Chapter 41

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Death comes at the most unexpected times, and it is always hard, no matter who you are, where you live death always finds a way to our doors, and we are never ready.
There Emily sat with her husband and children looking over at her great grandmother's casket, Madeline had lived to the age of 99, while her husband had died 15 years ago, and last week Friday she had joined her husband in heaven, Madeline had lived to see not only her grandchildren but her great-grandchildren, one would say she saw it all and now she was resting.
It pained Emily to see her mother crying the way she was it was hard losing a parent no matter how old or young you are you still felt the pain, but Madeline had requested one thing from her children, she didn't want them to be sad she had lived a long life God had blessed her with many descendants and she had seen one of her great-grandchildren get married to a future King so it was her time to rest.
"Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed," 
She didn't know how she was able to sing without her voice breaking out, you could hear the sadness in her voice, Madeline was going to be missed she was one of the most beloved members of Helen's family and now she wasn't there anymore it felt different.
"Madeline Caroline Helens, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, my great grandmother asked me to come up here and celebrate her life not cry for she has moved on to a better place, she's resting with God now and she asks for all of us to be happy, she was the most energetic person ever and she loved everyone, and now she's receiving so much love I'm sure it is overwhelming her, so I ask of you do not cry but rather celebrate for she has returned to be with her father in heaven," Emily read the small passage with tears falling from her eyes, it was no secret that Emily was her favourite, her youngest great-grandchild and she had made Madeline proud, not only for the work she had but for where she had taken Helen's name, although they would remember Helen's surname they'd remember that their Queen was a member of that family, "Isaiah 41 verse 10 says,' Do not be afraid, I am with you. I am your God, let nothing terrify you. I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you ' And that is what God is doing to our grandmother right now he is giving her what was promised to all those who believe,"
"Let us pray," The pastor said after Emily took a seat.
*****
"Hey honey you were great up there," Emily's mother comforted hugging her daughter, "I know granny would be proud,"
"Hey You little rascals, why don't you go change and play with the others," she knelt looking at her grandchildren who nodded their heads and ran up to their rooms, they were currently housing their relatives at Harlaxton Manor since it was closer to the church and had enough rooms to house everyone.
"Why didn't the twins come?"
"Louis is sick so I decided they should stay at home with Maria, she's been sending me updates," Emily said with a small smile.
"How are you though and Granny?" Emily asked giving her mother a drink, as they sat on the garden bench overlooking the kids running around.
"We're doing well, Granny is coming to live with us for a while but I think it should be permanent since we have all the space," Lucy explained looking over at their manor.
"Or you just want her to be closer because you're scared, scared that she might be next and you'll lose your mother," Emily explained causing Lucy to breakdown into tears, "I understand, that's how I feel about you too, I want you closer now because we never know how long we might live and we want to spend that time with our loved ones especially after a funeral," 
"It's just I thought since I spent so much time with her when the time came I would be prepared but are never prepared for death are we?" 
"No, no you are not," Emily said with a small sigh.
*****
"I'm staying here for some time," Emily applied some lotion onto her leg while looking at William through the mirror, "Maybe you could go back, and I'll go with you so that I could take the twins and you stay with the older ones and take them to school,"
"Yeah of course anything," William nodded wanting to please his wife, their new year hadn't begun right losing the most adored and oldest member of their family, it was painful William remembered how it felt when he had lost his mother and all that attention was on him at such a young age, he was overwhelmed and he knew although Emily was older having the attention of the media glaring down at you was always hard especially after a funeral.
"I was also thinking, for our holiday this year we go to Bali," she suggested getting into bed, "Oh I can already imagine, we're going to love it," She beamed causing William to smile as she rested her head onto his chest.
"Anything for you,"
"Anything," she repeated playing with his hands, "Can you behead your brother and his awful wife," 
"Em," He said with a laugh causing her to giggle.
"I'm joking, but I just want to be drama free,"
"I've separated our offices and they're creating their social media accounts, that's as separate as we can get from them,"
"Great, that's great," she mumbled switching of her night lamp, "Goodnight, I love you," she whispered closing her eyes.
*****
"Look at them," Mary grinned as Emily came down for dinner with the twins in her arms, "Go say hi to Grandma," Emily said putting them down and watching ran to go greet their grandmother, Emily was so lucky her children got to see her grandparents too, you know grandparents spoil you well great grandparents are worse.
"Hi Mimma," they both shouted hugging their great-grandmother, "Boppy!" They exclaimed as their great-grandfather entered the room.
"Ahh look who it is," he knelt letting them run into his hands, "You've grown hey, look at you two, what are you two elephants?" He questioned examining their onesies.
"Yes!" They spun to show him.
"Well you look incredible, here," he snuck them both 10 pounds.
"Dad what are they going to do with that?" Lucy exclaimed laughing at her father.
"Hey let me spoil my grandchildren," he said sitting down at the head of the chair.
"Mummy look," Louis said waving the note in her face, "What is this, huh I know where this comes from," she said her eyes immediately going over to her Boppy, he loved giving money every time he'd see you he'd sneak in a note or some sweets.
The dinner was spent with chatter and laughter, it had just been two days after the funeral and it seemed everyone was honouring Madeline's wishes, she didn't want them to cry over her but rather celebrate and spend time together as family and Emily wished she could spend more time at home but she had to go back to her other home and be with her children.
A/n So Emily's great-great-grandmother is the one that passed away, I bet you're wondering how easy her great grandmother was 99 years old she got married at a young age and had Mary, Emily's grandmother(1940), who had Lucy (1962) Emily's mother and two other children but they aren't important.