Chapter 9: Life moves on

“Grandma Galena died this morning while you were at work. I’ve left telling everybody this so as not to influence their day. Come home and we’ll all have a talk.” said Mom over the phone. As sad as the news was, it was expected. She had been going downhill for the last three months and now with the cold weather of December she had been admitted to hospital with the Flue again. Mom said that she would tell everybody and just to come home. She sounded close to tears on the phone.

We all sat at the dining room table with the family portrait hanging over us and Mom told us how Her Mom hadn’t woken up that morning. “She went peacefully, had a long life, a loving family and had achieved Great Grandmother status. She was happy.

“Ken. Your Dad will be over here for the funeral which is next Saturday at Moms church. I’ll give you his flight details when I get them and you can meet him at the airport and bring him back here. There will be other relatives attending but they will arrange their own accommodation and travel times.

It was a very somber dinner that night. Neva and Janis walked me back to their apartment and said they had something very important to tell me.

We sat in the lounge room and Neva said. “I know that this is not the right time but the announcement can be made later, the plans are underway. Were moving out and into an apartment. We were going to tell everybody this weekend but, well, we’ll all be busy then so we’ll tell you now and everyone else next month. The reason were telling you is that we think you and Luci can move in here and save some money instead of getting an apartment now.

“Wow. So you two are making it official. That’s great.” I jumped up and kissed them both the Spanish way. “And thanks for the heads up. I can save heaps by living here and I’m sure that Mom will like the company if you’re moving out. So what made you want to move out?” Janis held up her hand and showed me her ring. “She proposed and I accepted.” They both held hands and laughed. “With Febe living in Barcelona nearly full time now we feel she won’t miss us that much. Anyway ask Luci what she thinks and make sure she tells her Mother and Father, but not now. Wait till everything has settled after the funeral.”

“OK.”

“Where are you moving?”

“Well that’s what started this whole ball rolling. You see Janis’s Mother and Father are moving. They want to retire and have bought a house in Cape Palos down south. When they move we’ll move into their old place. It’s close to work for us and only twenty five minutes’ walk from where Febe is living. The opportunity was just too good to pass up.”

“Not to mention the chance of holidaying down in Cape Palos.”Said Janis.

“Oh I can see why you’re excited how big is the Unit?”

“It’s three bed and two bath on two levels and the best part is that there is a Bar down block called the chill bar and has great food.”

“When do you move then?”

“Probably not till the new year now. The place will be vacant on the 10 of January and we take possession on the twelfth. Their leaving most of the furniture including the appliances.”

I met my Father at the Barcelona Airport. After a fourteen hour flight he was tired and in no mood to chat. We covered the basics and were quiet for much of the drive. We went inside and Mom met us in the hall. They hugged and she took him into the Lounge. I took his bags up stairs and put them in the spare room. I texted Neva and told her Dad had arrived. She came into my room holding Janis’s hand. “I told Dad about my girlfriend but not these latest developments. Moving in together and the ring. Do you think I should or wait till after the funeral.”

“I’d wait he understandably has enough on his plate at the moment. He’ll be here two days following the funeral. We can catch him up then.”

The funeral went as well as it could considering that it rained the whole time. There were more people there than could fill the church and some said they would head straight to the Wake, to be held in the adjacent hall. I met relatives that I didn’t know existed, some from Europe but most from Spain. Our family group stayed together and thanked everyone for coming and Mom and Dad introduced me and my Fiancee to them. At some point everyone had got wet and most were eager to return to their hotels. Phone numbers were exchanged and promises to keep in touch made. Soon it was our turn to leave for home. Mum took Dad home in her car with Janis and Neva. I took Febe and Luci which gave me a chance to talk to them both.