Terri is still here, holding onto my cousin’s free arm. My mom rests her head on June Bug’s shoulder, and he kisses her forehead. Terri looks on, and I notice she squeezes his arm.

After a few minutes, Terri says she has to leave to meet her mother and sister, and June Bug walks her out. Seth has his driver take my mom and Donna home, and when June Bug returns, I gesture for him to follow me.

“You’re gonna be okay?” he asks, and I sniffle.

“Yeah. You?” Out of all the grandkids, we were the closest to Gaga.

“I don’t have a choice. I miss her so much though. Even when she was at the home and had no idea who I was, I’d rather havethat than nothing at all.” We hug each other, but instead of him comforting me, we both cry.

“She’d call us both a couple of wimps for crying like this,” I say, and we both laugh. I pull away and look up at him. “So, I see your friend came to the funeral.”

“Oh, that. Yeah. She insisted,” is all he says.

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