CHAPTER 54

I walk out of the house the next day and decide to meet Father Liam McCarty.

I walk towards the church and I'm not surprised when I find him sitting down but he isn't alone. He notices my presence as he turns around and says 'Kiera, come and sit down.' He pats the seat next to him and I sit down. 'How have you been?'

'I don't even know.'

‘Don’t you worry because God will take care of you,' he replies and I nod my head. 'Matthew, this is Kiera. Kiera this is Matthew,' he says introducing me to the man sitting beside him. I nod my head and h continues as he says 'he was a close friend of your father’s and he directed your mother's funeral.'

'Really?' I ask surprised and he nods his head.

 'Pleased to meet you Kiera. I'm shocked we haven't formally met and that it has taken us this long to meet,' Matthew says and I agree.

 'So as the funeral director, will you control everything?'

'I will do everything you want me to do as you will be in control of the funeral. I will just do everything and take your orders,' he replies answering my question. I nod my head and ask 'And how much is that supposed to cost?'

'It depends on what you want. Do you want a service after the funeral providing food and drinks?'

'No,' I instantly reply and he nods.

 'Okay, we can go coffin shopping and the overall price depends on the coffin that you end up buying and the number of cars you decide to use and things like that. How many cars are you planning to use?' He questions. I think hard and realise that sixteen of my friends will be attending and I don't want them to be driving. 

I'm not sure about Aunt Rachel or Lily's parents. 'Can I just quickly text someone?' 

'Of course,' Matthew replies and I get my phone out and text Aunt Rachel.

(To Aunt Rachel) How are you and Lily's parents going to travel to the funeral?

I receive a reply within a few minutes.

Don't worry about our transport, we will ride together. -A.R

I look up from my phone to face Matthew and say 'I know sixteen people will be attending and I want to pay for their transport so basically four separate cars if it’s a five seater.' He begins writing some notes down and says 'that'll be eight hundred pounds, you sure you still want to do this?'

'Positive,' I reply.

 'So that's sorted, we just need to discuss the coffin and can you meet me tomorrow at the same time to go and look for one?'

'Sure,' I reply, already looking forward to my Thursday (!) I stand up to leave but say 'oh and can you make sure the cars have the numbers 1 to 4 on them?'

'Sure,' he replies and I smile gratefully.

 'Have a great day Kiera.'

'You too,' I reply before leaving the church.

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I sand outside Lucy's doorstep because I need to talk to her dad about the will. I ring the doorbell and she opens the door. 'Hey,’ she says as she opens the door.

'Hi,' I reply.

 'What are you doing here?' She asks curiously, with a smile on her face as she allows me to enter.

 'I came to talk to your dad,' I admit and her smile falls a little.

 'He's in his study room, you know where it is,' she replies before walking upstairs. 

I walk down the hall and knock on the study before walking inside. 'Kiera, what can I do for you today?' He asks smiling at me. I close the door and sit opposite him and say 'I'm sure you've heard about my dad's death.'

'Yes, I have and I'm very sorry for your loss.' I nod appreciating his words.

 'I'm here because I need a lawyer to sort out the will.'

'Do you have it with you?'

'No, it's at Andrea's house. Why? Do you need it?' He nods and I sigh. He notices my mood as he says ‘Kiera, you can give it to me any time.'

'It would have been better if I had it with me right now though.'

'So? Kiera, don't beat yourself up about it,' he replies as he reaches for my hand and squeezes it reassuringly.

 'So will you do it?' I ask curiously.

'Of course I will and don't even think about paying me Kiera, I'm doing this free of charge.'

'I'm not a charity case,' I mumble.

 'Hey, who said anything about being a charity case?'

'You didn't need to.'

'Kiera, I'm doing this because you’re the daughter I've never had and I want to help you in any way I can,' he replies firmly and I can detect the honesty in his voice. 

'Thanks,' I reply sincerely and he smiles at me.

 'You are welcome.'

'There's something else I need to tell you and I'll understand if you don't want to be my lawyer.' He tenses in his chair and takes a deep breath. He squeezes my hand encouraging me to continue as he asks 'What is it?'

'My dad told me that he included Lucy in the will,' I reply preparing myself for his reaction. 

'Why did he do that?'

'He wanted to apologise for what he did and I understand that nothing will be able to justify what he did and you don't have to be my lawyer because Lucy is your daughter and-'

'Kiera, you're rambling sweetheart,' he replies chuckling and I can feel my cheeks turning a shade of red. 'I'll still be your lawyer, I'm not going to turn your back on you just because of something that your father did Kiera.'

'Are you being serious?' I ask shocked as I was preparing myself for the worst. 

'Of course I am,' he responds and I let out a breath out of relief.

 'Thank you,' I reply standing up and he stands up as he wraps his arm around me.

 'You're welcome.' I smile one last time before leaving his study.

Instead of leaving the house, I walk upstairs and enter Lucy's bedroom who is on her bed and texting on her phone with her laptop open beside her. 'I thought you wanted to talk to my dad,' she says once she sees me.

 'I did that already and now I want to talk to you.'

'I thought it was my dad only though,' she replies, clearly confused.

 'Were you jealous?' I ask as I sit beside her on the bed. She rolls her eyes ignoring the question and asks 'How have you been?'

'Okay I guess. I went to meet with the priest and funeral director.'

'And how did it go?' She asks. 

'Better than I expected and I decided to hire cars.'

'How many are you hiring?' She curiously asks as she closes her laptop.

 'Four which will fit you guys.'

'Who?'

'Everyone basically, teenage wise,' I reply. 

'Including the new ones?' She asks and I nod. 'Kiera you don't have to do that, we all have cars.'

'Its fine,' I reply and she doesn’t bother arguing. 'Anyway, I came here to tell you that my dad included you in his will and I'm sorry if that brings up memories and I know that it doesn't justify what he did to you but I just thought you should  know.'

'Thanks for telling me,' she replies quietly as she takes everything in.

 'He wrote a letter to you before he passed away and I'm not trying to hurt you by giving it to you but he told me it was an apology letter,' I say calmly as I put the letter on the bed.

 'Kiera, I don't want to read it.'

'Lucy he can’t hurt you and this is the last letter you'll ever read from him,' I reply trying to comfort her but she remains silent. 

I analyse her face and notice she has tears in her eyes. 'Luce,' I quietly say and her tears fall. I move closer to her and wrap my arms around her neck and she buries her face into the crook of my neck. I stroke her hair trying to calm her down. 'I'm sorry,' I keep repeating as I regret telling her.

It takes ten minutes for her to calm down and she wipes her tears. 'I'm sorry.'

'Lucy stop apologising,' I reply, my hands still stroking her hair and she smiles. 

'Thanks for being here,' she replies and I pull her in for a hug again.

 'You're welcome.'

We break apart when my phone begins vibrating and Aunt Rachel's display picture pops up on my home screen indicating a call. 'Lucy, I have to go,' I say rejecting the call and she nods. 'You will text me if you're upset won't you?'

'Kiera-'

'I asked you a question Lucy and I know you're going to start deflating,' I reply cutting her off. She sighs and says 'Yes, I promise to text you if I get upset.'

'Good,' I reply, hugging her one last time before I walk back to Lilly's house.