Olive's P.O.V.
"Clear!" I could hear the doctor's yell from mom's room.
They had us wait in the hall right outside her door. All I could see through her room window was her limp hand dangling off the bed. Leo held me close to his chest as I cried, waiting for them to tell me she was okay. I knew her time was coming. I knew it would be before the end of the week, but for some reason it still shocked me to get the call. I watched as the doctor shook his head, calling her time of death. I turned, burying my face in Leo's chest. I couldn't look anymore. It wasn't enough time.
This week was not enough.
"I'm so sorry, Liv." Leo whispered to me as he rubbed my back soothingly.
I couldn't speak, all I could do was silently cry. Even though she has been gone for half of my life, she was still my mom, and getting to know her again, this past week, has only made the pain worse. I wish I had more time with her, but cancer is a scary and unexpected thing. Leo led me away, telling the nurses to send any paperwork to my house. He placed me in his car and drove me home in silence. He didn't say anything, but he held my hand the entire way.
"I'm here for you, Liv." He assured me. "I know part of what you're feeling."
"Thank you, Leo." My voice cracked from not having using it but to cry for the last hour.
We got to the penthouse where Hailey was waiting for me with my favorite blanket and hot tea. She wrapped me in her arms, soothing me like an older sister.
"I got it from here, Leo. Thank you." She told him, as her way of getting him to go.
"Text me if you need me, Liv." He told me from the doorway, kissing my forehead before he left.
Hailey let me lay my head on her lap while she ran her fingers through my hair, letting Disney movies play on the TV for comfort. The tears had dried up inside me, unable to produce more. I felt oddly numb...numb and weak. The doorbell rang, surprising us both, but I didn't have the energy to even lift my head off her lap. Hailey got up, running to open it. I couldn't hear who it was, all I heard was hushed whispers before I heard the door close.
"Who was it?" I asked, not seeing her but feeling her in the living room.
My head was lifted up and placed back on a lap, but it wasn't the cushiony soft lap of Hailey. No, my head was met with denim and hard muscles. I turned, looking up to see Lucas. He ran his fingers through my hair with a deep look of concern on his face. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if seeing me in pain made him uncomfortable in a way.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"I'm here for you, Rose. Shhh, watch your movie, it's the best part." He pointed to the TV, but I just kept looking at him, trying to make sense of this.
Why'd he come here for me? There's no sex in this, no gain for him, yet here he is. Not only is he here, but he's here comforting me. I felt myself relax as he continued to play with my hair, his eyes fixed on the screen before us.
"This is my favorite one." He told me, making me turn to look at the TV to see what had been playing. It was Lilo and Stitch, which is one of my favorites too.
"Mine too." I whispered, keeping my eyes on the screen now.
Lucas continued to rub my hair, and my arms, relaxing me so much that I must have fallen asleep. I woke up in my bed, but I wasn't alone. Lucas laid beside me, his hand over my stomach, but his body was on the other side of the bed. I think he was giving me space while letting me know he was here. I found comfort in that. I scooted closer to him, wanting to feel his warmth more. His sleepy self didn't seem to mind, as he cracked a small smile.
It was only 3 in the morning, but I was having a hard time trying to go back to sleep. I kept picturing mom's face when I was little and then mom's face yesterday. She always had the most beautiful smile. I'll have to plan a funeral or a memorial or whatever it is. I have no idea what I'm doing. I've never had to handle something like this. Lucas rubbed my stomach with his thumb.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked me with a sleepy tone.
"How to plan a funeral." I admitted.
"Come here." He pulled me closer to him, until both his arms were wrapped around me and my head was in his chest. "Don't think about that now. We'll figure it out together with Leo. We just helped do it for his dad so we can help with your mom. You're not alone, Rose. Go back to sleep."
He rubbed my arms, soothing me with his touch, and his words. He brought me enough comfort to lull me back to sleep. I dreamt with mom, waking up with a couple of tears streaming down my face. Lucas whipped them away before I opened my eyes. He stared deeply at me, holding my face in his hands. He pulled me towards his lips, kissing my forehead tenderly.
"Good morning, Rose." He told me.
"Morning." I whispered, unable to really call it a good one.
"Do you feel up to eating?"
I shook my head no. I didn't have the energy to get up or even chew. I also didn't have much of an appetite.
"I figured as much, so I made you this. You still need something in your stomach." He handed me a green smoothie, making me sit up.
"Thank you, Lucas. This is very considerate of you."
I took a sip, worried it would taste terrible, and would have to drink the whole cup because I am too polite. Thankfully, despite its color, it was very delicious. I gulped it down without a problem, feeling a little more energized now. I was still mainly feeling numb. My phone buzzed on my nightstand, causing me to jump as it broke the silence. I grabbed it, seeing Leo's name.
Leo: Lucas told me you need help planning your mom's service. I'm coming over in an hour. I'll bring the binder my mom made. Don't worry about anything, Liv. We got you.
Leo's text made me feel a little better. It was nice knowing they were here to help. I hated that Leo had just gone through this. It was tragic for us both.
Olive: Thank you, Leo. I really appreciate it. Although, I doubt I could afford most of it.
My phone started to ring with an unknown number. I don't usually answer unknown numbers, but I felt compelled to answer this one.
"Hello?"
Lucas looked at me curiously. I could tell he wanted to know who was on the phone.
"Hello, my name is Daniel Warren. I'm a lawyer from Frank and Fran's. Is this Abigail Rose's daughter, Olive Brewer?" A man asked, filling me with worry. Why would a lawyer be calling me.
"Yes, this is she."
"I am so sorry for your loss, Ms. Brewer. I am..I was your mother's lawyer. She has left a will, and you are the main beneficiary. Is there a time you can stop by my office today so I may read it to you? I know you're dealing with a lot, but her will has her plans for her burial as well as money to cover it." He explained, suddenly making me feel antsy to get to his office right away.
"Yeah. I'll be right there. Is there a way you could text me the address?" I asked him, getting off the bed and scrambling through my drawers.
"Yes. I'll send it right away. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. I'll see you soon."
I hung up, quickly changing. Lucas found his way to me again, grabbing my sides and turning me to face him.
"What happened?" He furrowed his brow, concerned for me.
"It was my mom's lawyer. I need to go to his office. Mom left plans for her burial and he needs to read her will to me." I explained. "Can you let Leo know not to come just yet? I am not sure when I'll be back. I'll text you both whenever I get home again."
"Want me to come with you?" He offered, but I just shook my head.
"No, I'll take Hailey with me. Thank you though, just go be with Leo until I get back."
"If you say so, my Rose. Please, text me if you change your mind or if you need anything."
"Okay." I nodded as he leaned down and captured my lips in a very tender kiss.
"I'll see you later."
He left my room with me staring at his back. He was devilishly handsome even with his tousled bed head. I liked watching him walk, he had a great walk. I shook my head, snapping myself out of the Lucas spell. I need to go.
I grabbed Hailey and had her drive us to the lawyer's office. We were greeted by a sweet receptionist, who gave me sad eyes when I told her who I was here to see.
"Ms. Brewer?" A younger guy came out to the lobby for me. He looked to be in his late 20s with dark brown hair, groomed neatly to the side.
"That's me." I stood, following him to an office in the back that read Daniel Warren.
"As I said on the phone, your mother has plans laid out for her burial." The man who got me from the lobby started, cluing me in that he was Daniel Warren. "Of course, you don't have to follow her plans, but it was what she wanted."
"I want to do what she wanted." I assured him with a nod.
Hailey held my hand as Daniel began to read the will. Mom wanted to be cremated and have part of her ashes spread at the top of her favorite trail. She hoped that I would keep an urn with the rest of her wherever I would like. I was informed that mom had a half a million dollar life insurance on her before she developed cancer. That money would be going entirely to me. My mouth dropped open at that. I had never had so much money in my life!
Daniel gave me names of good accountants and investors, but Hailey told me she knew some that she would rather I use. Mom had a flat that she had purchased, that now belonged to me as well. I was given the address and the spare key. I also got mom's classic 1966 convertible Ford mustang. I felt like mom had left me too much, and I seriously wondered how she had gotten all these things.
"I am sorry for your loss, Ms. Brewer. Your mother was truly a wonderful woman. I know she was a part of a lot of volunteer organizations and they'll be reaching out to you throughout the week to let you know if she had left any personal items with them." Daniel told me.
"Thank you." I got up from the chair, feeling this meeting was over.
Daniel wrote the address of moms place down for me, as well as where the car was parked. Hailey and I left after that.
"Your mother really planned everything out, didn't she?" Hailey shook her head in surprise.
"Seems that way." I sighed.
I quickly texted Lucas and Leo to meet me at mom's place. I want to get this planning done, but I also want to see where mom lived. Hailey drove us there quickly. It wasn't very far from Lucas' apartament actually. Go figure.
"Ready?" Hailey asked me as we stood before the burgundy door of my mother's flat.
"I think so." I nodded, opening the door slowly.
I was hit with such a strong and nostalgic smell. It was mom, her perfume that she apparently had not changed throughout the years. I haven't smelt this since I was 10. Mom didn't smell like this at the hospital, and it is so comforting, yet painful, to smell it right now.
The place was absolutely beautiful. It was cozy with an open floor plan. There were many plants hanging that had died, as well as ones on planter ladders. I'd have to get rid of those. There was so much sunlight in this place that it warmed my heart. The kitchen was beautiful with shelves instead of cabinets and a large kitchen island with a couple of bar stools. The soft round rug in the living room made me want to take my shoes off and dig them into its fibers. The bed was on a loft to the right up the stairs. There was no door and could be seen over the rail. It was the only thing upstairs, if you can even really call it an upstairs. It could be seen from the couch if you looked up and right. It was large and beautiful.
The palace was wonderful, and I couldn't believe that mom lived here by herself for so long. I can't believe that I'll be living here. It was a nice thought to feel close to mom in that way. Hailey and I sat in the large circular couch staring at the glass coffee table beside us.
Time to wait for Lucas and Leo.