She'd stayed up all night by his bedside to administer his medication according to the hourly prescription. She stayed there along with his nurse.
But at midnight, father opened his eyes weakly and said “You're the one here Luna?” He'd asked. Initially she'd wondered why he used those words. But then, she soon understood what he meant.
“All these years, I'd always thought Anna will be by my bedside when I die,but she'd gone before me and here you are, in her place”
Those were the last words of father to her. Luna sniffled and stood by the sidelines, beside her was Richard. They all were broken and for a while none could console the other.
But there was something else that father said and Luna couldn't say it out loud. She'll keep it in her heart in order for her not to act selfishly.
“The ambulance is waiting outside. Father's remains must be taken to the morgue” Richard informed. He would be taken there while they made preparations for his funeral.
Adrian swallowed hard, raising himself away from his grandfather's remains. He sniffled and said “Patrick and I will handle everything that has to do with our grandfather's funeral, so stay aside dad”
Patrick nodded, staring at Adrian with moist eyes. Richard was pleased, he decided to step out and pulled Luna along with him. She stood by him these past few days when father's health really deteriorated.
Adrian saw the affection but pretended not to see it. Grandfather has talked with him with the last bit of his strength and his very last words were filled with pleas.
So why wouldn't he listen to the words of a dying man, especially his own grandfather. Heaven knows he loves his grandfather a lot and he wished he could live ten thousand years more.
“Get Elsie here my love. We'll remain here until the funeral is over” Adrian instructed, his gaze on Aurora, obviously talking to her.
“Alright” Aurora nodded. Being a medical doctor has made her familiar with scenes like this, loved ones losing someone so dear to them.
But seeing grandfather on his bed, unable to speak or move ever again, sends shivers down her spine. This old man has loved her dearly and he was the only one who stood up for her in her first marriage.
Thinking about it,she bursted into tears, hurrying away quickly from the room. Adrian watched her as she left. Was she thinking what he was thinking? It was grandfather who brought them together at the beginning.
Now they're in love with each other so deeply. How would their lives have been now, if grandfather didn't bring them together? Will there be Elsie as well?
Patrick walking over and standing before Adrian, they stared at each other with a saddened gaze. Both knew how the other felt at the moment.
“Were you able to catch a few moments with him before he gave up?” Patrick asked. How he wished he could still meet grandfather, just five minutes before his death, to give him a last kiss.
“Yes, quite a few minutes. Aunt Luna called me and I came over. He said some things to me alone and said he loves us both. We should keep the Lester dynasty going.
We should get married, raise kids and have a happy family. He also wants us to make dad happy and let him be with the woman he loves ....”Adrian concluded using the last line of his briefing to initiate a thought in Patrick.
“Oh…alright” Patrick responded. Everything Adrian said makes sense, such were the last words of a dying man or woman. But the last part of Adrian's words, was he referring to his mom, as the woman?
Soon, the remains of grandfather were being taken to the morgue. Clem and some bodyguards went with Aurora and she returned with Elsie and her nanny.
“Daddy” Elsie ran into Adrian's arms. The latter stopped down and scooped her. He kissed her chin and smiled.
“Have you been crying,daddy?” Elsie asked, gazing from Adrian's one eye to the other. She seemed to be worried about her daddy.
“No baby, I'm fine now” Adrian responded. As a matter of fact, he is doing better now than the very minute the death of grandfather hits him.
“Mummy told me that my great grandfather is dead…” Elsie and Adrian kept talking like two adults, a scene that amuses everyone around them
Preparations were being made by Adrian and Patrick for grandfather's funeral, Richard was receiving guests who stopped by to give their condolences.
The entire Lester mansion was busy until nightfall. Grandfather's funeral was taking place the next morning. Everyone was present and Jessica came around to support Aurora.
Aurora would have been the granddaughter in-law of the Lester family but she was divorced already. There was an uneasy feeling in the air.
Anna Lester is dead, Aurora is divorced. The three males in the Lester family were unmarried. Either widowed, divorced or single.
“How can grandfather be buried without having a daughter in-law father?” Adrian asked, feeling uncomfortable with this sudden realization.
“How does that affect my father's funeral?” Richard asked, wondering what that has to do with being buried?
Now, only the men are together. Luna Wesley and Aurora were ensuring things were put in order and Jessica was helping out.
“I think grandfather deserves to have a daughter by his graveside. Not just lovers by our side”Adrian mumbled.
“Aurora is father's daughter already. There's this bond and love that existed between them long before they existed in us, right Adrian?”
Adrian nodded “yeah, there was” he agreed. He glanced at the direction where the women were, and a genuine smile spread over his face.
Patrick's gaze followed suit, seeing how his mom was indeed in the figure of a mother in-law to those two women. She was giving instructions, and they were listening with rapt attention, such a beautiful scene.
Richard felt his heart get knitted with Luna as he glanced at the women briefly. The more he tries to put the past behind him, the more he finds himself more attracted to this woman: Luna Wesley.
Her presence in his life these past few months, have left a lasting impact that he wishes could continue for the rest of his life. How he wishes when all of these are over, they would be together eventually.
But Adrian, he would never accept her. He sighed softly just as he glanced at Patrick, their gazes locked and for some seconds, they didn't disjoint until Adrian's words forced them to.
“I'm beginning to fall for Aunt Luna…” he mumbled but alas, it was loud enough for those around him to hear.