Page 40 of Andy

Rory squeezed her shoulder. “We’re here to support you in whatever way you need.”

“Thank you.”

Andy came over, and Harry took a seat next to Rory. Peach brought the boat up to speed. It was cool, but nice as they raced out to open waters as the sun started to turn the sky gray first, then other colors started to show.

Once they were out far enough, Peach slowed the engine, and Mel glanced around. They seemed alone, and the sun was starting to come up. The sky was orange and pink, along with a few purples.

Rory had a pleasant smile on her face. “This is quiet.”

Andy nodded. “It is. It’s a nice place. Peaceful, not a lot of boat traffic this way.”

“Do you think this is good?” Mel asked.

Rory squeezed her shoulder. “I do.”

Harry glanced around. “It’s beautiful out here.”

She glanced down at the boxes her grandparents had been placed in, shaking her head at how unceremonious this felt. “I don’t know how to do this. Like I don’t want it to blow all over us.”

“We’ll help you get set up,” Rory said.

Mel bit the cuticle on her left thumb. “I opened the boxes last night and there is plastic in there.”

Rory had the box in her hands. “I’ll make sure that’s open before I hand it to you. You’ll want to get as close to the water as you can.”

Andy put his hands on her waist. “And I’ll hold you so you don’t fall in.”

Her eyes burned with tears. “You’re all being so nice.”

Andy put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “We know this is difficult.”

She moved to the first box and saw it was her grandmother. “She always had freshly baked cookies. I don’t know if I get it, really, but for her, that was love. She had some backward ideas, but she’d grown up during a different time. She was kind, even if she didn’t agree with everything I wanted out of life.”

Rory took the box and held it as Mel moved to lean over the side of the boat. Andy’s hold on her waist gave her confidence that she wouldn’t fall in. He would keep her safe. Rory handed her the bag, and she lowered it to the water and then dumped the ashes in, watching them settle on the rolling surface. Her grandmother had lived a long and happy life. She would be at peace here in the ocean.

She sat up, and Rory lifted the second box. “Your grandfather.”

Mel blew out a heavy sigh. “He was a little more problematic. He wasn’t the nicest man, and he had a lot of issues with me. When I was in high school, he tried to convince my father to force an engagement with a man who was twenty years older. Thankfully, my father stood firm and didn’t listen to him. I don’t know if he was ever proud of me and my accomplishments. I know he wasn’t proud of my mother. In the end, he was trying to understand how life was different. I hope he actually got to a place of understanding either here or in the afterlife.”

She leaned over and took the bag from Rory before she emptied it into the dark water. She didn’t have the same emotions seeing her grandfather’s ashes disappear as she had with her grandmother.

How would she feel once her parents were gone? Her mother hadn’t had the best relationship with her parents. Maybe that was why the task had been pushed off on her. She hadn’t dealt with the issues her parents had to put up with when they’d first married. Mel didn’t know everything, but she knew life had been tense between them even after she came along.

She sat up and stared off at the dark blue expanse. “It feels so lonely out here now.”

“For us, yes,” Peach said. “For the aquatic animals, the ocean is a busy place.”

"So many fish and whales," Harry said. "It's enough to entertain. Not sure what your views on the afterlife are, but if you think they stay where their remains are, it will be better than the best aquarium."

Mel stood, reaching out to steady herself as the boat rocked on the water. “Well, I hope my grandparents found peace.”

“I’m sure they did,” Andy said.

She blew out a breath and met Peach’s gaze. “We can go now. I’m good.”

Peach nodded as he moved back to the steering console. She took a seat and was amazed that Harry, Rory, and Bear had no problem moving around the boat even as it moved. She met Andy’s gaze and shook her head.

“What?” he asked.

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