Any other day, any other occasion, Leith would be up and gone before Jessica was even up ... The boy was an early riser and a hard worker. He loved his work and he never missed a day, rain, hail or shine. When she came down the stairs, donning a posh gown knotted at the waist, she was surprised to find him sitting at the breakfast table staring abysmally at the fresh summer flowers in the vase centre piece. 

Any other day, she'd have come down and started making breakfast for the rest of the family, her lovely daughter and wonderful husband, smiling at the message Leith left spelled out on the fridge in magnets or a sticky note by the tea-kettle, before he went to work. She'd pop by the garage on her way to Nicky's, with a lunch made for Leith, maybe a pie or some cake for him and the lads at the garage, hubby and daughter on their way to work or school everything blissful and pleasant in their sleepy little town... 

They hadn't had a regular day since Olivia died. 

Leith had been on auto-pilot, like an automaton, he really hadn't been himself. Jess was in pieces too, although, for Leith and Nicky's sake, she put on a brave face. Leith was still her baby and she needed to be brave for him, and Nicky ... Poor Nicky ... she'd been such a wonderful friend, a good mother to a good kid. The Ramirez family were the last people on Earth that deserved this. 

The night they got the news, Jess "done the rounds" before bed, peeking in to see that everyone was tucked up nice and cozy and sleeping well. Leith was curled up and shaking, she climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around him close to try quell the muffled sobbing and offer some kind of comfort. Her own heart bled. He was still her baby ... even though he was taller than her now, with broad shoulders, facial hair even, a man, not a boy ... but her baby still. She felt selfish in a way, hugging her boy close and thanking the stars it wasn't him that had washed up on the banks of the bayou ... She wouldn't wish that on anyone, and it had happened and instead of thinking immediately about poor Nicky, she indulged in herself, in holding her son and daughter and husband and reminding herself [i]"It didn't happen to us ... my family is safe"[/i]. What a horrible friend she was, what sort of friend thought of her own family first after something like that knowing full well they were safe and sound anyway?! But she couldn't help herself. That night she needed her family and her family needed her. The next morning she was up bright and early preparing food for Nicky and her family and even the police while they were investigating and conducting interviews with local residents. When Jess lost her father, well, cooking and cleaning was the last thing on her mind, she couldn't even imagine how painful it was to lose a daughter, so she done what she could to help Nicky. 

It had been a week already, now came the funeral. Jess had a bouquet from her garden, nothing too big and flashy, just a small thing, sitting on the windowsil so they soaked up a little more sun and blossomed extra nicely. 
Leith was dressed in funeral black ... it was so out of place in the blistering hot southern sun. Leith felt out of place. He never wore suits and it felt wrong to wear black. Olivia was always so bright and bubbly. She wouldn't have wanted this- She ... 

[i]"Lei ... are you alright baby?"[/i] Jess asked, stroking a hand through his all-too familiar dark curls, so unlike her own hair ... so like his father though she couldn't resent Leith. 
He shrugged. [b]"This just feels so wrong."[/b]
Jess nodded. She'd have admired how smart Leith looked, wearing something other than worn out t-shirts or dirty overalls, but funeral-wear was hardly cheery and no matter how tidy he looked, she couldn't enjoy his misery. Olivia had been a great role model for him, six years older, they weren't exactly best friends, but she'd been like a big sister to him sometimes and they had been close. 
[b]"Are Robert and Aps comin'?"[/b] he asked. 
Jess shook her head and switched on the kettle. [i]"I thought it best if it's just us, if thats alright."[/i]
Leith nodded. [b]"You're right ... Robert didn't really know her ... neither did Aps, no use dragging them along"[/b] he sighed. 
[i]"Have you eaten?"[/i] Jess asked, getting up as the kettle finished boiling. 
[b]"One of the croissants in the fridge"[/b] he shrugged, twiddling his thumbs, gaze downcast. [b]"Mom?"[/b]
[i]"Yeah?"[/i]
[b]"Would ... Would Nicky mind if I- ..."[/b] he clammed up again, routing in his pockets to find a folded up letter, the folds of the paper worn thin from him opening and folding it back up several times. 
[i]"You want to say something at the funeral?"[/i]
He shook his head. [b]"No ... I ... I want to give it to Liv ... I never got to thank her for all she did, yknow when I was growin' up 'n' stuff ... If Nicky doesn't mind I mean."[/b]
[i]"I'll ask, I'm sure she won't mind you leaving a small letter with the coffin. I better get dressed. Can't go to the service in a dressing gown and slippers."[/i]
Leith offered her a small smile, faltering slightly, but it was hard to smile and pull each other up when someone so young died so horribly in their small town. 

Jess quietly got changed, put on a light layer of make-up and smoothed her hair in place. Robert was having a lie-in, he'd finally gotten a day off, Jess didn't want to wake him up. Apsen would likely lie in bed for a while too, but he'd be there to get her breakfast and see what she was up to when she woke up. Finally, Jess crept back downstairs, dressed in black, shiny patent black shoes neatly shined. She grabbed her purse and Leith picked up the small, neatly arranged flowers from the window and they made their way to where the funeral be taking place shortly.