Page 52 of Save Me

He would remember later, the crunch of dead grass and pebbles beneath his feet. Sunlight glittering on a tombstone in the distance, the chill of the wind against his face, and then they were there. With yet another step of the finality of the moment, he set the little casket on the framework of the casket lowering system and moved back to her.

The pastor they didn’t know began reading a psalm.

Lainie was weeping silently.

Blinded by his own tears, Hunt reached for her hand.

The act of burial was the final rite of passage, and Hunt was moving through the service in the same way he’d followed orders—in duty and silence.

Eleven years he’d been a father without knowing it. The unborn child had been given his name, and today, he carried him to the grave.

Hunter James Gray II had never taken a breath, or let out a cry, but today, his mother and father were crying for him.

And then the pastor stopped talking.

The grave attendants moved to the CLS and began lowering the casket until it stopped.

Lainie stepped forward, picked up a handful of dirt from the grave and tossed it onto the casket. Hunt did the same, and then they stood vigil at the site until all of the dirt had been replaced.

In her heart, they’d just put their baby to bed. Leaving it behind was the hard part for her, but he was already with the angels. This parting was for them.

The white roses were on the grave now, and they were driving a temporary grave marker into the ground when Hunt heard Lainie moan beneath her breath, then grab his arm to steady herself. One look, and he knew she was done.

“Darlin’, are you hurting?”

She nodded. “I’ve been standing too long.”

Hunt looked around for Taylor, and then called out to him.

“Sir, I need to get Lainie home.”

Taylor jumped into action and headed toward the car, as Hunt swung her up in his arms.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “All of a sudden, I just gave out.”

“You don’t apologize to me. Doing this for you is my joy.”

The director took them back to the funeral home and pulled up beside their Jeep.

“Here you are, but can I get you anything before you leave? Some water, maybe?”

“We have some in the Jeep,” Hunt said, “but thank you for everything.”

“This is a service I will never forget,” the director said.

“You gave us everything we asked for. It was perfect,” Lainie said.

“We are always here for you,” Taylor said, and drove away.

“I can walk from here,” Lainie said.

“Yet, I will carry you,” Hunt said, and the moment she was in the seat, he slipped the shoes from her feet, and then brushed a kiss across her lips.

“Buckle up, darlin’. We’re going home.”

CHAPTER NINE

The ensuing week was about moving forward.

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