Chapter 73: Back Home Again 2 days later Lauralee was at her desk in the bedroom, ending a phone conversation. “So the plane is all ready?  Uh huh… uh huh… OK… yeah, we’ll all be leaving this evening.  Thank you… Goodbye.”  She hung up the phone, stretched her arms, made a notation on a legal pad, and leaned on the desk.  She rubbed her eyes, drinking her tenth cup of coffee, and lit up a cigarette.  “Last one for Florida, now on to New York.”  She went upstairs and saw the whole crew sitting on the couch.  “Hey y’all.” “Hey,” Laura shifted on the couch.  “Well, everything is all set.  We’re all on the 7pm flight to New York.” “Even…” Elizabeth stopped and closed her eyes. “Yes, she’ll be on the flight too.” Lauralee put her hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Did you call Veronica’s parents?” asked Kevin. “Yeah, they’ll be at the tarmac and will follow us all home.  They’re gonna have the cars ready.” “Lau, have you been sleeping?” Brian held Elizabeth’s hand.  “Of course I have,” Lauralee avoided their gaze.  The truth was, she hadn’t slept at all.  She was keeping herself up with coffee, laying in bed until Alex was asleep, then getting up and padding around the house, or making more arrangements.  She would climb into bed as the sun came up, as to not worry Alex.  When she was tired, she would get a phone call from one of the girls, trying to comfort their grief, or would check on Howie, whose mother said he was in his room alone since the accident occurred.  She spent her nights in worry, pushing back all of her emotions and compensating her sadness in order to help the others. “You don’t look so good,” Nick looked at Lauralee’s face. “I told you I’m fine,” Lauralee lit up another cigarette.  “Look, I gotta make some phone calls.  I’ll talk to you later.”  She went upstairs, leaving the others in a state on bewilderment. ~*~ The private plane ride to New York was silent, with Lauralee acting like a flight attendant, walking up and down the isles, and paying close attention to Howie.  Each of the guys was on the plane, as well as their families, and the girls. The plane descended at LaGuardia Airport, and Lauralee saw the hertz, several limousines, and Veronica’s parents in view.  They all deplaned, Lauralee leaving last, looking to her side as the coffin was brought off the plane and put inside the hertz.  She went to Veronica’s parents. “Hello,” Anthony said as he gave her a hug. “How are you guys doing?” Lauralee asked. “As best as we could,” Carmela held Lauralee’s hand.  She looked over at the hertz.  “The coffin is beautiful.” “I thought the white lacquer would be the best choice,” Lauralee sighed.  “Thank you for arranging all of this,” Anthony said. “I wouldn’t want anything else,” Lauralee looked at Veronica’s parents.  “We should get going.” ~*~ Lauralee and Alex arrived at Lauralee’s mother’s house, where reporters were waiting for them. “Will this ever stop already?” Alex said as Mario opened the door and escorted them inside. “Mom?” Lauralee called as her mother ran inside and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry honey,” Sandy pulled away from her. “I know.” Sandy gave Alex a hug.  “The reporters came this morning.  They have been camped outside ever since.” “Well, Mario’s here, and I’m sure they’ll be leaving in a little while,” Alex said. “You guys want something to eat?” “Not hungry.  I think we’ll just unpack first,” Lauralee grabbed her suitcase and went to her room. A little while later, they all sat at the back patio. “It almost seems like a nightmare,” Sandy leaned back in her chair.  “Veronica was like a daughter to me.  I’ve been to Carmela’s, trying to console her.  No one should lose a child.” “I know the feeling, I keep thinking she’s gonna call us up, walk in the door, something,” Alex took a sip from his lemonade. Lauralee was silent the whole time.  “Lau?” “Huh?” “You OK?”  Sandy put her hand on Lauralee’s knee. “Yeah, yeah,” Lauralee leaned forward.  “Carmela asked me to give the eulogy.” “Wow,” Sandy sighed. “Yeah… well, I have to call the church to make sure the arrangements are taken care of.  Excuse me,” Lauralee got up and went to the living room. ~*~ 2 days later… Lauralee sat at her desk, leaning over to see Alex toss around in the bed.  She was tapping a pencil on the side of her head, looked down at all of the crumpled pieces of paper around her, then threw her pencil down in disgust.  This isn’t working…  She got up and went to the kitchen, brewed a pot of coffee, and went to the back porch. She curled up on the couch, took a sip of coffee, and looked out at the city lights.  She thought of what the hell she was going to say the next morning, trying to recall the life of her dear friend.  She remembered the first time she met her, at the Fall Fling Dance during her freshman year of high school.  She didn’t really know anyone, as she was the only one who transferred from her junior high school.  She ran into Veronica at the punch bowl, wondering why she had come there in the first place.  Veronica and her started a conversation, and before you know it, she hung out with her after the dance at the Country Diner.  Lauralee then met Laura, and they were inseparable ever since.  They shared countless nights trying to cook up the next big scheme.  They did get into their fair share of trouble, but they always laughed at it in the end.  Even after every argument, they would call each other up within 5 minutes to apologize. “Lau?”  Sandy had walked into the back porch.  “Honey, why are you up?” “I was trying to write, guess I lost track of time.” Sandy took a seat next to her.  “How are you coming along with it?” “Terrible.  I write something down then I throw it away,” Lauralee took a sip from her cup. “You’ll know what to say, you did it at your father’s,” Sandy smiled.  “That was a beautiful eulogy.” Lauralee nodded. “Um, honey, have you been sleeping at all?” “Yeah, whenever I can,” once again, Lauralee avoided her mother’s gaze. “I’m worried about you, we all are,” Sandy explained.  “I’m fine, really I am,” Lauralee patted her knee.  “I really better get to bed.  We all got a big day tomorrow.” She got up and went back to her desk.  He thoughts drifted back to Veronica, and in a flash, she started to write. 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