Chapter Text
The parlour was more crowded than the entrance. Chairs and couches lined the room, with different groups of people chatting among themselves in the middle. On one of the nearby couches, Shane sat between his parents. Ilya sat on the carpet floor against Shane’s legs, ignoring the clear space beside Yuna.
Shane was looking down at Ilya, one hand resting on the side of his neck, slowly rubbing circles into his hairline. Ilya’s head was turned to the side, giving space for Shane’s hand. This angle also gave him a clear path to the table at the front of the room. A giant arrangement of flowers sat on the table, a vibrant array of pink, white, and purple contrasted with the meek colour scheme of the rest of the room. Next to the flowers, there was a framed picture of a baby smiling up at the camera and a little, light pink urn.
No one turned when Hayden entered the room with a little girl in tow. The steady murmuring of voices stayed as a consistent buzz filling the room with the comfort of company. Shane was staring at the back of Ilya’s head, zoning out as his mother and father talked beside him.
Amber hid behind Hayden’s legs, one little hand held tightly in his, one holding his leg. He moved them further into the room, nodding and smiling at vaguely familiar people until David spotted them.
“Hayden,” he smiled, his tone dull and tired. “Glad to see you here.”
David’s greeting turned everyone else’s attention. Ilya spotted Amber first because they were both on the same level. He smiled at her, waving her over. She finally let go of Hayden’s leg and ran to Ilya, jumping into his arms and hugging him.
Hayden came over to hug everyone on the couch, the two on the floor making it difficult. There was an open chair next to David’s side of the couch, making space for Hayden to sit down.
He felt like he should ask how everyone was doing, but that seemed like a pointless question. “Jackie and the girls are bringing food into the kitchen,” he explained needlessly, then went back to watching the two on the floor.
Amber had completely climbed into Ilya’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck and her face cuddled close into his hair.
“There are a lot of people here Amber whispered into Ilya’s ear.
Ilya nodded, pulling her back a bit so he could look at her while they talked. “There is a lot of people here,” Ilya agreed. “That is why I am here on the floor.”
“Why isn’t Uncle Shane on the floor with you?”
Shane stirred at the mention of his name, switching his attention from the conversation between His dad and Hayden to Amber. “What was that?”
“She was asking why I have been all alone down here on the floor,” Ilya told him.
Shane smiled, moving carefully to sit next to Ilya so that his back could be against the couch without leaning on David. “Better?” he asked, ruffling Amber’s hair.
Amber giggled, wiggling away from Shane’s hand and closer to Ilya’s chest. “Are we going to your house tomorrow?” she asked suddenly, her eyes wide with excitement as she looked at Shane.
“Yep. Everyone is coming back to our house after the funeral tomorrow.”
That answer seemed to stifle her excitement. Her face changed to a questioning look. “Is that when we send Lily up to heaven?” she asked no one in particular, looking between both Ilya and Shane.
Ilya smiled easily. “Lily is already in heaven. We are going to say goodbye to her tomorrow. We are going to sing her a few songs and remind God to take extra good care of her.”
Amber nodded along, her face showing another question. “Will she be lonely?”
Ilya had been fighting tears for a few days now, and this little girl was not making it an easy task at the moment. Ilya swallowed roughly, using Shane’s steady arm around his shoulders as an anchor. “No, she won’t be lonely. My mama is up with her.” Ilya’s smile shook, a single tear shedding. “I know they are having a lot of fun together.”
“Is your mama nice?” Amber asked softly.
“She is the nicest.”