Sarah stumbled from the room she was in down to his lab. All of Jack’s notes where neatly bound in books. He had a book on each member of the family and one about her. He had not only left notes about her getting sick but also a love message. Her heart opened as tears poured from her eyes.
When she woke, she was clutching the book to her in her arms. Orion was sitting in the floor beside of her.
“I can’t believe he’s gone.” She sniffed.
“Did you know he was ill?”
“Yes,” she wiped away her tears. “That is why he sent for me, he didn’t want to die alone.”
Orion led her back to her quarters. She had retrieved two books from the lab, along with Michael’s x-rays.
The funeral was small, very personal. Jack would have approved. The Queen buried him in the corner of her garden. Sarah was lost. After the service, she sat on the ground beside of his grave.
Paul stood against the palace wall watching her. Orion came to get him. “Dad, is she going to be okay?”
Orion didn’t answer him right away. Paul looked up at him. “Sometimes my son, it is hard to loose a friend; harder than even a parent or a spouse. Friends know more about us than we sometimes know ourselves.”
“Is there anything we can say to make it better?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” Orion leaned over and kissed him on the top of the head. “Son, I pray that you find a friend like that someday.” Orion paused, “let’s pray for her.”
Paul looked excited, “yes.”
He walked with Paul back into the palace.
Orion came back out later to find Sarah still sitting on the ground weeping. He sat down beside of her, draping his coat over her shoulders. “It took mom hours to get the dirt out of my hair. I’m sorry, Mrs. Zabane. That mean little boy snuck up behind me.” She leaned against Orion’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her. “Every school function, every dance, Jack was always my date. I can’t believe he’s gone.” She sobbed even harder. All she could see was his smiling face twirling her around the dance floor.
He helped her up. “I love you.” She blew him a kiss. Orion helped her into the palace and to bed.
It was sad but he now understood what Jack meant when he said he wasn’t a threat.
