~#~ (Chapter 32)

With his family's help, Jeff managed a short but emotional, one-sided conversation with Lucille where he apologised for avoiding her and promised to try and start visiting the churchyard, even if it turned out to be only once or twice a year.

After speaking to Lucille, he crouched down at the foot of his wife's grave and remained there silently with John, Gordon and Alan gathered around him. After several minutes he looked up, let out a slow, cleansing breath and then slowly got to his feet. He pulled his wallet from his pocket, gently fished out a small sepia-toned wedding photograph and leaned over to wedge it securely among the heavily-scented blooms of the eleven yellow roses. "I shouldn't have left it so long," he whispered. "Please, boys, don't ever let me leave it so long again."

John patted his father on the shoulder as Gordon and Alan hugged the older man. "We won't, Dad and you'll never have to come alone. One of us or all of us will be here to back you up. We'll come to visit Mama, Scott and Virgil whenever you want us to."

~#~

The rest of the funeral passed without incident. Tears were shed, eulogies were read and tributes were made before the twin coffins were lowered into the ground and Scott and Virgil were laid to rest, side by side forever.

~#~

Gordon decided to forego the trip back to the Neilson homestead and instead slipped quietly through the back door of the Tracy farm kitchen and disappeared into the house. He reappeared almost fifteen minutes later looking clean and immaculately pressed after spot-washing his collar and then drying it with an iron.

There were many more guests at the wake than there had been at the funeral. A marquee filled with long, food-laden tables had been set up in the paddock behind the house and drinks were being prepared in a smaller tent which was tucked in beside the kitchen so as to use the farm's electrical supply without creating a trip hazard. The large picture windows leading to the farmhouse's dining room had been hooked open, as had the doors to the adjoining lounge, so that people could wander inside and the two rooms had been set out with photographs, certificates and other memorabilia from Scott and Virgil's lives.

Jeff, Ruth and the boys mingled with the guests and swapped stories and pleasantries with many of the people gathered there. John pointed Jonah out to Jeff and the pair kept half an eye on the reporter until it became obvious that the young man was being true to his word and was staying well away from the Tracys, Brains and Tin-Tin.

Brains found himself a quiet spot near one end of the marquee and managed to remain there, relatively unnoticed at the periphery of the crowd. Parker sat with him for a time but soon became restless due to not having anything in particular to do. The elderly butler eventually bade Brains a solemn farewell and moved off to take charge of the drinks tent.

Tin-Tin walked into the wake with her father but found herself forced to leave his side when Alan latched onto her arm and refused to let go. Kyrano nodded indulgently at the pair and assured Tin-Tin that he would be fine on his own but then felt immediately lost once she left him. He trailed Jeff around for a short while but it quickly became evident that the boys were keeping a close eye on their father so Kyrano then headed into the kitchen and remained there for the rest of the afternoon.

~#~

Visitors came and went throughout the afternoon but as the light began to fade the Tracy farm began to quieten as people began to either head home or back to their hotels. The hubbub of work in the kitchen, tent and marquee died down until eventually only the Tracys, Kyranos, Neilsons, Penny, Parker, Brains and Jess remained.

Everyone, with the exception of Kyrano and Parker, sat on the porch at the front of the farmhouse and watched as the sun slipped lower in the sky. Jeff, Ruth and Penny had a rocking chair each, Brains perched on the padded window sill and Graham and Mary shared the sturdy wooden swing seat. John sat on the top step with his back resting on his father's leg and with Jess tucked between his legs as she leant against him from the step below. He had one arm slung casually around Gordon who sat beside him and watched with quiet amusement as Alan threw himself heavily against the supportive side-rails at the other end of the step and pulled Tin-Tin down beside him.

"He looks tired," Jess commented quietly. "Mind you, so does…oh. Oh my, John, look."

Jess had craned her head around to look at John but had caught sight of Jeff behind him. The Tracy patriarch had linked hands with Ruth across the arms of their rocking chairs and had fallen asleep with his chin against his chest. Ruth continued to pat her son's hand even though he had nodded off and she winked at Jess, John and Gordon as they looked around. "He's been gone a good few minutes," she whispered. "He shouldn't sit for long with his neck in that position but a few minutes more won't harm him." She nodded towards Alan and Tin-Tin and smiled gently. "Jessica's right about your brother, Johnny; he's done in. In fact I reckon both those little ones might follow your father into the land of nod if we sit here much longer."

Mindful of Jeff's leg against his back, John turned to look towards his youngest brother. Alan had pulled off his tie and had then undone the top two buttons of his shirt while Tin-Tin had snuggled herself against his chest. Both youngsters looked heavy-eyed and only half awake and apart from a vague smile from Alan, neither bothered to move when the others turned to look at them.

John nodded gently and then let out a quiet chuff of breath when Gordon burrowed deeper against his side and sighed loudly. "I've got you," he murmured. "Shut your eyes and I'll keep watch over everyone."

Jess leaned over and squeezed Gordon's arm. "…and I'll watch over John. Close your eyes, Gordon and go to sleep."