Dear Frenchie,
This morning, Brian and I had a phone appointment with Nate Skinner, my probate attorney, who is now helping me with my trust so the kids and grandchildren won’t have to go through what I have endured these past two years.
When the meeting ended, Brian called me right back and said the words I knew would be followed by terrible news.
“Are you sitting down and in a safe place?”
“Yes,” I said, “but Brian, you’re scaring me. What is going on?”
He hesitated, then told me that Anthony had been found dead in Hawaii the day before.
I was heartbroken. I loved Anthony. An uneasy feeling came over me knowing he had died so far from home. I asked Brian what had happened, but the news was still so new that the family didn’t have any answers yet.
I have been thinking about Haleigh all day. It is so hard not to be able to call her or wrap my arms around her. Oh, how I pray that someday she will let me back into her life. I miss her so much. I understand that it is out of my control, so all I can do is pray that she finds some kind of peace in knowing that she and Anthony created so many wonderful memories together.
Our family has such fond memories of him, and I have my own sweet memories too. He always had a smile on his face. I remember how much he worried about his mom whenever he thought she wasn’t doing well. He definitely loved his mama.
I spoke with Karen this week while she was in Hawaii, trying to make the final arrangements to bring Tony home. It was heartbreaking to talk with her and try to make any sense of this. Tony was so young—only thirty-three years old.
I remember taking him to Mexico with Haleigh and Kaitlyn and how much fun the four of us had. Karen and I always thought Haleigh and Tony would end up married. I think a lot of people believed that about those two.
I am also grateful that Haleigh and Scott found their way to each other. Scott is a wonderful husband and father, and we could not have asked for a better man to share Haleigh’s life.
I am learning to trust that, somehow, it will all work out according to the Lord’s plan. He has a plan for each of His children, and perhaps we are not meant to understand or figure it out. When it is our time, it is our time. But that doesn’t make it any easier for those of us left behind, missing them so terribly.
When Brian told me about Anthony’s passing, I immediately thought of you. I know how much you loved him. You two had a rough start, but over time, you learned to love and appreciate each other. I know you were proud of the man he had become.
I can picture you hugging him and welcoming him home to Heaven. I see you showing him around, then doing one of your little dances. And, of course, Anthony would answer with that famous laugh of his—the laugh I am going to miss so much.
So, while you and Tony are celebrating together, please know that the rest of us down here are heartbroken.
I love you, Babe, and I miss you very much.
