Sadness

After pacing the floor for hours, Angel finally showed up at the house with tears spilling down her face. A little later, Dosey followed behind and headed to Aloe’s room. Angel had refused the proposal. She and I stayed up to daybreak talking. She was afraid that her condition would only hinder a marriage. She didn’t feel worthy to have a husband as great as Dosey. Angel was and still is crazy in love with Dosey. I encouraged her to speak with Dosey the next morning. She needed to explain her reasoning to him. I just knew that he could sort things out, he has a way with her.

The next day Dosey came to Angel while she was working in the garden. “I love you, Angel,” Dosey told her. “I love you too,” Angel replied. “I know you love me. I just don’t know why you won’t marry me,” he replied, helpless. “I’m sorry, Dosey. I just wasn’t ready. You surprised me a little too much,” Angel confessed. “Will you go to dinner with me?” he asked. “Sure,” Angel answered.

Dosey planned to ask Angel one more time to marry him. He told Rez and I that if she denied his hand in marriage a second time that he would pack his bags and leave town for good. He couldn’t bear to see her daily and not be able to have her. So, that night they shared an expensive meal together and a very important conversation. He told her that if she didn’t agree to marry him then it would be her last time and he would leave her alone, for good. “Now, that we got things cleared up. Will you marry me?” he asked. “Yes,” she answered. This time when they entered the house, it was all smiles and I had a son in law and a wedding to plan.

After all the excitement died down about the engagement, I threw Amara a a birthday and graduation party. She gained the perfectionist trait. She decided to go to work for a band. The band had promised to teach her to play guitar if she helped them set up their equipment before shows. It wasn’t going to pay well, but she wanted to perfect playing the guitar and perfect her speaking skills. She would be taking some side guitar and speech classes. I secretly hoped she would be a politician.

At Amara’s party, I heard a commotion in the kitchen and ran in to see Rez on the floor. I screamed his name and tried to shake him awake, while Aloe called the ambulance. The paramedics and Dosey worked on him for an hour, before announcing he was dead.  He was gone just that fast, and we were devastated. I was pushing  80 myself and just didn’t think I had it in me to stay alive without my best friend.

I pulled it together for my children and held Aloe until he was able to go to bed and sleep. Aloe took it worse than any of us.

Amara fell into Rain’s arms and he helped her to bed. I was glad he was there to take care of her, because I didn’t think I could have kept it together for her. I could feel myself slipping into a depression, as the hours went on.

I finally broke down when I thought all of the children were in bed, but Angel over heard my sobs and rushed to my side. I cried on her shoulder for what seemed like hours, before she took me to bed and slept with me that night.

Now there was a wedding and a funeral to plan. I just didn’t know what to do first. I knew I was done with the legacy though, it was time to hand the responsibility to someone else.