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"I miss you already It’s insane" He says with a little chuckle His voice is low like he’s embarrassed andyou up"

I can hear the smile on his lips "This isn’t the first tiht alone in my bed"

His wordsI’ of you"

He chuckles "Definitely not"

My eyelids becole doer in ht Tomorrow I told you, if you needyou need to If it all goes to plan for you, ill I see you again?"

"In ten days I’ht Don"

"Are you nervous?"

He laughs, loudly and I have to pull the phone away fro to break hi to watch?"

I don’t know a me to watch this time, but I know it’d mean a lot to Seth--and Dad--if I do

"Sure, I’ll watch I’ to enjoy it, but I’ll watch"

I hear hia you stor you beat sos I like the forh o I don’t knohat to expect to to do with funeral plans I love you"

"Love you, too and re at all, call me I’m only two hours away"

I assure hioodbyes As soon as I hang up and get cohteen

I slip into the long, black dress Mohtly tolike this toflashy or over the top It doesn’t expose y, showing the shape of my body and the curve of ht ti the port Apparently, Mom and Dad used to have picnics up under the s oak tree no they could stohten my hair and wear down, so I’m able to use it as a curtain if I need to

I clip in two pearl earrings and hear a knock at the door I step out of my room, but Mo on a day like today?

I hear his voice--deep and rough My body isn’t stupid It stands to attention recognizing the voice immediately Ibefore me in a casual, all black suit Darryl and Jackson’s faces smile atmy dress and if Seth likes it, then this is definitely not so here?" I say, almost out of breath

"Ask your Mom"

She smiles sweetly at me "I invited them I kno important they were to your father Everyone he loved should be here today"

My eyes water and I rush to her, squeezing her againstso selfless on a day like today o soe s "So I’ll go tomorrow"

I hold my arms out and he comes to me I wrap my arht we spoke on the phone Every time he calls, I miss it and every ti, but he’s here now and ot infinitely better

Jackson and Darryl hand Mom and me a bouquet of flowers The blues, reds, yellows, pinks and oranges all reen wrapper Mom drops them into vases and positions them around the house

Jackson and Darryl sit on the couch, having a conversation in low tones while I sit on the arlides overall of his touch Another knock on the door forces my eyes open

"How many more people did you call?" I ask Mom as she rushes to the door When it opens, I can’t believe it

"Chase!" I squeal, leaping off of the armchair Mom squeezes hi since I’ve seenHe looks exactly as I rereen eyes and still so much taller than s back the shock of our father’s death He’s so happy to see us, but he carries the same sadness in his eyes as Mo me until I’m sure I’ve run out of breath Darryl, Seth and Jackson rise to their feet as reet the friendly co and talking on the couch, but s around to chat to Seth

I step closer to theet within ear reach et dressed in his rooht of e serving tray of snacks grabbedin fifteen enuine laugh that warms my ears "The boys will take care of it, won’t you?"

Jackson and Darryl sit forward, licking their lips at the sliced fruit, potato chips and dip Having a full house isbusy and if it makes today easier for her then theplace of Richard Ja, as they lowerfroto cry What the hell was I thinking? Seth holds ly I look up at hihts across his face It’s pinched into a sad expression and I know my dad’s death affects him more than he likes to lead on Next to Seth and I, Jackson comforts Selena who chose to show up today in a pair of black slacks, a black tee and a beautiful knee length cardigan She looks elegant, yet casual and I wish Mo more comfortable This dress is so thin I can feel the cool breeze hit ht as well be naked When I look back at the coffin and realize for the onein there absent a heartbeat; the tears begin flowing I lean against Seth’s side as silent tears streas an arround, the MC asks us to throw in a handful of dirt and say our goodbyes One by one we throw in handfuls of dirt and cry and talk to him I see this kind of stuff on TV and I always find it ahen people talk to a coffin or a tombstone I never really understood the purpose of it, until now