More Read Online Free PDF Page B

be disappointed you aren’t smiling.”
    My heart melted at the grown up attitude exuding from my little boy. He was old for his years, that was for sure.
    “I know, buddy,” Drake answered in a sombre voice. It broke my heart to hear the sadness in his voice and see it written across his face.
    “So smile, Daddy. Grandad is watching you to make sure you smile.”
    I had to smile at my boy’s courage. He was hurting deep inside too, but he was smiling because that was what Dennis would have wanted.
    Looking at Drake, he looked so handsome in his suit. It was navy blue, hardly the bright colours his Dad had requested, but he wore a tie that matched Ayden’s, a tie that was currently sitting askew. I walked towards him and reached out to straighten it for him.
    Once we were all ready, we walked downstairs, locked the house behind us, and set off for Lynne’s house where we were meeting her, Meghan, Jack, Leanne, and Taylor.
    Upon arriving, we were greeted by Leanne, who was making coffee for everyone. Drake’s sister-in-law was a royal pain in the butt, a diva, prima donna, drama queen—there were so many names for her that we’d need a month to get through them—but she was also a kind-hearted person who I had come to like in time. I’d instantly liked Jack, Drake’s brother, but there was something about Leanne that nobody liked. Dennis and Lynne said things about her when she wasn’t around, they told me what she was really like. But in time, we had all come to accept her, flaws and all.
    Lynne and Meghan were sat with Jack and Taylor in the conservatory. Jack and Leanne had Taylor a year after Ayden had arrived. The boys adored each other, always playing games together. Christmases in the Anderson household were the best since the two boys had come along. Christmas was always a big affair for the family. Lynne was awake and cooking from about 6 a.m. Dennis would watch Christmas films—he was banned from helping in the kitchen. Drake, Ayden, and I would arrive and I would put an apron on to give Lynne a hand. Then Jack, Leanne, and Taylor would arrive and the house would get really noisy. Meghan would get there about 10 a.m. and Lynne would break open the wine—the only day of the year we drank before noon was Christmas Day. We’d all open our presents, then as the kids played, Lynne and I would serve dinner.
    I looked at the girls—Meghan was dressed in soft pink chiffon, Lynne wore a floral print dress that Dennis had given her as an anniversary present, and Leanne wore a simple green shift dress. We all looked like we were going to anything but a funeral—I guess that was Dennis’ aim—but then I’ve always thought that funerals aren’t just to mourn the dead, they are also to celebrate the life that they lived. Jack and Taylor wore suits and blue ties like Drake and Ayden to pay homage to Birmingham City Football Club, the team Dennis had spent a long time supporting. Looking at the family surrounding me, I couldn’t help but smile. Yes, this was a day of great sadness, but we had all come together to pay tribute to Dennis’ life. A life that had been filled with a lot of love and happiness.
     
    ***
     
    After a beautiful service, we all gathered back at the Anderson home for the wake. Lynne was doing her best to keep smiling, but if you looked closely, you could see that her façade was close to crumbling. I went to her and whispered in her ear before taking her arm and gently leading her towards the stairs. She went up before me and walked into her bedroom.
    “Get some rest,” I said gently as Lynne sat on the edge of her bed. “You’re tired and you’ve had a hard day.”
    “I can’t just walk away from everyone gathered here,” she replied, her voice full of sorrow and heartbreak.
    “You can, just get your head down for an hour, I’ll come and get you in a little while, I promise.”
    We could all see that it was both a physically and mentally draining day for the woman who had