Chapter 42: Chapter 42
I still don't believe what the doctor said, even as Jeanne continues crying and I grip him by his collar as I ask again, "Tell me this is all a joke, and you are just playing with me."
"This is a matter of life and death, I can't joke about it, I'm really sorry for your loss. Take heart and be strong man." He says and gently removing my arms from his collar, he pats me slowly on the back and walks away, and that's when it dawns on me.
I fall to my knees beside Jeanne and sob uncontrollably like a baby, all the pent up anger, emotions and every other thing I had bottled up, from earlier on trying to be strong enough, comes crashing down.
"Arggh!" I scream as the door to the operating room opens and some nurses roll up a body wrapped in white clothing, and I know that it is my Cherry in there.
I stand up weakly and watch as the nurses brings her to a stop at my side, and hands shaking I open the sheets and see her.
She's so cold, in peace and so limp, still looking beautiful as all the memories we shared comes rushing again.
Jeanne just stands at my side, without even making any attempt to touch her, and I know she must still be in shock and I don't even blame her.
"Cher'." That's the only word that comes out of my lips as I watch the nurses finally cover her up and rolls her away.
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TWO WEEKS LATER
"We are gathered here for the funeral of our beloved sister, a daughter, a friend and a loving child. She was part of us but now she has gone to be with her father in heaven and....." The priest keeps talking but I tune him out, not wanting to hear anything as I silently weep, my dark shades covering my swollen eyes.
Standing in front, in a black tux with Jeanne, Maria and other family and friends besides me, I maintain my composure but deep inside I'm breaking into pieces, I don't know if I'll ever be the same again.
I think only Jeanne knows how I'm feeling as I feel her hands patting my back, trying to console me and I sniff slowly.
I have never felt this kind of pain before, and the thought of her not being with me through this journey called life intensifies the pain even more and I feel so lost.
*******
People walk to her corpse, dropping flowers and giving their last respect, and I'm left alone with Jeanne, Maria, Robin her driver and Tamara her personal assistant.
Looking at her still body, my eyes go to her fingers with the ring I propose with, sitting atop it.
The little sparkling jewelry brings back memories of when I asked her to marry me, the happy moments at the beach, her last moment and every single flashback makes me want to cry more.
I'm supposed to be the one in this coffin, but now she's there all because of me.
Turning, I hug the nearest person next to me, who turns out to be Jeanne and sob uncontrollably, and she doesn't push me back, instead she warms into my embrace, comforting and patting me slowly.
FIVE YEARS LATER
I sit down in my study, sorting out some things and also arranging my books, when a book falls from my hands.
Picking it up, a paper falls out, and I see Cherry's autograph and I smile.
I still miss her, no matter what and I know she's in peace wherever she is.
I sigh and feel someone coming to hug me from behind.
It's Jeanne who's currently wrapping her arms round my neck.
"You miss her right?" She asks me and I nod, sighing.
"She's safe and in peace, don't think too much okay." She says rubbing her warm hands on my bare shoulders and I smile albeit sadly, "Well, it's all in the past now. I know that and I still love you." I reply, holding her hands tightly and turning her round to face me as I plant a simple kiss on her lips.
(You might be wondering, what's happening!!)
I got married to Jeanne, two yeas after Cherry's death, after Talia got her due punishment.
I made every connections to see that she spent her remaining life in jail without bail or community service, in the course of the investigations it was also discovered that her and her friend Ivy have committed lots of heinous crimes even killing another lady because of me.
Sighing! I discard all thoughts of her, as I think of my present, my here and now, my family, the one Jeanne and I are going to raise eventually and is coming to reality.
It's not as if I moved on quickly or anything, but she became my helper, backbone and a shoulder to lean on when I was so down, depressed and still thinking about Cherry.
I became an alcohol addict.
A chronic one at that
And if it had not been for her being there, my business amongst other things would have being in shambles.
Going through many things and abandoning a lot of things just to be with me, it's not as if I pitied her or married her because I was in need of a partner or I felt lonely, no.
I married her because in the cause of everything that we were both passing through, she lost a best friend, I lost my first love, we became so close and fell in love at the same time.
"Hmmn, how's my super man doing?" I ask, rubbing her heavily pregnant belly and she just chuckles as she replies, "Well, you are here now, you can ask him."
Placing my ears on her belly and sitting down properly, I say, "Hey big boy, how are you doing in there."
"Stop that." She says chuckling, and I look up at her eyebrows raised, "Stop what?" I ask.
"You didn't feed my son again, right. Mummy didn't feed you right?" I ask looking at her belly, even though I know he can't hear me.
She hits my head playfully, "Stop asking him that honey, you might be getting or having the wrong information, because I just ate some minutes ago before coming here, and he is well fed."
I laugh, caressing her belly and slowly take my hands up to caress her breast, when suddenly the door opens, my hands freeze in mid air and Jeanne laughs loudly, the sounds an ever melodious tune to my ears.
She definitely knew what I was trying to do, and I know she'll be grateful that our three year old daughter interrupted at the same time disappointed, oh well.
"Daddy!" My little girl screams and runs towards me as I open my arms and welcome her embrace.
"Hey princess, how are you doing." I ask her and she adorably pecks my cheeks on both sides.
"I'm great daddy. Can we go to the pool together now, as you promised yesterday?" She asks pouting her lips, arms akimbo as she makes cute puppy eyes, and bats her eyelashes, all traits she got from her mom.
"Of course baby." I reply, standing her and taking her in my arms, tickling her and she laughs so hard, her cute dimples showing.
Carrying her on my shoulders, we all go outside to the large pool, and begin to play, Jeanne putting on her hot swimming suit, looking so sexy with her belly and I calm down my aroused self, she never stops doing that to me.
I'm now a father of a three year old daughter, and soon to be a father to a lovely son, the heir to everything I've worked so hard for.
I'm happy at all I've achieved! If only I did all this with my Cher', I remember all our goals, but I still thank God for this little bundle of joy I have here with me.
I love Jeanne, and even though the bond I had with Cherry will never fade, I'm going to focus on my family and give them my all.
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THE END
(NOTE FROM AUTHOR)
This is a spoiler alert, this chapter was actually the intended ending for Switches, but we all love a nice romance book with a happy ending and yes Cherry and Jayson did get their happy ending.
Want to know how, slide into the next chapter to satisfy your curiosity.
Love
ANNETTE'S PEN.