Copyright
©
2019 - This is an original work by Zeb Carter and is protected under copyright by U.S. copyright law. It is only submitted at Literotica.Com and any submission to any other site has not been authorized by the Copyright Holder/Author.
Author's Note
: The life of the Twins continues. Sorry for how long it took this time. First, my desktop crashed, motherboard, then the power supply crapped out. Took a week for the motherboard and a month for the replacement power supply. Besides, writing is a fickle task... you don't always get to write about what you want. So, my apologies.
Part 14 ~~~~~
The wake was brutal on Eileen and the twins. She cried the entire time Slater let her stay at the funeral home. The day before the wake, he had called both nannies and told them they had the job. Then he told them the bad news. They both rushed over to help with the children. They each brought a suitcase with clothes. In effect, they moved into the Carlson house. They both had their own cars so they could take the children back and forth to school, the funeral home, and home. They helped a lot by keeping them out of Slater's and Eileen's hair. Karen was a ghost. She disappeared when the two girls arrived. Slater found her in the basement. Sitting on an old chair.
"Are you okay, Karen?" Slater asked, standing next to her.
"Yes. I just needed to be alone for a spell," she replied, turning her face away from her brother.
"There is no shame in crying."
"I know. I just don't want you to see me all ugly," said Karen.
Squatting down, Slater took Karen in his arms. He pressed his lips to her neck. Karen sighed when she felt his lip.
"You are always beautiful, sweetheart," Slater whispered.
Karen started to cry again. Slater held her gently whispering his love for her in her ear. Turning, Karen wrapped him in her arms. Slater held her for a long time. Then, picking her up, he carried her upstairs to her room. He laid her on her bed, kissed her on the forehead, pulled the cover-up over her, and left her to work through her sorrow. Mom was coming out of her bedroom, as Slater was leaving Karen's.
"Is she all right?" Mom asked.
"She is. Just tired and distraught."
"How are you doing, my son?" Eileen asked.
"I'm fine, right now. Come Saturday, I don't know how I'll be," Slater replied. "How are you mom?"
"Like you. Fine for now but, who knows about tomorrow."
Nodding Slater hugged his mom tightly. She hugged her son back.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," Slater replied.
~~~ Twins ~~~
The days that followed were hectic. Mom, Slater, and Karen took shifts at the funeral home. At night for the last three hours, the home was open, they were all there. Cami, Beth, Emily, Carl, and Troy were there also. The wake was only for two nights. Family, lots of their family showed up trying to console and comfort Eileen, Karen, and Slater. They were very grateful for them all to have come and to have expressed their condolences.
The day of the funeral, everyone was up early. Cami and Beth fixed breakfast, then went to get dressed. When they come out, everyone was done. They sat and ate. Then went to clean up.
"No, no, you two will not be maids," Eileen said sternly. "Go help the little one get ready. We'll leave this until later. Now skedaddle."
Cami and Beth both nodded herding the children down the hall to get ready. Slater had showered the prior night, so he went to his room and dressed in his Sunday best. Karen went to her room to dress. Eileen went to the bathroom to shower. Once the little ones were dressed, Slater and Karen watched them along with Cami and Beth. They all sat in the living room waiting for Eileen.
"Slater, my car, everyone will fit in there..."
"There's a limo waiting out front for us, Mom," Slater said.
"Oh! Will we all fit?" Eileen asked.
"Yes, Mom."
"Well, then let's go," she said.
They arrived at the church. Eileen got out first, stepping aside, looking across the street. She was crying. Karen was next out. She was crying as she stood aside so Slater could get out. He turned to his mother and took her in his arms. The children got out with Cami and Beth. They stood there watching their mother and Karen. Emily walked up to Karen. Took Karen's hand in her little one.
"Don't cry Karen, Dad has gone to a good place. He will be with us always," Emily said softly.
Karen bent down picking up Emily in her arms, giving her a gentle hug. She cried even harder. Setting Emily down, she squatted taking first Carl then Troy into her arms and telling them she loved them. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and stood looking down at the three children. Smiling, she nodded. Slater was beside her with Mom on his arm. Karen took his other offered arm and they started up the sidewalk to the church. Cami and Beth followed with the other children in hand. The minister met them at the door.
"I'm so sorry for your loss, Eileen," he said softly taking Eileen's hand in his.
"Thank you, George, that's very kind of you," Eileen replied.
"And you two, I'm so sorry for your loss also," he said.
"Thank you, Pastor," Slater replied.
"Thank you, Pastor," Karen said.
"And who do we have here? Is this Emily? My, my you are getting bigger all the time my dear child. And Troy and Carl, you two have grown. I'm so sorry for your loss dear children," the Pastor said.
"Thank you, Pastor," Emily replied.
Carl and Troy just nodded as they held Beth's hands. Then Pastor walked them all down to the front row. The kids went in first with Cami and Beth. Karen, then Slater with Eileen last so she could sit at the aisle. The Pastor then went up front and stood behind the casket looking sad. He spun around quickly and went to the podium. He stood waiting for everyone to quiet down. When everyone was seated and quietly looking up at him, he started.
"Jordan was a very good friend. Not only to me but, to a host of others in our community. He also had a loving family. A very loving family, who will miss him a great deal, as will I and all of you.
"Eileen has asked me to keep today short but, how can you not stand here and praise such a wonderful man, husband, father, and friend. Several people have asked to speak today. I have only told one of them he can. Slater, would you please come up and say what is in your heart?"
The Pastor stood waiting while Slater walked up to the podium.
"Again, I'm so sorry for your loss, young man," said the Pastor.
"Thank you, sir," Slater said stepping up behind the podium.
Looking over the mass of faces looking up at him, he coughed, cleared his throat, and took a deep breath.
"My father loved me. I know he loved me. I know he knew I loved him. My father was a great man to me and my family. I will miss him tremendously. My sister Karen wanted me to say this for her... 'I love you, daddy.'"
Slater stopped looking down at Karen. She was smiling as tears rolled down her cheek. Nodding Slater continued.
"Dad, I love you. I know Mom loves you, too. As do Emily, Carl, and Troy. We will miss you, but you will be with us in our hearts forever."
Slater, tears rolling down his cheeks, walked slowly back to his seat next to his mother. The Pastor patted Slater on the back as he passed him, then stepped up behind the podium once more.
"Friends, we will now stand, while our dear friend, Jordan is taken to his burial place."
The Pastor stepped over to the casket and waited for the pallbearers to come upfront. Slater's uncles, from both sides of the family, were there to take their brother to the hearse. The organ started to play a slow song that was perfect for the mood within the church. When the casket passed Eileen, the Pastor allowed her to exit and follow her husband down the aisle. Slater and Karen came next, with Cami and Beth with the children behind them.
The family went right to their limo while Jordan was put in the hearse. Everyone was now sobbing as the file of cars pulled away from the church.
~~~ Twins ~~~
Twenty minutes later they were at the cemetery. The casket was set in place and Eileen and her family now sat graveside waiting. It was a clear, cool, sunny day, so no one was really uncomfortable due to the weather. Eileen had Emily on her lap, Karen had Troy on hers, while Slater had Carl on his. They all sat quietly, waiting. The Pastor stood at the head of the casket waiting, the bible open, looking out over the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, once again, Eileen has asked me to keep this short. I will say a few words about our esteemed brother Jordan. A kind man who has been taken from us all too soon. Leaving behind a wife and four children. I know for all of us, our hearts are heavy with grief at his passing.
"Eileen also wanted me to tell you all, for those of you who can make it, she will hosting a little get together at her home. Beverages and snacks will be provided.
"Please bow your heads now for a moment of silence for our dear departed brother."
For almost a full minute the Pastor stood with his head bowed.
"May all of you go in peace and good health."
The Pastor came over and sat to the left of Eileen. Family, passed by the casket, Jacob's brothers tapped the top as they passed. Eileen's brother came around behind her, Jacob's brothers stood behind Slater. Other friends and relatives slowly passed the family and left the cemetery. When everyone was gone, the Pastor rose, taking Eileen's hand helped her to her feet.
"Thank you, George," Eileen said.
"You are very welcome. Give me a call in a couple of days or if you need help with anything," said George letting go of Eileen's hand.
"I will," Eileen said turning to her brothers and brothers in law. "We need to hurry. Thank you all so much."
"We will see you at the house, Eileen," Johnny said smiling at her.
The rest just nodded as they headed for their rides. Eileen led her children to the limo and they were home in twenty minutes. The street was lined with cars, waiting for them to arrive. Eileen groaned as she led the children to the house. When she walked in all her sisters in law were there and everything was ready for their guests.
"How?" Eileen said.
"Don't worry about dear, we were happy to help in your time of need," Joyce said.
"Cami, Beth, take Troy and Carl and get them out of the good clothes before they..."
"Of course, Eileen," Beth said herding the boys in front of her. Cami followed making sure neither of the boys escaped.
Once home, Slater sat on the sofa in the living room, holding Emily's hand talking to people, friends, and family, that stop to give him their condolences. Emily, just sat there a sad look on her face as she listened to the adults talk. Carl and Troy were moving around, trying to find a place to play. Eileen, let them go out back with Cami and Beth to play. Karen sat at the kitchen table talking with her aunt Becky.
After about two hours after they arrived home, the crowd of family and friends started to leave. The families aunts cleaned up, while Eileen's brothers kept her busy in the living room. She was fussing at them about cleaning her house. They just laughed at her and wouldn't let her help. When the kitchen and the living were clean, the brothers and their wives left, saying goodbye to them all.
After the door closed behind the last person, Eileen collapsed onto the couch. Emily climbed up on Slater's lap and hugged him.
