Eliza's POV

It's been a week since my mother passed away and we're in the middle of getting ready for her funeral.

Kat walks into the room with a black dress for me. "This is the one you wear. Mom told me it was her favourite."

Taking it from her I say. "Thanks," I take off my pyjamas and put a black bra on. I put the dress on and then change my underwear, while my sister is in the room.

"How are you holding up, Eliza?" She tries to get me to talk. Since Mom died I haven't wanted to talk to anyone. All I want to do is go back to bed and stay there.

I ignore the question and walk over to the crib where Aspen is lying in bed.

She looks at me and I pick her up. "Are you hungry, little one."

Moving over to the rocker I sit on it and feed Aspen. She latches on easily and suckles on my nipple. Once she's had enough she pulls away from my nipple.

I pick up the towel that I have lying over the armrest and place it over my shoulder. I tap her back and wait for her to burp.

It doesn't take long before she burps. A little bit of it comes out and goes over the towel. Pulling the towel off I throw it in the hamper before I change her nappy.

Once that's done I put a onesie on her, before putting her back to bed.

Chad's parents are coming over to babysit while we attend the funeral.

Tears begin to fall down my face as I move away from the crib. "Kat,"

She pulls me into her arms. "I know how you feel, Eliza. It's hard to believe she's gone. At least we have each other."

"Dad's going to leave. What are we going to do without him being around? I was used to being with them and now I won't have them close." I continue to sob in her arms.

She lifts my head so I'm looking in her eyes. "Anytime you need something call me and I'll be here in a couple of minutes. It's a good thing that we put a gate in for us to use in an emergency."

Chad walks into the room with Sebastian. "Are you ladies ready? Mom and Dad are downstairs." He moves over to me and wraps his arms around me. "I love you, Eliza."

"I love you, too. Thanks for being here with me."

"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else." His arm slips around my waist and we walk downstairs to greet his parents.

Miriam and Mr Whitehall are sitting on the lounge talking. She looks up and smiles at us. "Hello, Eliza." She moves over to me and hugs me. "Thank you for letting us look after Aspen."

"You're welcome, Miriam. Thanks for looking after her. I'm appreciative of it."

"You're family. You don't have to worry about asking us to look after our Granddaughter."

A smile spreads across my face at hearing her call Aspen her Granddaughter.

Mr Whitehall stands up next and moves over to me. "Hello, Eliza. It's wonderful to see you again. Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk last time. You can call me Cole."

"It's nice to see you again, Sir." I shake his hand and then drop it not too long after.

"Kat, it's nice to see you again." Mr and Mrs Whitehall say together.

She gives them a hug. "It's always nice to see you." Kat smiles at them before pulling away.

I'm glad she has a good relationship with my in-laws.

Dad walks into the living room and says 'hello,' to everyone before turning towards Kat and I. "Are you girls ready?"

"Yes," we both say.

With that we start for the front door. "Bye, Miriam and Cole. I'll call you after the service."

"Okay, dear." Miriam smiles at me as I turn and head for the front door.

As we walk through the front door Kat turns to me. "Dad's coming with us. We'll meet you at the church."

I just nod. "See you soon." I open the door to Chad's four wheel drive.

Chad jumps into the car and starts the engine. When the radio turns on a song by the new band called Saving Ryder plays. I begin to sing along to the song.

"We were kids when we first met,
Playing in the backyard like kids do,
A boy and girl,
Who become best friends."

This song seems familiar. Especially, the way it begins. It's like my story with Austin.

"Our friendship grew stronger,
We fell in love,
We were each other's first,
I hoped it would be the last too."

Yes, this is definitely something relatable. It would be great to meet the people that this song is about.

"Not over you,
I'll never be over you,
You own my heart & soul,
I belong to you,
& you belong to me."

Chad turns towards me with a smile on his face. "You have a beautiful voice. You can relate to this song can't you?"

"Yeah," I wipe a tear away. "I'm sure a lot of people can. This song doesn't make me miss Austin at all. I'm over him and I have won a better man in the process."

He smiles at that. "I'm glad you think so."

I start singing along to the song again.

"Not over you,
I'll never be over you,
You own my heart & soul,
I belong to you
& you belong to me."

Before long the car is pulling up in front of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Chad turns to car off and steps out. He rounds the car and opens the door for me. He holds his hand out and I take it.

"Thanks," I climb out and then grab my purse from inside the car.

Chad locks the car and then holds my hand as we climb the steps to the front doors of the church.

Stepping inside I see a table that has cards with In Loving Memory of Amadene Holly Donoghue.
19/9/1970-15/4/22

There's a big picture of her with a smile on her face. I collapse to the ground and scream.

I can't take this pain anymore.