Worthington Wives

Chapter Nineteen

Agnes started her training with the girls the next day after the men left for work. She taught them how to walk, talk, sit, eat and act like a lady. The girls would giggle and Agnes would get mad and swat them with her wooden backscratcher. “This is not a game, this is serious,” she said. “I’m sorry, Mom, we are just getting tired,” Reyanna explained. So Agnes allowed them time to take a nap before dinner.

Throughout her training, she talked to them about everything they needed to know about marital life, managing a home and family and public life. She was a very wise woman, the girls agreed. “Mom, you just have to live a long time to help us,” Cecelia told

her. “We love you, Mom,” Reyanna said, hugging her.

Avery Sr was finally coming home that next day, so Reyanna and Agnes went to get him from the hospital. “Hi, Dad! How are you, today?” Reyanna asked. “Ready…go…home,” he said, smiling. “We are so glad. We’ve missed you,” Agnes told him.

“Dad, you’ve got to save your daughters, Mom has had us in wife training for a couple days now. I need a break! I need to have an excuse to get out of it,” Reyanna joked.

“Me….need….nurse,” Avery Sr said with a wink. “Whose side are you on? I thought you were supposed to back me up!” Agnes feigned jealousy. “Wife….Al..ways….,” Avery Sr told Agnes taking her hand. “Num…ber…one,”he said, smiling at her. Avery Sr smiled happily as the transport person wheeled him to his car.

Avery Sr. was tired from the trip, so after he greeted the family and ate his meal, Reyanna got him dressed and put him to bed. “Goodnight Dad, I’m glad you’re home, she said, kissing him on the cheek. “Love…daugh…ter,” Avery Sr. said. “I love you too, Dad,” she said, patting his hand.

The family were having breakfast the next morning when Garland came in to announce that Miss Reyanna had a visitor who said it was an emergency. Reyanna looked at Ben in fear as she got up. “May I be excused, Mom?” she asked with urgency. “Yes, of course! Take your guest to the parlor,” Agnes answered. “Go with her,” she told Ben.

The visitor was Reyanna’s brother Liam. Garland escorted them to the parlor. Reyanna looked at the distraught expression on Liam’s face and her heart sank. She knew he would never come here in person unless it was something terrible.

“Liam….tell me,” she said, holding his arms. “Is it Mom?” she asked. Liam shook his head negatively and hung his head as tears fell. “Daddy?” she asked. He looked up with tears flowing freely. Reyanna’s eyes got big as she began to grasp the situation. “He’s gone, Rey. He had a massive heart attack. I tried, Rey, I did CPR, but I couldn’t save him,” Liam told her, holding her shoulders.

“What are you saying, Liam?” Reyanna asked him, trying to clarify. “Daddy….our Daddy is gone?” she asked, crying. Ben came over and put his arms around both of them. “Ben…my Daddy, he’s gone,” Reyanna cried. Liam started sobbing and she held him and cried with him. Ben sat beside them, moving a chair by the loveseat so he could be close to Reyanna. “Garland, please bring some water and some tissues,” Ben requested.

Once the siblings comforted one another and Ben hugged them both, Reyanna decided she needed to go to her mother. Ben nodded in agreement. “I’m going with you,” he said. Liam nodded at him, accepting his offer. “I’m so sorry, Brother. I wish there were words to say to make it better, but I know there’s not,” Ben told him. Liam put his hand out and touched Ben’s shoulder, uniting them in their grief.

“I called Aunt Liv. She’s there with Mom, now,” Liam said. “It’s like a nightmare, but I can’t wake up and make it go away,” he told Ben and Reyanna. She put her arm around his shoulder and rested her head against Liam’s neck. He held her around her waist as she dabbed at her tears. “I love you, Baby Brother,” she whispered. Liam smiled, resting his head on hers. “Will you ever stop calling me that?” he asked. “Never,” she said, smiling.

Ben went to the dining room and told the family what was going on. “Ask her brother if he would like to have breakfast before they leave,” Agnes said. Ben went in and offered and Liam accepted, following him to the dining room. After he greeted the family, he was offered a seat and brought in a plate of food. Ben and Reyanna’s meals were warmed up and fresh coffee was served. “We are so very sorry for your loss, Liam and Reyanna,” Agnes offered.

After breakfast, the family talked with Liam while Ben and Reyanna packed travel bags to go to Salem, Virginia. They packed for a week, just in case they needed to stay that long. Ben knocked on Reyanna’s door. “Sweetheart, are you ready?” Ben asked. Reyanna stood looking at him with a lost expression. “How am I gonna go in that house and My Daddy not be there?” She asked. Ben went to her and held her tight as she sobbed into his chest. Ben kissed the top of her head.

It was a four hour drive to Salem, VA, to her parents home. Ben and Reyanna followed Liam’s Camry in Ben’s Maserati Grand Turismo.

When they finally arrived at her home place, there were several cars already there. Word had traveled fast. Reyanna wished she didn’t have to be hospitable to company at this time, but she understood that well wishers would come. Especially in the country, it was expected.

They went in through the back porch into the kitchen, and just as she expected, her Mom was sitting at the table with her sister and sister in law. “Mommy,” Reyanna cried as she saw the brokenness of her mother. She ran to her and hugged her and they both broke down and let their emotions flow freely.

“Liam,” their mother cried, reaching for him. She kissed him and held both her children in her arms.

Ben could not hold back his own tears at seeing the emotional response of the family. Melissa saw Ben and went to him, hugging him by holding his head to her shoulder. “Thank you for coming,” she said, kissing his cheek. “This is where I belong, Mom,” he said to Reyanna’s mother.