“What?” Was all Patrick could say when Natalie had said that her mother was dead. And all he could do was sit there and hold her and support her. When she finally sat up again she tried to explain as well as she could of what happened through the sobs, “She was walking into the grocery store and some asshole blew a stop sign and hit her at 60mph.” The paused and a tear rolled down her cheek, “She was killed on impact.” Pat got chills down his spine when she said that as she broke down again into Pat’s arms. “Shh Natalie, it’s okay I’m here.” He cooed. It was hard for him too as the lump in his throat grew larger. “Pat, I want to go back to Buffalo, he needs my help, he can’t do it alone.” Pat nodded his head, “I’m coming with you, she was my mom too.” A small smile came to Natalie’s face, “Thank you, Pat.” She wrapped her arms around him again as he kissed the top of her head.

Back in Buffalo where they got engaged last summer, the cemetery was filled with depressed people in black. Natalie covered her eyes with the black sunglasses to hide her tears, wearing her mother’s pearls. Patrick griped her hand tightly as people made their speeches on how great of a woman Natalie’s mom Melissa was. Natalie was supposed to make a speech herself but who knows if she could with all the sobs that came from her body. Natalie was in the middle of her father and Patrick with both her hands tightly in their grasp. Then finally it came down to Natalie’s turn. Patrick gave her a squeeze of support as she stepped next to her mother’s casket. She took a deep breath before taking out a sheet of folded paper with her speech on it and started speaking, “My mother,” she hesitated, “Was my role model, she never said no, she always helped everyone that needed help in the neighborhood, I’ve always wanted to be like her, and I still do. She was my best friend,” she started to cry and cover her mouth with her paper. Pat went over and whispered in her ear, “You don’t have to do this, but I’m here for you.” She took another deep breath and shooed him back to his place before continuing.

“She gave me the best advice and one of my favorites was to follow your dreams today because they might not be around tomorrow. And I’m following her advice because I’m going to marry my biggest dream that I’ve ever had.” She said as she looked over towards her fiancée and smiled as she continued on, “So thank you mom, I know you’re up in heaven now watching over me, I love you Mommy.” She gripped her pearls tightly as she looked up towards the clouds. Everyone that was there clapped as Pat reached his hand out so she could go back to holding his hand. After the ceremony the casket was lowered into the ground in silence. Then Natalie’s father, Matthew, made the closing statement, “Thank you for coming everyone, I really appreciate it.”

As everyone was leaving she stayed behind and talked with her mom. She touched the engraved stone with her finger tips tracing the wordsMelissa Malone Vaughn a mother and a best friend to all, 1961-2017, while whispering “I’ll miss you Mommy.” And out of her pocket she took out a butterfly bracelet that had ‘mother-daughter’ written on it and placed it on top of the carnations bouquet and she finally got up and walked back to the car to find Pat waiting for her leaning up against it.

The ride home was silent, Natalie stared out the window watching the cars speed by until they got back to Natalie’s parents’ home. They found Matthew going through his wedding photos. “Dad, were home.” She said going over to kiss him on the top of his grey head. “Hey baby, do you want to start going through the clothes in my room that you would want?” Natalie shot him a look, “Dad we just put her in the fucking ground, do we have to go through her stuff already?” Matthew dried his tears instantly, “Natalie, don’t talk to me like that, I miss her okay? Do I have to have these constant reminders that she’s gone?” He said with his deep voice. “Alright Dad, I’ll go through her clothes and jewelry, Pat?” He nodded his head and followed behind as they went upstairs.

They went through the entire closet and put them in boxes that would be donated to charity. Natalie took most of the jewelry and pictures that hung in the room to take back to Chicago. They would be on a plane back to Chicago tomorrow to make the meetings for the end of the year. “Patrick,” “Yeah honey?” “Thank you for coming with me.” “Natalie, I’d follow you anywhere.”