The Good Life

Alex

Jack, Cass, Rian, Hannah, Oli, and I were waiting outside of the church for the doors to open. Izzy stayed home with Joyce while we were attending the funeral. It was supposed to start at one pm but it was three minutes passed that. The doors would be opening at any moment now.

I had been trembling the whole morning. I was scared of walking in and viewing Vinny's body. I know the casket would be open for viewing, when we first walked in, and the thought of seeing that was making me feel ill. I didn't want to see Vinny like that.

"There are a lot of people here." Rian commented.

"Yeah it's amazing that so many people cared about him." Oli said and I nodded.

"Are you okay?" Jack whispered to me.

"Yeah I'm fine right now." I answered honestly. He nodded his head and grabbed my hand anyways.

"You guys might have to let go of each other's hands when we walk into the church so you don't catch on fire." Oli joked and we all quietly laughed.

My smile quickly faded as the doors of the church were opened. Jack and I did let go of each other's hands out of respect, and just in case there were some serious religious people there who would get offended. He stood closely to me so our arms would still be touching.

We waited in line so everyone could step inside, view the body, and then take a seat. I was just going to walk in and follow the line to our seats.

A few steps later we were in the church. We had to walk down the long aisle to before reaching the body. Rian and Cass were in front, then there was Jack and me, and then Hannah and Oli. I could still see parts of the casket from where we were standing. I felt light headed so I quickly looked away. Jack noticed the change in my stance and bumped into my lightly.

"You're okay. Just take deep breaths." He whispered to me and I nodded to let him know I heard.

We took another few steps towards the front. The only reason I couldn't go sit was because the ladies in the front had to seat us. I was planning on walking to the front, straight past the casket, and letting the ladies seat me.

Rian and Cass were finally at the front of the line and the rest of us were behind them. They were paying respects to Vinny so I wanted to walk around them so I wouldn't have the chance to see anything. I walked around them and went to sit down in the seat the lady directed me to. Jack viewed the body with Cass and Rian for a bit then they all came and sat in the seats next to me. Jack tried wiping away the few tears falling down his face but he was still crying. I grabbed a few Kleenex off of the table next to me and wiped his eyes for him.

"Thanks." He whispered.

"You're welcome." I grabbed his hand again since we were seated and no one could see.

Oli and Hannah came to sit next to us once they finished viewing. Hannah had a wad of tissues in her hands but Oli, like me, hadn't shed a tear yet. They sat down and he wrapped an arm around Hannah and laid her head on his shoulder while she cried more.

Once everyone was seated the ceremony began.

***
We had just left the cemetery and now we were sitting doing eating at the reception. Well everyone else was eating, I was pushing my food around on my plate. Jack was right I did get some closure by coming to his funeral but it didn't take any of the sadness away.

"Alex your food is getting cold, babe." Jack told me and I nodded. I wasn't really hungry so I knew I wasn't going to get past one bite.

"I'm not hungry." I mumbled.

"That's a first." Oli joked and I slightly chuckled.

Everyone went back to eating and talking while I moped. I just wanted to go back home and pretend none of this happened. Maybe I could pretend Vinny was still in Las Vegas, but we could never visit each other again.

"Alex?" I heard a woman say. I looked up and saw who I think was Vinny's mom staring at me.

"Mrs. Petrocelli?" I asked and she nodded.

"Oh my gosh hi! How are you?" She said in a fake cheery voice. Her eyes had dark circles and bags under them. She looked like she hadn't gotten much rest in days.

"I'm alright. How have you been?" I stood up to hug her.

"Great. Thank you for coming. I know this would have meant a lot to Vinny." She said.

"Yes I'm sure it would have." I left out the part about me visiting him because it was around the time he died and I didn't want to bring that up.

"Well it was nice talking to you. I have to go say hello to a few other family members and friends." She took a deep breath and forced herself to walk over to them. I sat back down next to Jack and he grabbed my hand. Seeing how hurt Mrs. Petrocelli was made me feel horrible.

"I feel so sorry for her." Rian said and we all agreed. I lost a friend, but she lost a son and that must feel so much worse.

Once the reception was over we all went back to where we were stay to rest. The funeral took a heavy toll on all of us. Jack and I went to his bedroom when we made it to the house. I want to take a nap, and Jack just wanted to make sure I was okay. He sat on the bed and rubbed my stomach.

"I'm so proud of you, Baby." He whispered, afraid to disturb me.

"Thanks." I mumbled.

Izzy came in a few seconds later and laid next to me. She laid her head on my chest and wrapped her arms around me. Her and Jack had a way of making me feel loved when I needed it most.

"How was the funeral?" She asked.

"I don't know how to answer that. It was good in the sense that it was a nice service, but it was bad because we were laying Vinny to rest." I answered and she nodded. "I never want to go to another funeral again. Promise me you won't ever do drugs."

"I promise." She said.

"Thank you."

"Papa, lay down with us." Izzy told Jack. He laid down on the other side of me, placing me in the middle.

We took a family nap until dinner time. Joyce came to wake us up and told us dinner was ready. Since I skipped breakfast and lunch my stomach wouldn't let me get away with not eating now. I followed everyone to the kitchen and sat down where Joyce had our food waiting for us.

"Thanks mom." Jack told her.

"You're welcome. I figured you all would be starving by now." She said. "What time does your flight leave tomorrow?"

"At one-something. I'll have to look at the tickets again." He told her.

"Do I have to go to school on Thursday?" Izzy asked.

"Yes. You and your dad have missed way too many days." Jack told her and I chuckled.

"Yeah I'm so behind on things I can't afford to miss another day." I said.

"Me too. I had to push back a meeting. I also forgot to call a man about a house for sale. Mom I saw another house that I think you would like." Jack said.

"I don't know, Honey. Every house you've told me about has been too big. I don't want to live in a huge house by myself." She complained.

"I can live with you Nana! We can be roommates!" Izzy exclaimed.

"No." Jack laughed.

"What if I move into a small apartment?" Joyce suggested.

"I can find you a condo." Jack said and she shook her head.

"No that's sounds too big." She said.

"Mom you make it seem like I'm trying to put you in a mansion."

"Every place you've suggested sounds like a mansion."

Izzy and I continued to watch them go back and forth with each other.

"No it doesn't. What if I find you a place that's around the same size as this house?"

"No this house is kind of too big. The only reason I've stayed her is because it's paid off."

"Okay how about I go find a box. Will that be small enough for you?" He said sarcastically.

"Don't take that tone with me, Jack Bassam Barakat." She scolded him.

"Gaskarth." I added and Jack rolled his eyes at me.

"Maybe I should just stay. I'm used to the small community around here. California seems to fast pace anyways." Joyce said.

"I'm okay with whatever you want to do." Jack told her.

"Okay I'm going to stay." She told us. "And since I retire in two months I can come visit a month or so before Izzy is ready to give birth."

"That works." Jack said.

"Will you be in the delivery room with me, Nana?" Izzy asked her.

"Yes of course. Well how many people are allowed in the delivery room there?" Joyce asked.

"I think it's either two or three people. I can't remember." Jack answered.

"Well if it's two people, Joyce can take my spot. I'm just going to cause more problems by passing out in the middle of her delivery." I said.

"Yeah that wouldn't be good." Joyce agreed. "Plus the blood might make things worse."

"Blood?" Izzy questioned. "How much blood? Not a lot right? Like I won't bleed to death right?"

"No you won't bleed to death, but pushing a baby out of your vagina is going to rip it." Joyce told her and Izzy and I grimaced.

"Well there goes my appetite." I joked and Jack and Joyce laughed.

"Sorry, but it's true." Joyce said.

"Will I feel anything if I get that epi-whatever shot?" Izzy asked.

"I didn't feel any pain, but it works differently for some women."

"What if it doesn't work for me?" Izzy asked worriedly.

"Izzy, you have months before you have to worry about any of that stuff. Just try to relax until then." Jack told her.

"Yeah try not to stress too much." Joyce said and she nodded.

"Okay. I'll try not to worry." She exhaled. If she was anything like Jack, that was going to be impossible.

Notes

This is the last sad chapter I promise!