After driving him aimlessly for a long while, enjoying the night scenery of the city centre, Violet didn't want to bring him home, knowing it would only wind him down further into his sadness. Instead, as he fell asleep, she drove them to the east side of Lagospool, where it was windier by a park facing the river.
She stepped out to the quiet park and enjoyed the breeze for a while. It was then that she noticed it was close to five in the morning. She could see the sun rising on the horizon as she finally let her tears fall, recalling that there were only a couple of hours more before she headed with Dexter to see her mother-in-law.
Mum, I'm sorry I'm late. I miss you… She sighed with shaky breaths.
You could go in peace. Dexter will be fine. As always, he will be. I'm so sorry that I cannot be with him anymore, but Mum, I promise I will ensure he is looked after, alright? Violet forced herself to stop sobbing, only to be covered by a sweater. She quickly stood and saw it was Dexter.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I must have been so loud that you're awake…" She mumbled as he shook his head and sat with her by the bench, enjoying the morning breeze.
"Don't catch a cold…" He mumbled to her, and she nodded, murmuring her thanks.
"No, thank you..." His simple appreciation brought smiles to both of them.
"Don't worry about me. I have cried enough. I will be strong to face the menaces with you." He said, still smiling, and she knew he meant his relatives, as they ended up chuckling.
"Today it will be quite fine…I hope…" She studied his calm look as he waited for her to explain.
"We need to go in a while. We will first identify her…" She accidentally let her voice choke as he gently patted her back to comfort her.
"It's fine… I will be with you." He added as she tried to regain her composure.
"The mortuary will contact the parlour that Sarah had arranged. We will head there to choose her decoration arrangements and menu for her." She explained as he nodded.
"Don't choose the expensive menu for others. Choose it for Mum. Choose the cheapest for others. I don't care what they say." He told her as she understood his deeds.
She nodded in agreement as they both smiled in agreement.
"I have called the bank to increase my credit limit temporarily. Use the card for the expenses." He passed it to her as she shook her head.
"I can manage. Let me chip in too?" She offered as he took her hand and put the card there.
"For once, let me. I know how much you have been sacrificing... I know how much you had to save and scrimp. Not even once have I helped. So, let me be useful this time." Dexter's offer unexpectedly brought her to tears as she sobbed in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Vi. I'm sorry you had to suffer so much…" Dexter apologised while holding her sobbing self in his arms.
It was the apology she had needed and wanted all along, but she realised it was all just too late. She may forgive him and accept his apology, but she no longer feels that spark of love for him. She knew she wasn't crying because of his apology, but she was sad that their love had finally, truly ended for her.
As for Dexter, he wished he could make amends with her, only to realise he might need to accept that she was no longer his. Even if she was willing to stay, after all they had gone through, he felt she deserved better than him.
He knew the only way to keep her happy was to set her free. It was a gesture he could do to redeem himself from the past mistakes, but first, he wanted to steal some time with her during his mother's last journey.
He savoured every moment of it, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of the mortuary door, breaking down again at the sight of his mother's dead body during identification.
He had never known how painful and agonising it was to ever identify the body of your dead loved ones. If it weren't for Violet by his side, dragging him out after the confirmation and calming him, he would have lost it with his relatives.
Thereafter, he cooperated well with Violet in the preparations as they supported each other during uncontrolled emotional moments. It was tough for him to identify his mother's body, yet he had to choose a coffin for her, which had nearly pushed him beyond his boundary. Fortunately, Violet's constant care of trying to keep their meals bland and ensuring they stayed hydrated, the wake was ready to receive its visitors in the afternoon.
"Good job holding on there. You're alright so far?" She asked while helping him to fix his collar. He nodded as he hugged her momentarily. "Thank you. If it gets too harsh, you don't have to deal with the nasty people." He whispered as she nodded knowingly.
Right when they were about to split from their hug, drama began as their judgmental relatives started to arrive.
"Oh my gosh, you two announced your divorce yet you're all so lovey dovey here! Make up your mind if you are going to divorce or not?! No point putting on an act for your dead mother!" Rosy, the eldest auntie, Edward, and Sarah's mother reprimanded the couple as Edward watched in disgust while Sarah looked away, not wanting to be involved in the drama.
"Yes, yes… It's useless now. Back then, how dare you upset her during the reunion dinner? What audacity do you have to be here to serve in her wake?!" Caroline, Dexter's second auntie, reprimanded.
For once, Dexter wanted to retaliate, only for Violet to hold onto his hand tightly and stop him.
His gaze met hers as she shook her head discreetly and led him to the front entrance, where the token of bereavement counter was ignoring all of them who were beginning to pay their last respect.
The sight of her own family at the entrance, witnessing those insults, took Violet by surprise. She nearly lost her balance when she saw Sebastian standing by Sam in disguise. Her father's face was red from withstanding the rage of the insults while Dexter helped her keep her balance.
"Breathe… It's fine…" He comforted Violet before greeting his in-laws.
"Dad. Sam…" Dexter met with Sebastian's gaze, whom he didn't recognise but bowed to in acknowledgement.
Violet's dad harrumphed in anger as he walked past the couple with Sam and Sebastian to the front of the altar and paid their respect. Rosy recognised the in-laws when she stepped out from behind with the rest after taking a look at her sister's body.
She began her drama again as Violet wanted to head to the front, but Dexter held her back.
"Hold on…" He whispered as the trio bowed at the altar and went behind to see the body before returning to the front.
"What a shame to have such an in-law! Nobody welcomes you here! Luckily, your daughter still has some responsibility, but she is also not welcome!" Rosy commented nastily, causing Violet and Dexter to charge together to the front of the altar to stop the commotion, only for their father to retaliate calmly.
"I am so glad my daughter isn't so stupid as to still stay in such a disgraceful family." His line alone took everyone by surprise. The siblings knew how savage their father could be if he wanted to.
"Who are you calling disgraceful here?! Excuse me, you're the one who didn't teach your daughter well to respect her elders! How dare you insult us here?" Rosy retaliated.
"You know you're in your sister's wake?" He questioned her calmly.
"So? You're not even welcome if they weren't legally divorced yet! My son is still holding on to the papers!" Rosy announced, which took Violet by surprise as she glanced at Dexter, who looked away, not wanting to explain.
"What's going on? I thought you submitted…" Violet pestered as Dexter gently patted her hand. "I will explain later."
"I'm glad you're not her mother-in-law. Rude and uncultured." With that, he walked away with Sebastian accompanying him, while Sam stood blocking Rosy, trying to attack his father.
"If you dare to raise your hand on any one of my family, including Dexter, I won't hesitate to harass you and your family." Sam threatened, leaving her shaken cause she knew what Sam was capable of in the entertainment industry.
She could only subcumb to the embarrassment while still thinking she was right. Violet thought she would be fine till this situation unfolded, and she felt terrible when her dad walked off the wake without saying a word to her. What's strange for her was that Sebastian was accompanying him. She couldn't help but wonder what was going on as Sam walked up to her after reprimanding her relatives.
The poker face on Sam's look only made her even nervous.