Chapter 78: Chapter 78

The crowd outside subsided, when the cops arrived, but I couldn't speak, I was too overwhelmed to and so Mycole did all the talking and answering. The cops also joined the firemen in their search for mom and they come out many minutes later and they had someone on the stretcher and I pull myself up to my feet away from Mycole and run to them. The body has been burnt beyond recognition and the only thing I was able to identify is the wedding ring still on mom's ring. I could spot the ring from anywhere because she's worn it always when I was growing up and never took it off. The men cover her hand up and roll her into the van. I cover my mouth and sob bitterly and Mycole who is standing beside me wraps his strong arms around me for support.

The senior officer who had also joined in the search walks over to Mycole and me with drafted writing. "We found her in the kitchen, and she seems to have passed out before the fire went off."

"Suffocated," Mycole says, mainly the man look at him in agreement.

"Yes, you're right. But we still are not sure if the fire was caused by internal or external factors, we'll need to run an autopsy..."

The officer left after he'd taken notes on what he needed and Mycole asks me to come and stay with him in the meantime. I didn't want to, I wanted to stay here in this house so my death can come, but Mycole pleaded that I should and not torture myself anymore.

"How do I tell the three Js that mom's dead?"

"I'll tell them." Mycole replies and he hands me a glass of milk. "You don't have to worry."

I take the glass cup to my lips and take a sip and keep it on the nearby stool. Mycole comes to take a seat beside me and he takes my cold hands into his warm ones. "I saw it happen." He says slowly and I nod urging him to go on. "I was trying to call you and tell you to get out of the house, but your phone was switched off and I left the office hoping to make it before it happened. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Mycole," I tell him quietly. "I'm pregnant and it's Rory's."

"I know." He replies immediately and I nod, he must have seen it.

"I went to tell him I was pregnant, that's why I wasn't around to save mom." I whimper and he draws closer and pulls me to himself.

"It's okay Taylor. I know it all." I silently nod, resting my head on his chest. There was no need to try and explain when he already knows.

.

Mycole picked the three Js from school and broke the news of the incident and moms death to the three Js and although Josh and Jake were shocked and saddened by the news, they comforted themselves, Jack couldn't. He didn't eat or drink anything that whole day and I tried talking to him, but I knew that even I was shattered on the inside.

Phoebe came over and after spending hours with him, talking to him, he finally came out of the shock. There was a lot of things I needed to tell them a lot of things, I wanted to be the big sister mom wanted to be in her absence, but I didn't know where to begin, so I keep silent.

Two days later

At the burying ground.

The prayers and the Bible reading has been done and it was now time for farewell bidding and final farewell before the lowering of the casket. The attendants at the funeral were Mycole, his parents, the three Js, myself and a few neighbours and Keenan.

The news of the fire had reached the news, but we decided not to make it more public than it already was and though the investigation continues, there was no certainty that those responsible were ever going to be found because he didn't leave any clue or trace behind. And though I haven't said anything, I knew who had done it and I vow to myself this, I'm going to make them pay I'm going to make them wish they never crossed or hurt the Snowfall.

"The LORD giveth and the LORD taketh away." Reads the preacher and we are about to begin the final farewell when a black Prado jeep park just a few feet's away and we all get disrupted and turn to see Rory get down and also Paris alongside and like a perfect couple, they interlock their arms in each other before walking down, both in black like the perfect couples... The news yesterday was that Rory proposed again to Paris and their marriage was going to be the sixteenth of this month which is now a few days away.

What a perfect couple they are.

"What are they doing here?" I demand with a brittle and hard tone and Mycole who's beside tries to calm me down, but I only get angrier with each step they take, and not waiting for them to come any closer, I angrily walk to them. Mycole and Keenan who already sensed the trouble that is about to unfold, follow behind me.

"What do you want?" I angrily ask, folding my arms over my chest as I cast a hard gaze at them. "Haven't you done enough to me and my family?!" Although my gaze is mainly on Rory, his gaze is fixed on Keenan and he keeps gritting his teeth now and then trying to control something I no longer care about.

"Taylor, you are overreacting, we only came here to pay our respect." Replies Paris with her usual friendly voice, but I know that beneath it is enmity.

"Respect?" I scoff in disbelieve. "We all know who is responsible for this misfortune, so do not dare take me or anyone else for a fool," I answer blatantly.

"Watch your words, Miss Snowfall!" Comes Rory's mean voice and I glare at him.

"I'm not going to watch my words, because you're the one standing on the wrong premises." I bite out, pointing a finger at him. "You two are not wanted here so I'd advise you go home before you get more than you bargained for.

"You can't just throw us out," Paris says with an absurd voice, humour raising in her voice as she mocks us.

I turn to look behind me and I see the three Js also standing beside Mycole and Keenan. "Maybe I can't, but believe me, they will, so I'd advise you leave."

Paris's eyes fall with panic once she sees the men behind and she grabs on to Rory's arm tightly and he glances down at her in silent anger.

"Come on." He says, pulling her hand along with him and they enter into the car and it goes away.

Finally having the strength to breathe down, I turn and we walk over to the rest and the farewell bidding is done.

A week later...

I hang my bag on my back after hugging the three Js and saying our goodbyes, I walk out of the house being escorted by Mycole.

"Promise you'll take care of them," I say as we step outside the house. "Like I never could?"

"I promise." he smiles widely before pulling me in for a bone-crushing, long hug. "Take care of yourself and little Reign in there." He says, rubbing my still flat belly and I slap his hand away, blushing like crazy still. He gave the baby Reign because he saw her reigning, I didn't try to contradict or battle words.

I couldn't be the girl mom wanted me to be for my younger brother if anything was ever to happen to her. I was a walking bomb, a disaster ready to be released. More than anything I needed to be safe and fix myself and safely give birth to the little one in me which would never happen if I stay here and keep remembering every of my misfortune.

"I'll try." I reply and he draws closer and place his lips on my cheeks and quickly peck me. "I've got to go, my cars waiting." I point it out to him and he draws away.

"Okay. I'll miss you."

"Me too," I say, fighting against the urge to cry again. "Take care, Mycole, I'll be back."

"I know, but you're gonna be different." He says, sadness coating his face.

I shake my head, "I'm not gonna be that different."

"Hope so."

"Bye, Mycole," I say, stepping away from him and moving towards the car that's waiting for me. The three Js are outside and I wave them all before entering into the car and closing the door. I brush the tear that finally rolls down my face away and breathes sharply through my mouth.

"Where is your destination, ma'am?" Keenan asks and I roll my eyes at his formality and turn to him.

Playing along, I shrug my shoulder clueless of the answer. "So far away from here, maybe another country."

"Do you have your flight ticket and paper works ma'am?" He begins to adjust his seat belt.

I shake my head, "No." And I adjust my seat belt.

"That can be arranged." He answers with a sheepish grin and starts the car. "Prepare for an adventure of a lifetime."