I get a huge smile on my face and run towards my dad.
I put the picture back into the small wooden box and start to look at what is on the usb drive that I just put into my laptop.
I scroll down and see the folders on the usb drive.
As I’m on my laptop I hear Lauren shout that dinner is ready.
I take out the usb drive and close my laptop.
I close the man cave door and walk into the kitchen.
I wash my hands and sit down in my usual chair at our dining room table with Fran and Lauren.
I look over at the empty chair at the dining room table and miss Bobby G.
“Do you want to eat in the kitchen honey?” asks Lauren.
I look at Lauren and answer, “No, here is good. I’m not going to change things up like that.”
Fran and Lauren don’t know what to do next as they sit at our dining room table.
I look at Bobby G’s empty dining room chair and say, “I know he’s still with us, even if he isn’t physically here right now.”
CHAPTER 2
AFRAID
“Here you are,” says Lauren to me as she enters the back patio of Bobby G’s house through Bobby G’s sliding glass door.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I just came over here to clear my head,” I answer Lauren as Lauren walks over to the empty patio furniture chair that is next to the patio chair that I’m sitting in.
Lauren sits down next to me.
I look at Lauren and Lauren sees the sad expression on my face.
Lauren looks back at me, and I can see the sadness in her eyes.
I fight back the tears that want to flow out of my eyes and ask Lauren, “What time is it?”
Lauren answers, “8:30.”
“Okay good, I told everyone to meet at the cemetery at 10,” I say to Lauren.
“We still have some time then, I’m sure a lot of people will be there,” replies Lauren.
I look over at the empty patio chair that Bobby G usually sits in.
Lauren grabs my right hand as it rests on the patio table.
“I can’t believe we lost both of our dads in like a month,” says Lauren.
“Was it really that close together?” I ask Lauren.
“I think so, to be honest I’m not really sure when my dad died,” answers Lauren.
“I know what ya mean. Time isn’t something I have been keeping track of lately, but I want to start a record of things around here and knowing the date is pretty important for that,” I reply to Lauren.
“I can help you with that if you’d like,” responds Lauren.
I look at Lauren and feel a sense of gratitude that Lauren is here with me, and I’m not alone.
I rub my face with my right hand and several different feelings overcome me. I feel sad that I’m having a funeral service for my father, I’m pissed off at the way that he died, and I’m afraid of losing any more people.
Lauren gets up from her chair and wraps her arms around my body and gives me a hug.
I feel Lauren’s body on my upper back, her arms wrap around my shoulders, and her hands come together around to my chest.
I stand up and turn towards Lauren.
I start to cry as I feel comforted by Lauren’s embrace.
“I’m always here for you honey. Whatever you need, I’ll try my best and do whatever I can to help you,” says Lauren.
I gather my composure and reply to Lauren, “Thank you sweetie. I appreciate that.”
I wipe away the tears from my eyes, look into Lauren’s brown eyes, and say, “I need you to be safe, don’t be like my father and worry about some dumbass car… I need you alive.”
Lauren nods her head at me and replies, “You got it.”
I feel a great sense of fear as I look at Lauren as I’m not sure I can handle losing her or any members of my Brotherhood.
I look at Lauren and say, “After today, things are going to change around here.”
Bobby G’s sliding glass door opens, and Phil enters Bobby G’s back patio.
Lauren and I look at Phil.
Phil says, “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting Ry, but I just heard from TJ and he wanted to know if he could come by today.”
“Yeah, that would be fine. Is he okay?” I ask Phil.
Phil answers, “Yeah, I think he’s okay.”
“Did he say anything about why he didn’t come with us to The Grove?” I ask Phil.
Phil closes Bobby G’s sliding glass door.
“No, but I figure he will tell us about it when he comes by today. I just wanted to make sure that it was okay for him to come by,” answers Phil.
“He can come by… Actually see if he and Janet can help us with our plans for later today,” I say to Phil.
Lauren gets a questioning look on her face and she stares at me.
I feel Lauren’s death stare and I say to Lauren, “We are going after Chris today.”
“When did you decide this? Why didn’t you tell me?” asks Lauren.
Phil senses Lauren’s displeasure, and he quietly exits Bobby G’s back patio through the sliding glass door.
“We decided yesterday. Phil believes he knows where Chris may be and I think it’s a good idea to find him,” I say to Lauren.
Lauren glares at me.
I feel Lauren is mad at me and that gets me mad.
I aggressively say to Lauren, “Look, I’m finding Chris and getting information out of him. He might not even be alive, but I need to know either way.”
“But it’s dangerous!” replies Lauren with an assertive tone.
I shout as I turn and look into Bobby G’s backyard, “Of course it’s dangerous! Life is dangerous now!”
Lauren looks at me and shouts, “Don’t yell at me!”
I turn towards Lauren, and say to her with a softer tone of voice that is still slightly aggressive, “I’m getting rid of Chris and any threats around here. If I did this before then my father would still be alive.”
“You don’t know that. You can’t think like that,” replies Lauren.
I take a deep breath and say to Lauren, “I’m afraid to lose anyone else. Losing my father has forever changed me.”
“It will take time to get over the loss of your father honey. It just happened yesterday,” replies Lauren.
“It’s not the fact that he died. It’s how he died. If Chris wasn’t around to be a threat, then Bobby G most likely is right here and smoking one of his fucking cancer sticks, but he’s alive…. He’s fucking alive and not in the fucking ground right now,” I say.
Tears fall from my eyes and I quickly close my eyes to help calm me down.
“I know how you are honey. You are going to think of all the what if scenarios right now, but we have to be smart with what we do next. I’m afraid of losing you,” says Lauren.
I open my eyes and say to Lauren, “I know sweetie, but I think clearing out every threat around here is what we need to do next.”
“Then I’m helping you with it,” replies Lauren.
I give Lauren a concerned look.
Lauren notices my look and says, “Tough shit honey. You can’t just give the orders around here, and I don’t get a say in them. I’m helping you.”
Phil, who is standing inside Bobby G’s living room, says to TJ over the radio, “Ryan’s father was killed yesterday, and we are having a funeral for him around ten this morning.”
“Holy shit, I’m sorry to hear that. What happened? Was it from the attack on The Grove?” asks TJ over the radio to Phil.
“No, it’s a long story, but we are going after the guy Chris that is responsible for killing Bobby G,” answers Phil into his radio to TJ.
“Well, Janet and I will be over in a couple hours. I have a couple things to tell you guys,” responds TJ over the radio.
“Okay, we are going after Chris later today, and we could use your help,” says Phil to TJ over the radio.
TJ replies over the radio, “You got it. We will definitely h
elp you with Chris.”
Lauren and I walk into Bobby G’s house through the sliding glass door.
“Sounds good TJ. We will see you guys later today,” says Phil to TJ over the radio.
“Yes sir. See you later,” replies TJ to Phil over the radio.
Phil looks at me and Lauren and doesn’t know if we are fighting still.
“What’s up with TJ?” I ask Phil.
Phil looks at Lauren, and then at me.
“You guys okay now?” asks Phil.
Lauren smiles and answers, “Yeah, we got it out of our system.”
“Okay good. I just wanted to make sure, but I’ll tell you both that TJ and Janet plan on helping us find Chris today,” responds Phil to Lauren and me.
“Great, more the merrier. Is TJ planning to come to my dad’s funeral?” I ask Phil.
Phil answers, “I’m not sure, he might. He said he plans to come by in a couple hours.”
“Okay, sounds good. I gotta go get some eye drops and wash my face. I’m sure I look like crap,” I respond to Phil.
Phil jokes, “Yeah, you look pretty bad.”
I smile at Phil and punch him in his right shoulder.
I start to exit Bobby G’s house and jokingly say, “What a guy.”
“You know I’m only messing with you,” replies Phil to me as Phil, Lauren, and I exit Bobby G’s front door.
“I’m going to go get ready honey, I’ll meet you inside the house,” says Lauren to me.
Phil and I stand in Bobby G’s driveway.
“Okay, I’ll be right in sweetie,” I respond to Lauren as Lauren walks over to our driveway.
I look at Bobby G’s oak tree.
Phil looks at me and says, “I hope you know that we are all here for you. Whatever you need Ry.”
I look at Phil and reply, “Thank you Phil. I just need for everyone to be safe here. Work together and not go out without a group and a plan.”
Shaun exits his front door and sees Phil and I talking in Bobby G’s driveway.
Shaun shouts at Phil and me, “We still on for ten?
“Yeah, don’t be late asshole!” shouts Phil to Shaun.
“I’m not the one to worry about with that!” shouts Shaun to me and Phil.
Phil looks at me and says, “He’s right. I better go check on Matt.”
I say goodbye to Phil and shout across the street to Shaun, “See you in an hour!”
Phil runs over to Matt’s house and knocks on Matt’s front door.
I walk into my house through my front door.
I see Milo eating from his food bowl and Callie drinking from her water bowl.
I walk into my master bedroom and then my master bathroom.
I look into my master bathroom mirror and see my eyes are bloodshot.
I grab the bottle of eye drops and drop some eye drops in each eye.
I wash my face and try to calm down a little bit.
Lauren walks into our master bedroom.
I exit our master bathroom and see Lauren has something in her hands.
Lauren hands me a piece of paper and I see that it’s my speech that I wrote for my dad’s funeral.
I thank Lauren and then I look over my speech.
About an hour goes by.
Lauren, Fran, and I exit my house and make our way to our cemetery.
It’s an overcast cloudy day.
I check my watch and it reads 9:45 AM.
I walk with Lauren and Fran down the street and approach the cemetery that is in the middle cul-de-sac of Citrus Oaks.
I turn the corner and see a large group of people gathered around our Citrus Oaks cemetery.
As I approach our cemetery with Fran and Lauren, I can see that a lot of people from our community are already there.
I feel the love and support from everyone, and I start to get emotional.
I whisper to myself, “Keep it together.”
Lauren hears me whisper to myself and grabs my right hand.
I look down at Lauren and say, “I want you and Fran up there with me.”
“You got it,” replies Lauren.
I step onto the grass of our cemetery and walk towards the head of Bobby G’s grave.
Lauren walks over to me.
Lauren calls for Fran to come over to her, and Fran stands next to Lauren.
I stand at the head of Bobby G’s grave and look up at everyone that has attended the funeral service today.
I pull out my speech from inside my left black dress pants pocket, gather my thoughts, and glance at everyone that has gathered for Bobby G’s funeral.
I see Shaun, Lisa, Jon, Kelly, Matt, Ann, Kylie, Phil and Nicole who are each holding a baby, Jerri-Lynn, Andre, Sam, Brody, and Kiersten.
I clear my throat and say, “Thank you all for coming here this morning, however I wish it wasn’t for the reason that it is.”
I stop my speech and look down at Bobby G’s grave.
Everyone stares at me as I stop talking.
“I probably should have waited to bury my father today during this service, but I didn’t want anyone to see him like that,” I say as I continue to look down at Bobby G’s grave.
I feel a large sense of grief and pause from my speech.
My pause is only for a couple of seconds, but I feel that everyone is waiting for me to continue with my speech.
I gather my thoughts and say, “Sorry, I have never had to bury a parent before. I guess I’m struggling with this.”
“You are doing great Ry. We love you brother,” says Shaun.
“I love you too,” I reply to Shaun.
I exhale a breath of air and say, “But seriously, I do love everyone here and I know my father did also. Well except Shaun.”
Shaun, Phil, Jon, and Matt laugh at my joke, while some people aren’t sure whether to laugh at my joke or not.
“That’s just a little joke my father made just the other day,” I say to everyone.
I look at Shaun and say, “Just to be clear Shaun. Bobby G loved you.”
“I loved him too,” replies Shaun.
I look at Brody and joke, “I hope you got people guarding the front gate Brody.”
Brody gets a nervous look on his face.
“We do Ry. This place is secure,” says Phil.
“I’m only messing with you Brody,” I joke.
Brody lets out a deep breath of air and feels a sense of relief.
I look back down at my paper and say, “Robert G. Briggs was a good guy, a good friend, and a great father. I hope he knew that I loved him very much… Sure he could be a big pain in the ass, but what family member or friend isn’t at times.”
Mason lets out a little whimper.
I smile at Mason’s little whimper and I say, “You tell him Mason.”
Lauren and some people smile at my joke.
“My father told me, Shaun, Phil, Jon, and Matt that Chris was responsible for killing him. Chris got away, but my father wounded him. I vow to never let Chris, or anyone attack this place or attack any of us again,” I say to everyone who is attending Bobby G’s funeral.
“I will not let anyone get close to this place. I will not let anyone hurt us. This place is ours, and I will always fight for us,” I say to everyone as I look up from the paper that I prepared for today.
I fold the paper in half and say, “My father was a great man, but his simple mistake of leaving this place alone is all it took. I love you all, and I will not lose anyone else like that… My father will be missed, and I will never forget him. I hope you never do either and thank you all for being here this morning.”
I look over at Lauren and Fran and Lauren gives me a big hug.
Fran drops a flower on Bobby G’s grave and several other people do the same.
I watch people drop their flowers on Bobby G’s grave, and I hear a small bird chirp as it flies over the cemetery.
“I guess Bob turned into that bird and wanted to talk some more,” jokes Matt.
I la
ugh at Matt’s joke and reply, “Could be. Bobby G did love to talk.”
Lauren addresses everyone, “Thank you all for coming, we have some food and drinks at our house if you would like to come by and hang out for a little bit.”
“It’s not much but we have some wine and a little bit of food,” I say to everyone.
“Dude, it’s like eleven in the morning,” says Jon.
“It’s five o’ clock somewhere,” jokes Shaun.
Lauren says to me, “Great speech honey. I’m going to head back home and get everything set for everyone. Do not go out without me.”
“I won’t sweetie. We are going to wait for TJ to come by. I’ll be home in a little bit,” I reply to Lauren.
Lauren kisses me.
“My mom and I are going to head back home if everyone wants to join us,” says Lauren to everyone who attended Bobby G’s funeral.
Lauren, Fran, and several other people walk with Lauren back to our house.
Jerri-Lynn, Andre, Sam, Kiersten, and Brody walk over to me.
Jerri-Lynn looks at me and says, “We are all sorry about your father Ryan. We all know what it’s like to lose a loved one.”
I look at Jerri-Lynn and her group and say, “Thank you all for coming. I appreciate the support.”
I feel like I haven’t talked with Jerri-Lynn in a while and ask her, “How is everything? Everything okay around your house and with those snipers?”
“Yeah, everything is good actually. We made friends with our neighbors and I think you should meet them some time,” answers Jerri-Lynn.
“I definitely want to, but we plan on going after Chris today. We think he is held up in a neighborhood pretty close to here,” I reply to Jerri-Lynn.
“Do you need help sir?” asks Brody.
“Actually yes. We could use help from all of you if possible,” I say to Jerri-Lynn and her group.
“I’m in,” says Andre.
Jerri-Lynn glares at Andre and says, “We don’t even know what the plan is.”
I see the glare that Jerri-Lynn is giving Andre and say, “We will be going after Chris who we believe is in a house that is surrounded by zombies.”
“I can help you with them,” responds Andre.
“Thank you, Andre,” I reply to Andre.
I still feel a sense that Jerri-Lynn is afraid of helping us with going after Chris.
Fight 4 Us (Book 10): Ghosts Page 2
