Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 103819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
"No, sir. I was waiting on you first," Robert answered, finally standing, but keeping Kane in a tight embrace against his side.
"Okay, I'll call her, or go to her house. I don't know." Kane knew he sounded confused. He was so lost he didn't know what to do or who to call, everything seemed to be imploding at once. The door to the waiting room opened again, and Avery's nurse stood there, solemn-faced. Kane could see she'd been crying.
"They've cleared the area. It's safe to leave, whenever you're ready," she said. Kane wasn't sure he could do this. Avery had been his lifeline, his world, and now he was left to deal with the aftermath—the press, the questions, their children—alone. He would go back to their house, to the life he and Avery built together…alone.
"Thank you, Doris. Daddy, come on," Robert urged, helping Kane up. The three of them walked the long hall, arm in arm. As they made their way out, the hospital staff slowly and quietly aligned themselves along the hall, nodding, with their eyes downcast, as they passed by. Everyone seemed to feel his loss; he could see the reverence in their stance as he walked past the staff. Avery was such a good man and had spent so much time in this very hospital where Robert worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon and Sophia was now the chief of staff. Avery had been so proud of his son. He'd been so proud of both of their children.
His soul mate had left him, Avery was gone.
Chapter 32
Everything blurred the days following Avery's passing. Their home in Georgetown filled with mourners and well-wishers before they even had a chance to make it home from the hospital. Avery had been well-loved and highly-respected by most everyone he came in contact with.
Kane had moved Kennedy straight to his house. She was ninety-six years old, and still a little spitfire of a woman. She ran his home, orchestrating the hundreds and hundreds of visitors stopping by the house each day. For Kane, she was a godsend because she freed him of those responsibilities. He rarely participated in anything going on inside his home since the loss of his husband, instead tucking himself away in his and Avery's bedroom, sitting in Avery's things, as he tried to come to terms with what life was going to be like without his Avery there every single day.
Through executive order, Avery received a state funeral with every bit of pomp and circumstance offered to his political rank. United States flags were immediately ordered to half-staff and a national day of mourning was called. Military personnel were assigned to remain by Kane's side until the funeral actually took place. He paid no attention to any of it, instead staying inside himself, working only to keep his tears at bay. He was rarely successful.
Kane allowed all funeral protocol to take place as mandated. The only part he refused to allow others to handle was the flower selection for the casket. He chose those arrangements with care, making sure they represented the man beneath them.
He instructed Autumn to participate in handling the weeklong schedule of events. He learned keeping Kennedy and his children busy allowed him time to sit uninterrupted beside Avery inside the funeral home. He only left when the funeral home closed for the night, and returned early the next morning.
Kane remained beside the casket even as they shut Avery inside to prepare to take him for the twenty-four hour lying in state vigil. Kane broke protocol for the event and stationed himself beside the casket as thousands and thousands of people filled the capitol rotunda and walked by to pay their final respects. This was where he belonged, where he had always been, where Avery wanted him to be, right there by Avery's side.
"Daddy, you have to get some sleep for tomorrow," Autumn said, coming to kneel down in front him. Kane had no idea of the time, but he was surprised to see her. He looked around to find the room quiet. The only people remaining were the honor guards standing watch over Avery's casket.
"You look so much like your father at this age. You've got that same determined set in your eyes. He was just a little older than you when I met him," Kane said, patting her hands that were folded across his knee.
"We need you to come home and sleep for a few hours before the funeral tomorrow," Robert said, and Kane looked up, startled. He hadn't seen Robert there.
"I've arranged to stay here tonight. You two go home and get some rest. You've done a good job for your dad. He'd be so proud of you. When they take him to get ready for the processional, I'll go home and get cleaned up, but I want to stay here tonight." He patted Autumn's hand before placing his palm back on Avery's casket where it had been most of the day.
"Daddy, before you got to the hospital, he made me promise we'd take care of you. You aren't a young man anymore. You can't do these things," Autumn started, but Kane stopped her.
"This is my last night with Avery. I'm not leaving him." Kane tried to be as stern and forceful as he could, but he thought he may have fallen short when Autumn shook her head and started to speak again. Robert placed a hand on her shoulder, effectively stopping her.
"I'll stay here with him. You go home and stay with Nonnie. I'll get him home as soon as I can," Robert said. Kane began to argue, but watched as Autumn started to stand and decided to let it go. Robert could stay if he wanted.
"Do you have a ride home?" Kane asked, reaching for his wallet to give her cab fare.
"They have cars for us. Daddy, there's a car out there for you and Robert. When you get tired, please come home." There were tears forming in her eyes, and seeing them tugged at him. He didn't want her to worry, but he couldn't leave Avery. Not yet. Tomorrow night, he'd deal with remaining in a life without Avery, but he didn't have to do that today. After a moment, he rose, handing her the tissue he'd worried in his hands for several hours and gave her a tight hug.