NATE
Days have been passing, and weâve been taking Dad for his treatments daily. But I wonât lie, itâs getting tougher each day. Heâs growing weaker, and Iâve been in constant discussions with his doctor.
When do we decide whatâs best for him? Do we even get to decide? I feel like a jerk because we keep pushing him to go, regardless of how he feels.
Theyâve started the chemo, which is done at home, but it drains him of all his energy.
Today, I walk in to wake him up, and he is just cuddled up next to Mom, who is asleep. I sit down, glancing at my watch, when I hear him whisper.
âNot today, Nate. I donât have the energy to fight it. I just want to spend what time is left next to your mom. I know itâs not working. My mind isnât functioning right, and after chemo, I donât remember much. Iâll keep taking the seizure meds, but I just want to enjoy whatâs left.â
âAll right, Dad. Itâs your decision, and as long as you understand whatâs going to happen, Iâll support it. Iâm not happy about it, but I understand. Do you need anything?â I ask.
He just shakes his head no, and I nod back. I step outside to call the doctor, who understands. Hospice will be coming out to start their services for what is to come.
I walk over to the counter, placing my hands on the edge, looking out the window. I can see what my dad has built and what will have to continue once he is gone. I feel arms wrap around my waist and turn to see Mandy burying her face into my side.
It feels like only an hour before hospice arrives and goes in to talk to Dad. When they come out, I can tell something is off. I motion for the nurse to come over when they look around, trying to see who is going to hear.
âI donât know how to say this. Except when it comes to the end, usually around the forty-eight-hour mark, the patient will give off a deathly smell. Well, I already smell it in the room, and when your dad was talking to me.â
âWhat the fuck are you trying to say! We have forty-eight fucking hours! What kind of fucking shit is this!â
âIâm sorry, sir, I wish there was better news. I wasnât expecting it to happen this quickly either!â
I just nod my head because, shit, it isnât her fault! When I turn to look back at the room, Jessie is standing there with Jocelyn burying her face. I see tears roll down Jessieâs face.
This canât be happening right now! I send out a text to everyone with the update. I walk over, pouring me and Jessie a shot; we canât slam them down fast enough.
I take a moment before I go in the room. When I enter, it hits me like a ton of bricks. Thatâs what the smell is. I know it smells like death in here.
I look over at my dad and see him and my mom still snuggling together. I can see that they are at least still breathing. I walk over to ask my mom if she needs anything, but she shakes her head.
I shrug my shoulders and walk back out to people just looking at me.
âCalm down, they are both still breathing! They just donât want anything.â
I see people release sighs of relief and internally smack my forehead. They said forty-eight hours, not four to eight minutes.
I walk back over, downing another shot. Jessie brings me a beer with Jace. We just sit at the table and have everyone keep quiet in this part of the house.
They donât need a bunch of ruckus going on; I just want them to be with each other before my dad goes.
My mom says she knows it is getting close but never expected it to go this fast. I donât think anyone really thought that.
I had hoped he would be able to put up a good fight, but shit, he has been fighting his whole life.
We just sit there in silence when Mandy comes in and climbs on my lap. She even takes my beer, taking a swig. No doubt everyone will be doing shots.
When the evening winds down, I see Jessie stand from his chair to look out the window. I quickly nudge Mandy and stand up to turn around.
What I see floors me. I walk to the back door, opening it up while everyone follows me out. I see tents being set up on the far end of the property.
I can see families getting situated while guards come walking up toward the house holding candles. Mandy bursts out sobbing, grabbing onto Jocelyn and Cami while I just look out, stunned.
There must be hundreds of guards all keeping watch around the property and around the back of the house. I run back inside and go into my parentsâ room when I nudge my dad.
âDad, Mom, look outside. Everyone came to see you! Dad, look! Dad! What the fuck! No, Dad! Mom! What the hell!â
I continue to scream at them, trying to wake them up when everyone comes running in behind me, yelling. Everything instantly goes in slow motion like Iâm watching a movie.
Jessie runs over beside me on the opposite side of the bed, trying to wake them up also. The girls are screaming in the corner, holding onto each other when more people come running in to try and figure out whatâs going on.
I just start grabbing stuff and throwing it when Jessie runs around, grabbing me and shoving me to the wall. I grab Jessieâs arms like my life depends on it.
âWhat the fuck, Jessie! They canât both be gone! Thatâs not how this was supposed to go!â
âNate! You knew your mom couldnât live without your dad! At least they are together!â
I push him away, running back to them and taking them both into my arms. This is not how this was supposed to happen! We were supposed to have more time!
âWhat the fuck do we do now?â I just rock back and forth on the bed with them when Jessie puts his arm on my back. The tears and sobs that I have tried to keep under control are now on full display.
I knew it would happen, but no matter how much you prepare yourself, are you ever really ready? You know you will have to say goodbye, and that people canât live forever, but are you ever really prepared to say it?
I just sit there when Jocelyn comes over with Jace, wrapping their arms around them also. Soon all the kids come in and climb in around just to be with them one last time.
The end is never really the end, is it? Itâs more like a new beginning for those that have moved on.
I lay them back down on the bed and sit down in the chair next to the bed. Mandy crawls in my lap, and we just take a moment to soak in all the candles outside the house.
âLet me share with you a tale of love. Itâs a heartwarming story that didnât kick off in the typical fashion. It all began with a business card and a text message.
âA message that would forever alter the course of lives. One that would serve as a beacon of hope for a five-year-old boy.
âA little boy who was huddled in a basement, tears streaming down his face, when a remarkable man walked in, arms outstretched.
âI hesitantly crawled into his embrace, and he whispered reassurances in my ear, vowing he would never cause me harm. He pledged to look after my mom and me for the rest of his days.â
We spend hours exchanging stories, laughing and crying together. It feels as though we need the intimacy and the healing it brings.
We are aware that our time is dwindling, but I have to concur with Jessie: Iâm relieved theyâre together.
Mom would have despised being here without Dad. She would have been trapped in a cycle of misery.
Sure, she would have had us, but it wouldnât have been the same.
When they come to take Mom and Dad away, we notice all the candles outside have been extinguished. We will carry on, living as Mom and Dad would have wished.
They built this life knowing we could carry on their legacy. Now, we just need to mourn for as long as we need.
A smile tugs at my lips as I imagine the ruckus theyâre causing in Heaven. God better brace himself because, honestly, I donât think heâs ready for my parents.
We were a force to be reckoned with here on Earth, and now Heaven is about to get a taste of the Maxwells.
***
Mandy and I are nestled in the backseat of the car, ready to depart from the estate. The driveway is a sea of limousines, all waiting to transport the mourners to the cemetery following the church service. We chose to hold the ceremony at the church where their love story began.
It seems fitting, the perfect place for their journey to conclude. As I sift through their belongings, I find the crown necklace he had given her. I know she should wear it for their final journey together.
As the car pulls away, Iâve made peace with the fact that theyâre together now. I would have preferred if one of them had stayed, but their simultaneous departure doesnât surprise me. My father lived for my mother, and she for him.
I glance down at Mandy, nestled against my chest, and I canât fathom enduring this without her. Sheâs been my rock, my shoulder to lean on as the days drag on. The car slows to a crawl as we approach the hearse on the outskirts of town.
We fall in line behind it, trailing it into the city. Weâre only a few blocks from the church when the hearse abruptly stops. I squint, trying to discern whatâs happening, before deciding to get out and investigate.
As I exit the car, Mandy close behind, I see the cause of the delay. The streets are filled with what seems like the entire cityâs population. I survey the scene, realizing weâre the only ones on the road.
There are no other cars in sight. Jessie, Jocelyn, Jace, and Cami rush over, seeking guidance. I glance at Mandy, a smirk playing on my lips, and she nods in agreement.
We move to the front of the hearse and begin to walk. Guards line the streets, keeping a watchful eye as we proceed. The sidewalks are packed with people, four to five deep.
Not a single camera or phone is visible. Everyone seems to be silently praying. I reach for Mandyâs hand, overwhelmed. I knew my father had touched many lives, but I never anticipated this.
We walk block after block until we reach the church. As we disembark, the crowd parts, and Iâm struck by the sight of thousands of people lining the streets. I donât recognize most of them, but I vow to get to know them.
Weâve been a pillar of this community for generations, yet weâve only met a fraction of its residents. We hold a brief, private service for the family before continuing to the cemetery, just a few blocks away.
We decide to walk again, making a slow procession of it. When we arrive, the cemetery is teeming with people. We had planned a larger ceremony here, anticipating some attendees, but we never imagined the entire town would show up.
A stage and microphones have been set up, along with refreshments and shade tents. Speakers are scattered throughout the area, and I stand there, stunned.
Each of us children shares memories of our parents, then open the floor to anyone else who wishes to speak.
We spend hours listening to stories about them, laughing and crying in equal measure. Some tales are familiar, others are new to me, and Iâm astounded by the impact they had on others. As the ceremony concludes, many people introduce themselves to us, and I feel as though our family has expanded.
Once the crowd disperses, we lower our parents into the ground and watch as their caskets are covered. I stand with my arm around Mandy, waiting for the process to finish. When itâs done, I canât help but smile at the sight of their final resting place.
On one side are Frankie and Tank, on the other, Gracie and Fernando. The family is reunited, just as it should be. A single tear escapes, trickling down my cheek, but I quickly wipe it away.
I turn to face the rest of the family, knowing itâs our turn to carry on their legacy. âWeâll follow in my fatherâs footsteps, showing everyone why weâre the Maxwells, and why no oneâno oneâshould ever mess with the Maxwells.â
End of Book 5