BK 5 - Chapter 51 - You Raise Me Up
Laurie looked at herself in the mirror. She was all dressed in black. Not for the first time, she wondered why people always wore black to funerals. Grandma Valerie had always said that when someone dies, you should celebrate their life. Wearing black doesn't feel like a celebration. Although as she prepared to say her final goodbye to her grandmother, Laurie didn't really feel like wearing bright colors.
"Are you almost ready, sweetheart?" Avery came into her daughter's bedroom, also wearing all black. They both had black hair and blue eyes. Many assumed they were sisters.
"As ready as I can be. When do you think I'll meet my mate? Everyone else is meeting theirs, and I'll be nineteen soon." She asked her mom just as her dad, Randy, walked into the room. He still loved to cook, and she knew all about how he had tried to steal Atzi's book.
"There's no rush for you to meet him." He said, smiling at her in the mirror. To Randy, she would always be his little lioness.
"Dad, it's going to happen. Hopefully, sooner rather than later." She said, turning toward him. Avery chuckled at her mate's appalled expression. When she met him, she had just returned to California after visiting her parents, Jelena and Garrett, in Illinois. Her dad had been the same way about her meeting a mate; even though she was in a rush, he had wanted to keep her locked up as long as possible. However, once he got a taste of Randy's cooking, they became best friends.
"Okay, you two, let's get out of here," Avery said, pulling them down the stairs where their two sons, fifteen-year-old Eddie and twelve-year-old Kyle, were waiting.
As they drove to the funeral parlor, Laurie's heart felt heavy. Everyone had their own special memories of Grandma Valerie, and she was no different. Their grandma always had a way of knowing what each person needed and when. She would let them cry on her shoulder, make them laugh, or sit silently, holding their hand. Everyone knew they always had her support and now she was gone.
When they pulled up, there were already a lot of cars in the parking lot. It was only immediate family, but they had a large family. Laurie watched as her cousins stood around with their new mates, and her heart felt even heavier. She was still young, but she had dreamt about turning eighteen and finding her mate soon after. Almost a year later, she was still mateless.
"How you doing?" Marcy asked, putting her arm around Laurie. She also had yet to find her mate, and she was twenty-five. She assumed that he was super special and she just needed to wait for him to find her. Her mom, Samantha, and her dad, Milo, met each other when they were older. Milo was her mom's second chance mate. Even though he wasn't Marcy's biological dad, he was the only one she'd ever known, and he was the one who helped her when she was rescued by the werelion family.
"It's hard to say goodbye," Laurie replied, walking with Marcy into the funeral parlor. Although it was crowded with so many people, it was eerily quiet. When they saw the white casket, they both began crying. Grandma Cat and Grandpa Trey were standing next to it, both in tears. Marcy and Laurie slowly made their way to the front. When they reached the casket, they saw Grandma Valerie lying inside, dressed in her favorite green dress. She had always said Grandpa Roger liked her in green. Grandma Cat went over and hugged them as they looked at Grandma Valerie.
"She looks like she's sleeping." Laurie sobbed. She was willing her grandma to open her eyes and tell them she wasn't really gone. Shifters weren't used to going to funerals because they lived much longer than humans.
"I know it's hard, but she's at peace now with your grandpa." Cat kissed each of their cheeks and held onto them as they all sobbed. She was going to miss her mom more than anything. It pained her that she had never called them mom or dad in all the years she had with Valerie and Roger. It had been eating at her since she read Valerie's letter, and her heart ached, knowing she never said the words before it was too late. She returned to Trey and cried as she stared at Valerie.
Emma walked up to the casket, holding onto Asher. She had been delaying seeing Grandma Valerie because she knew how much it would hurt. The others from the community would be there soon, so she knew she couldn't wait any longer. She touched her grandmother's cheek as her tears fell. Asher cried with her. He didn't know Grandma Valerie well, but he'd been a recipient of her love and kindness.
Roger and Mariam joined them; both were crying as they hugged each other. Marcy and Laurie took seats together in the pews. Most of their family had their mates now, but at least the two women had each other.
"Are you still going to sing?" Marcy asked Laurie. Her cousin had the voice of an angel, but she was often too self-conscious to do it in front of a crowd.
"Yes. It was one of her favorite songs. In her letter, she told me to stop hiding and let people hear my voice. If I'm going to do what she asked, this is the beginning." Laurie bit her lip nervously as even more people poured into the funeral parlor. Every one of them was crying. She was already grief-stricken, and the anxiety of having to sing was almost too much for her. She had sung at small get-togethers and in the privacy of her own bedroom.
"You'll be fine. Hearing you sing will help us all with our grief." Marcy hugged her as everyone sat down. The preacher spoke a few words and then asked if anyone had anything they would like to share. Cat and Trey walked up to the podium first.
"I met Valerie when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I was so scared of the world that I wouldn't let anyone touch me except Trey. She helped me face my fears and helped me grieve my lost childhood. Over the years, I've seen her touch everyone's life with her gentle nature that drew people to her. She may have started as my friend, but she became my mother. I may never be able to tell her how much I love her again, but my love for her will never end." Cat couldn't continue as Trey led her off the podium. Kitty and Aiden went next.
"When I met Valerie, I thought I had everything under control. I believed that if I buried my past, it couldn't hurt me, but I was wrong. Valerie walked me through what happened to me, and I won't lie; it was hard. Some days, I wanted to scream at her for making me relive it, but in the end, she was right. She was always right. Valerie was one of the strongest people I ever met. She cared about everyone she met, and they loved her in return. She may have left us, but her impact on us will never be forgotten." Aiden led her back to her seat. Several others spoke about how Valerie had changed their lives, and the last person walked up to the podium. Penelope was holding her stuffed Sammy the Turtle and holding Buddy's hand. He had been a lifesaver for her parents as they grieved. Penelope had a bond with Buddy that made her feel safe when he was around. He lifted her up so she could speak into the microphone.
"My Grandma Valerie told me that even though I was little, I could be whatever I wanted. She talked to me about all kinds of neat stuff. Even when I cried, she didn't call me a baby. Why did she have to go? I don't want to tell her goodbye. I want to sit on her lap and have her read me stories. I want to help her in the garden. Please don't take my grandma from me." She and everyone else sobbed as Buddy carried her back to their seats. The preacher returned to the podium, wiping his eyes.
"We now have one of Valerie's granddaughters who will sing one of her grandmother's favorite songs." He said, looking at Laurie. She was crying and was sure she was going to mess up. How was she supposed to sing after all of that? Marcy hugged her.
"You got this." She whispered to her. Laurie slowly stood up and made her way to the podium. She took the microphone with a shaky hand. When the music started, she closed her eyes and pretended she was home in her room.
*When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary*
*When troubles come, and my heart burdened be*
*Then, I am still and wait here in the silence*
*Until You come and sit awhile with me.*
*You raise me up so I can stand on mountains*
*You raise me up to walk on stormy seas*
*I am strong when I am on your shoulders*
*You raise me up to more than I can be.*
Everyone cried even more, listening to Laurie's angelic voice. The song described Valerie so well. She raised everyone the way she loved them. When Laurie finished her last note, she opened her eyes. She froze when she saw a man standing in the back near the door watching her. Only one word came to mind as they stared at each other. They both spoke at the same time, but no one heard them as they whispered.
"Mate."
