Chapter Text
Death.
Nobody told Hank how routine it could feel. Visiting the funeral home. Ordering death certificates. Fielding so many calls from family, friends, news reporters… the whole world, it seemed, wanted to tell him how sorry they were to hear about his mother.
“I know.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, she was an amazing woman.”
“No, we’re not interested in an interview at this time.”
Today he was meeting with their lawyer and running over the will again. Mabel had requested her ashes be mixed in with glitter at the local factory and shipped to craft stores the world over, and that was causing some… legal headaches. Also, some of her wishes were a little unorthodox. He’d probably have to reassure the lawyer that yes, Mabel was of sound mind when she decided to bequeath approximately five thousand gnome hats to the Gleeful family.
(There was no way Mabel had this much trouble sorting out Henry’s will. Maybe Stan’s. Yeah, he was glad he wasn’t sorting out Stan’s.)
And then when that was done, he’d go home, and he’d work on the funeral arrangements. Willow was mainly in charge of that, and though it wasn’t like she was hurting for help – she’d enlisted literally everyone in the family, from Acacia's oldest daughter Josefa to the youngest tottering great-grandchild – Hank wanted to do whatever he could, for as long as he could.
Because Mabel was dead, and any moment now it was going to hit him.
Until then? Hank was writing guest lists, he was answering phones, he was booking venues, he was putting his arm around a sobbing Acacia, and holding everything together.
“I know.”
“She was an amazing mother.”
“She’d be proud of you, sis.”
“I love you too.”
Day in, day out. It felt like he’d always been doing this.