Angela Tony and Jonathon, got to the church with 10 minutes to spare. Tony drove so fast, Angela was afraid they were going to join Michael in the hereafter. When Jonathon got there, He found himself retching in the backseat, and immediately apologised to his mum. Angela told him not to worry, it was a natural feeling when you lose a loved one.
Jonathon said to her, "But mum, he might have been my father, but we haven't been "close", in a long time, not since he left us. Don't you think it's strange, that someone I haven't been close to, could make me have this feeling of wretchedness and despair. That should only be emotions felt for people like you and Tony, who have been there for me, day in day out, most of my life."
"Jonathon, there are many many emotions associated with grief, you don't have to have been close to that person, all your life, you know! Your father may not have been around as much as you wanted, but it doesn't mean he didn't love you! What it does mean is he didn't know how to show it, he was emotionally stilted, and we have to remember that before the accident he did try to make amends with us he tried to connect with us, it was just a very sad communication breakdown that stopped him.
We need to celebrate the "Micheal Bower, Father and Husband ", we remember, all those years ago. We did have some good times and memories we shared as a family, we just have to hold onto those today, and be there for each other, okay?".
Jonathon had stopped retching, and was listening intently to Angela. When Tony had driven into the car park, they had realised the hearse for Michael was now advancing on them. Jonathon looked at Tony, giving him the look of "I'm reallly sorrry for puking in your car", and Tony gave him, an "It's alright buddy, I understand ", look back.
"Well we're here!, I think we'd better get out and get our directions. ". Tony stated.
The family clambered out of the car, and Tony put his right hand in Angela's left, and his left arm around Jonathon's shoulder. Together they walked into the church, silently in their own thoughts. When they got inside Tony asked the priest the information needed, and told the others they needed to follow the hearse after they have the service. The next surprise, albeit a not too pleasant one, was meeting Heather Bower in the church. They all knew it was going to happen, but it had still been a shock to see her 6 months pregnant. As soon as she saw them, she wandered over and put her arms around Jonathon.
"little Tiger, my how you've grown. Your almost a man now, and with the same good looks as your father. The girls must be falling over you, and Tony don't you look handsome, even with that bit of grey in your hair, Hello Angela!, "
Heather left Angela for last, not knowing how she felt about her anymore, or if in fact Micheal had told her the truth ,that Micheal had left her when he found out she was pregnant and didn't believe the child was his, tho in fact it was.
"Hello Heather, ". The words seemed strained, but that was how Jonathon had felt about his fathers marriage to this woman. When he first told him he was getting married, Jonathon was a little kid, and thought the Sun shone out of Heather, but as the years passed by, those feelings turned into resentment instead. It wasn't Heathers fault that Jonathon saw less of his father, Micheal had ample opportunity to visit him, and Heather always encouraged it. But Micheal always used the "Sorry son, but I have to go away for work, or "Sorry son, Heather needs me to do this or that", he always made it sound like her fault, when the reality was, Micheal Bower had been so long a father in name only, he didn't know how to be one. He had no role model growing up, so as far as he was concerned he wasn't doing anything wrong.
"You know Heather, no one calls me little tiger anymore, I'm an adult now, not a little kid".
"Oh Jonathon I'm so sorry, I should have known it would embarrass you, I'm not used to being around kids, at least not yet". Heather said this as she patted her stomach, unconsciously, not realising it would irk Angela no end.
"And another thing, I'm engaged to a beautiful girl called Rita, we're getting married when everything's settled, and the family's had time to heal. It's been a rough few months for us, and we all need something to look forward to, so this and mum and Tony's renewal vows are My top priorities. I hope you realise you and your baby are not. I'm sorry Heather, I realise you probably aren't completely to blame for my fathers lack of interest in me all these years, but right now especially today, I can't be in the same space as you, so would you mind sitting away from me. Of course not in the back, you are the widow after all, but not with my family, please? I am begging you, please."
"Okay, Okay, Jonathon, I can see your hurting, but I need to tell you and your mum something within the next couple of days. I know Michael put you both in his will, he told me as much, but I will be at the will reading as is my right, and we need to talk after that. I'm not out to make trouble, you have to believe me, I just need to get some things off my chest, ".
Tony and Jonathon had to look away when she said that, so she didn't see them laughing, Angela put her hand on Tony's arm as if to say, "Don't you dare say a word".
If Heather knew what any of them were thinking, she didn't show it, for she sincerely wanted Jonathon to be a part of his brother or sisters life. Coming from a broken family as an only child, she knew what it was to feel unloved, and didn't want that for her child.
"Thankyou Heather for understanding our need for peace, and of course you have every right to be at the will reading, let's talk about that after tomorrow, right now we all need to focus on "Dad", and give him a send off he would be proud of, "
In the church, as soon as everyone sat down, the minister started eulogising about Micheal. Angela and Tony both felt like they were at the wrong service. The things he was saying were lovely, but then realised the story he was telling was "Micheal Bower", husband of Heather, and not Micheal Bower, husband to Angela and father to Jonathon. Young Micheal had always been more selfish, more vain, whereas older Micheal, with younger wife, had to watch himself, lest some good looking younger man, slithers in and steals her away.
Once Angela realised Tony had noticed her far away look in her eyes, she composed herself, and looked to the front of the church, directly at the minister. He looked at her, as if asking if she would like to say a few words, when she nodded in the negative, Jonathon asked if he could. The minister stood aside, and as Tony led him up to the pulpit, he turned to the side and thought he saw his father's spirit.
"Oh no, not again. Dad if you're really here, this time help mum, she needs to let go, and to heal, we all do". Jonathon made sure he said all this in a whisper. He'd already made an appointment with a grief counsellor, and the presence of his father's spirit, whether real or imagined was definitely not helping his state of mind.
"Firstly I'd like to thank everyone for coming", was how Jonathon began his speech.
It had only been a handful of people he had kept in contact with, through work over the years, that had shown up. Angela Jonathon and Heather, were his only real family, excepting of course his unborn child, that nobody but it's father and mother knew for sure was "his". By the end of the week, Heather Bower , vowed the whole "Bower, Micelli", clan, were going to know the truth about. "Their split", and she was hoping to shed the "Gold Digger", And "Callous, unfeeling widow, ", label, people were quick to pin on her.
"Everyone here that knew my father well, knew he was no saint, he had his failings, as we all do. But at the end of his short but very adventurous life, I believe he was ready to admit them. He came to see my mother and me, before he died". At this point Jonathon looked over at Angela for support, and she looked back smiling willing him to go on.
"My one regret, no make that I have two regrets. My first is I never got the chance to tell him how much I loved him. ". Jonathon looks to the left side of him, and Micheal is indeed there, smiling back. Angela can see Michael, and starts thinking she's losing it, but then remembers what Jonathon told her and Tony in the car. You are at his funeral Ange, there isn't a more appropriate place to have these hallucinations. Just tell Dr Bellows, on your next visit, Angela, thinks to herself.
Still looking to the left of him, Jon says to everyone. "My other regret was the one thing he came to see me and my mother about, he never received our forgiveness. I would like to say in front of his friends and family that loved him, that I forgive him, and I do dad, I love you with all my heart and will always treasure the times we did share as father and son, no matter how short a time that was. Now I don't know if my mum want's to say anything, but , ". Before he could finish his sentence, and with everyone turning to look at Angela, she had been looking directly at Micheal, let out a scream, and bolted out the door. Tony and Jonathon hot on her heels, Heather looked shocked and the minister at a loss for words. Once again Michael Bower, had ruined the Micelli -Bower, household. Even in death, he meddled in the lives of those "He loved", it was a bad trait he took to his grave.