Until Harry(36)

I looked away from them so they could share their moment with their son in private instead of having my roaming eyes lingering on them. My focus quickly landed on my grandmother, who was hugging Kale’s parents. I hadn’t seen them in years, but they were just how I remembered them; they just had a few extra lines around their eyes and less of a spring to their step.

Losing their grandson, and watching their son go through his struggle, was the cause of that, no doubt.

When I approached them, Mrs Hunt spotted me first.

“Lane,” she gushed. “Oh, my girl, it’s so good to see you.”

I smiled wide when she rushed at me and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me so tightly I was afraid she would break me.

“Let the poor lass go, Helen – you’ll crush her,” said Mr Hunt, his Geordie accent as thick as ever.

I was always surprised that Kale had never picked up even a hint of his father’s accent. The Newcastle accent was strong, but it just went to show that he was a Yorkshire lad through and through.

I chuckled when Mrs Hunt let me go only to hug me again. When she finally separated from me, Mr Hunt cut in fast before she got another chance to enfold me in her arms.

“It’s brilliant to see you, love,” he said, smiling down at me, and then kissed my forehead like he had done so many times before, when I was younger.

“And you, sir, you’re looking well.”

He was; he had lost a lot of weight and looked great.

He winked. “Kale and your brothers have taken over my diet and have me eatin’ healthy. Trust me, I’d rather be with your da down the pub and chippy a few nights a week than countin’ how many calories I’m eatin’.”

I joyfully laughed. “It seems my dad has been eating and drinking enough for both of you.”

Mr Hunt laughed, and it brought a genuine smile to my face.

“So,” he said after he settled down, “how is living in the Big Apple?”

I lost my smile.

“It’s . . . okay.”

Mr Hunt’s lip twitched, but he said nothing further.

I looked in the direction of a couple that called out my name. They were my parents’ friends, so I excused myself from Mr and Mrs Hunt and greeted the couple, as well as many other people who stopped me and gave me their condolences. I didn’t know how I managed to keep it together, but I did, and I was mildly happy about it. I knew tears would lead to sympathy, and sympathy would lead to more tears. And by God, I didn’t want to cry any more.

When I finished greeting and thanking people, I made my way over to the car that had brought me to the graveyard, and I bumped into my mother along the way.

“Are you coming to the pub?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I just want to go back to your house and go to sleep. I will only cry around everyone in the pub, Mum.”

My mother nodded in understanding. “I know, baby. I can’t see myself staying very long either. I just want to go and thank everyone for coming.”

“Give those I know my best, will you?” I asked. “Oh, and say bye to Kale too. I didn’t get a chance to.”

My mother nodded once more and kissed my cheek. “I will. Now go on home and get some sleep. I’ll check in on you when I get in. Ask the driver of the black car to bring you back. Ally and Samantha drove here. They’re bringing us back to the church.”

I hadn’t seen either of them since I arrived at my parents’ last night, but that wasn’t surprising given the number of people who had turned out for the mass and funeral itself.

I hugged my mother tightly before heading over to the black car. The driver was having a cigarette, but he quickly dropped it and covered it with his foot when I neared him.

“Hello, miss,” he said, dipping his head in greeting.

I nodded. “Hello. Could you bring me home, please?”

“You don’t want to go to the afters venue?”

I shook my head. “I’m not feeling up to it today, I’m afraid.”

He frowned. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

With his line of work, it saddened me to think of how often he had to say those words to people.

“Thank you, sir.”

He opened the door behind the driver’s seat for me and gestured me into the car.

“I’ll have you home in just a few short minutes,” he promised with a wink.

One minute I was in the black car driving through town, then the next I was climbing the stairs of my parents’ house. I wanted to go straight to bed and just curl up into a ball, but I needed to shower and try to wash this day off my body.

After my shower, I grabbed a large towel from the rack, wrapped it around my body and walked out of the bathroom and into my bedroom, where a cold chill wrapped around me, causing me to shiver. I found myself smiling and shaking my head when I found another set of Pokémon pyjamas, and it only caused my love for my mother to grow.

She was so thoughtful.

After I was changed, I put on some fluffy socks and slipped on a pair of new slippers before I blow-dried my hair. I didn’t bother with keeping it straight, but just blasted it dry, and when I was finished, I tied my hair on the top of my head in a messy bun.

I felt relaxed then.

Just as I was about to crawl into my bed and resign myself to the quiet and darkness, the doorbell chimed. I closed my eyes on a sigh and momentarily contemplated ignoring it, but I decided against that when I thought of all the people who had been by since I’d arrived, to pay their respects and offer their condolences for my uncle’s passing. I left my room and headed downstairs to greet whoever was at the door. My uncle deserved everyone’s respect and condolences, and I would happily accept them even if it killed me.