Perfect Imperfections by Unknown Read Free Book Online

just went through the motions without showing any emotions. She looked distant as if she were physically detached. For a moment, she looked at Dave, but then again moved her gaze away, and resumed staring at nothing in particular. The lack of emotions began to worry everyone.
    Everyone sat down with Judith and held her hands, but they couldn't get themselves to say anything. What do you say to a woman who has just lost her husband?
    Dave saw the spectacle while still on call. He saw Bill walking up to him. He ended the call by saying, “Yes, I’ll wait for your confirmation,” and then turned to Bill. “You take the girls home,” he said quickly. “I am not sure if they’d want to eat anything but keep asking. Tell Cheryl and Beth to make sure that they get some fluids as often as possible.” He paused and looked at Kim and then back to Bill. “I have called Kim's uncle in Canada, the one in Thompson and he will inform the relatives and take care of the funeral details. They will be confirming their flight details in a few hours. We’ll need to put them up in hotels.”
    Dave went on giving Bill the details of how, what, and when things were to be done. Fifteen minutes later, he came down to the parking lot and saw the girls were helping Judith get into the car. He called out to Kim.
    “Kim!” he said softly when he came up to her, and held her at arm’s length by her shoulders. That was what Kim needed. His concerned touch opened the floodgates in an instant, as she broke down and fell to her knees.
    Looking at this, Bill and Cheryl came running to her. “Beth, help me get her into my car,” said Dave, and as he helped her up and opened the door to sit her down. “You guys go ahead with Judith. Kim and I will follow.”
    They all got into the cars and started towards Kim’s house which was about 15 minutes from the hospital. When they got onto the highway, Kim started to get a grip on herself and control her tears. She whispered under the sobs, “We knew it was coming. I had prepared myself for this. Then why is it so hard?” she was looking down at her phone, fidgeting with it. Dave looked at her and held her hands.
    “He needed to go, Kim; he had suffered far too long.” said Dave as he pulled the car to the side and halted but kept the engine running as if the silence would have been too much to bear. Then he turned towards Kim, cupped her face in his hands, and that action forced her to look up at him, straight into his eyes. “We’ll get past this, Kim,” he told her. “We’ll get through this together. But for now, you have to be the one to support your mom and Sam. You have to help them cope with this. You have to be strong for them. One more time, you have to be strong for them.”
    Then, he unbuckled the seatbelt and pulled her closer to him, hugging her tightly. Kim let out a sigh and pulled herself together, wiping her tears with the back of her sleeves. Dave put the car in drive and sped off. He caught up with Bill just as they reached the parking lot of their house. “Call Sam and arrange for her to come back home,” he instructed him.

CHAPTER 8
    It does not matter how much time you have to prepare for the death of a loved one, for it is never enough. Death will envelope you in its cloak of emptiness. The Noyes household had had their share of predicaments but they had always stuck together and worked through them all. But today, they grieved in their separate corners of the house.
    Kim had never seen her mother so shattered. Despite her mental state, she saw how her mother was being taken care of Anne, who had become almost a sister to her in this time. Anne genuinely seemed to feel some of the grief, and she made sure the girls were cared for. Outside, Keith and Dave took care of everything else.
    When Kim finally managed to get a grip on herself and decided she needed to leave.
    “I’ve booked my tickets for this Saturday. I have my reporting on Sunday evening,” Kim announced