Chapter 40: Lydia

***My mother was loved by many, she was looked up to by many. Her neighbors, her coworkers, the few enough to be called friends, they all could tell what kind of woman my mother was. She was the type of person who would give you the food off of her plate, even though her pantry is bare too. She was the person who would put all of her needs last just to make sure no one else went without.***

***When my mother found out she was pregnant with me, she was given two choices. To get an abortion or to become disowned. Seeing as how I am here today to give this speech at her funeral, we all know my mother chose. Even when her boyfriend abandoned her too. My mother gave up her comfortable lifestyle to protect me, an innocent baby who didn’t have a choice.***

***My mother never once regretted her choice in choosing me. From the minute she opened her eyes until the minute she closed her eyes, my mother brought nothing but happiness and joy into my life. It wasn’t until I was taking care of her, that I realized just how hard my mother had to work. Once the bills started pilling up and my part time job as a waitress wasn’t even putting a dent into the pile, made me realize just how many hours my mom put in when I was younger.***

***Admittedly, this is a very emotional and challenging time for me. I’ve struggled to understand and accept this situation. Losing your mom is a painful experience. It comes with a hurricane of emotions, processing, and reflection.
When my mom got into her accident a little under a year ago, I didn’t think we would be here today. My mind wants to reject it all. Everything in me, wants to walk into that hospital room, climb into bed with her, and continue to read the Hybrid Aria Series to her. But this is the reality. My mom is no longer with us. We will never complete the story we began so long ago.

*** I don’t know how you can summarize or speak of an entire life, in just one speech. There are so many different intricacies in life. My mom was a unique individual who lived life to the fullest. She lived life for herself and for her daughter. My mother played the game of life, and even though from the outside in it looked like we were struggling, from the inside out, my mom was winning the game.***

***The world wont be the same without her here, but she taught me how to play the game too and I’ll keep living life the way she showed me. With that being said, my mother never wanted people to cry on the day of her funeral, she wanted people to celebrate the life she lived, so in celebration of my mother, Drake, my fiancé, and I have decided to invite everyone here today to our home, to reminisce and celebrate my mother and the life she lived. We will be serving some of her favorite dishes, listening to her favorite songs, and playing her favorite games.***

Lydia reread her mom’s eulogy over and over again. She wanted to make sure it was perfect, just like her mother was. Drake walked up to Lydia, scaring her slightly. “Don’t worry love, it’ll be exactly what she would have wanted.”

Lydia looks up and smiles at Drake, he has been her rock during all of this, he’s kept her grounded and held her tight when she felt like she was dying. Lydia never knew how much it would hurt to lose her mother, but she never imagined it would feel like this. If it wasn’t for Drake, Lydia didn’t know if she could have survived this loss.

“Let’s not wait to get married, Let’s get married now. Screw the media, Screw Dianne. I don’t care what the world thinks of me, as long as we get to spend the rest of our lives together.” Lydia replied, getting up from her spot on the floor and wrapping her arms around Drake’s neck.

“Are you sure Lydia?” Drake asked feeling skeptical, not sure if she really knew what she was asking or if she was letting her emotions get the best of her, “When the truth comes out about us, it’ll change our lives. It’ll change how people see us. I might even lose my clientele.”

“I’m tired of hiding Drake.” Lydia responded, “I’m tired of faking it until I make it. I’m ready to live my life. I’m ready to be the person my mother raised me to be. I can’t continue to live a lie Drake, I’m ready to move forward, whether that be with you or without, thats your choice.”

“Lydia, you know I am all in. I’ve been all in since the first night we sat on my sofa and talked about our lives. Up until the day I met you, I didn’t think there was anyone who I’d be able to spend the rest of my life with. When you told me your struggles and proved to me how strong you were and how much love you had for your mother, thats when I realized that I wanted a person in my life who could show me just a sliver of that emotion. And then you did. We hadn’t even know each other for a full month, before you fully committed to helping me solve the mystery behind Amelia’s disappearance. You didn’t look at me like a wallet, instead you looked at me like I was a person too. I’m all in babe, the only one, I want to spend life with is you.”

Drake, pulled himself out of Lydia’s arms and walked over to the nearby buffet table and pulled out a little box, “I know I already gave you an engagement ring when we were on the cruise ship, but that ring was mostly for show. So I wanted a do over.” Drake said walking back towards Lydia, taking her hand in his, while he got down on one knee, “Lydia, you deserve the world, and I will do my damndest to give it to you. You’ve gifted me with so much already, and I plan to show you how special you are to me for the rest of our lives. I know it’s selfish of me to ask for one more gift, but what do you say Princess, will you give me the gift of you, and making me the happiest man in the world.”

Lydia’s eyes shined as she looked down at Drake and the ring box he had propped into her hand. It was a small silver ring, with a oval shaped opal and rose quartz on the side. As the tears began to roll down Lydia’s cheeks, Drake began to explain the ring.

“I know the ring isn’t a traditional diamond, but our relationship is anything but, the opal represents how I’ve always seen you. You’ve brought hope back into my life and I have never met a soul more honest than you. And you are so pure, there isn’t anything about you that is dirty Lydia, you’re an angel sent from the heavens, to make the world pure again. And the rose quartz represents love. The love I have for you and the love you hold in your heart. This ring is a symbol of not only us, but it’s a reminder of how I see you.” Drake states as he takes the box from Lydia’s hands and sets it beside him. He takes the giant diamond ring from her left hand ring finger and moves it towards her right. Then he brings her left hands to his lips and kisses each finger, before he grabs the jewelry box once more, and slips the ring out, bringing it to the tip of her ring finger, “So what do you say babe?” He asks with a grin on his face.

“Oh Drake, you’ve known my answer this entire time. Of course it’s a yes, a million times over again. Yes, yes, Yes. Of course I’ll marry you Drake Whittenberg,” Lydia says pulling Drake up into a standing position, “And a King doesn’t kneel to his Queen. They stand side by side and show the world the united powerful front that they are.”

Drake slides the ring onto Lydia’s finger and pulls her up against him tightly as he leans down for a gentle loving kiss. In that moment all the stresses in their life is forgotten. Lydia’s grief for her mom is set to the side, and only the happiness Drake and Lydia have for each other shines through.

“So, when should we re-announce our engagement?” Drake asks when they finally pull apart.

“Right away.” Lydia replies, “During the announcement, we should also issue a press release. I think our history coming directly from us, would be better than coming from Dianne’s mouth. I know we will get backlash from some but I think we will find that the majority will support us and our strength for coming forward with the truth.”

“Alright, if that’s what you want to do, then lets do it.” Drake responds feeling carefree for once in his life, to hell with what other’s think. It’s his life and he will live it the way he chooses.

“I was also thinking we could give Julian an exclusive. I loved how down to earth he was when we did our original couples interview. And I think he will be the most honest journalist when it comes to our story.” Lydia responds.

“Alright, I will call up the magazine and have them send out Julian to meet us here. I need to make a quick phone call to Samuel. I don’t want him to find out through the grapevine about us.” Drake states as he leans down and gives Lydia a quick kiss on the top of the forehead, before he leaves the room to call his brother.

Lydia once again pulls out the eulogy she’s written for her mom and scratches out the last few sentences, before adding a new closing statement.

***With that being said, my mother never wanted people to cry on the day of her funeral, she wanted people to celebrate the life she lived, so in celebration of my mother, my fiancée, Drake and I would like to formally invite everyone in attendance over to our house, for a small celebration of my mother’s life, as well as celebrating a new joining. I know my mother would have wanted all of her close friends, coworkers, and neighbors to be present on the day her daughter married the love of her life, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my mom’s life, than by starting a new life for myself. My mother wanted nothing more than for me to have a wonderful life full of love, happiness, and prosperity, so here’s to an end of one story and the beginning of the next. I love you mom, thank you for everything you did, and everything you didn’t have to do.***

Lydia smiled as she read through the eulogy once more. It would be a funeral that Olivia Lynette Gulbransen would be proud of.