✔️Soundtrack To My Life (18+) part 1

You Found Me

Veronica, May 2003

Dad's funeral was a testimony to how great of a man he was, former co-workers and friends that he hadn't seen for year, traveled far to attend the service, some of them I'd never even met before but had heard dad talk about when he spoke of his adventures but among the people who came to farewell dad and share a story about how he touched their lives, there was one person present who irritated me as she attempted to play the role of grieving widow, sobbing loudly as they lowered his coffin into the ground.

My blood began to boil as I watched her work the room at the wake, held at the Lion's house, telling everyone who comforted her how completely devastated she was, losing her son and her husband only a few years apart. Bridget and I had lost our father, the man responsible for raising us, loving us and never letting us down and she was just here to get attention.

"I hate that she's here." I grumbled to Aunty Celeste as we stood on one side of the living room and watched Susan sucker in another one of dad's friends with her phoney act. "She had nothing to do with him while he was sick but she's telling people she was by his side, day and night."

"Let her play out whatever sick game she needs to, the people who matter know the truth." Celeste said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and I realised she was right, the people Susan was putting on a performance for had no idea dad was even divorced, it had been that long since they'd made contact but the ones who did know all had the same advice to share with me, 'be strong for your sister.'

As I stood in the crowded room, filled with a lot of familiar faces and some not so familiar, I'd never felt more alone in my entire life. What if I couldn't be strong for Bridget? Was I not allowed to grieve too? I hadn't cried since the morning dad died, I'd been so focused on getting Bridget through today, as the youngest child, she had the luxury of being allowed to fall apart, I didn't. 

Bridget was in a corner, being comforted by Penny, Lucas, Kate, Alex and Shayla, I knew for now she was safe but once they'd gone I'd have to step back into that protector role and I didn't know if I could face it, I just needed time, to myself, to grieve but the thought of asking for that made me feel so guilty, like I would be failing Bridget for making such a selfish request.

"Any word from Sam?" I ask Celeste, he was trying his hardest to get here but had so much against him, I was just grateful that he made the effort.

"Not since he had a stop over in Bangkok, I'd say he wouldn't be too far off landing though but then there's the travel time from the airport to here, to factor in." I knew Sam would beat him self up over missing the funeral, he and dad had a special bond.

"Do you know if he's alone?" Another selfish request, wanting Sam all to myself, I needed him more than ever but he has a girlfriend now and there's a highly likely chance that she may accompany him.

"He's alone." Celeste confirms and I breathe a sigh of relief. "Nick's not to pleased about being blindsided by this new development though, considering how open he is with Sam. Do you know why he would have kept it a secret? Who is this girl?"

"Her name is Bethany Regal, she's a movie star, Bridget's favourite actually. I assume that's part of the reason they wanted to keep it off the radar, to keep it out of the tabloids." Bethany had had a long string of romances in the past few years, splashed across the front page of every gossip magazine, she appeared to be as unlucky in love as the characters she'd portray, maybe Sam was the good guy who could prove to her that not all men are created equal, I know he'd shown me that.