Page 17 of Your Soul to Keep

As I neared the gravesite, those who recognized me cleared a path for me to the front. Those who didn’t know me were shooed aside by Mrs. Wemberly who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. She deposited me at the front and retreated just as quickly.

I sucked in a breath and raised my chin. I would make Nan proud. Squinting against the bright light of the sun, I took in a sea of faces, none standing out any more than the next, until my gaze landed on him.

Gabe.

My mask fell away.

Standing directly across from me, his black hair swept back off his forehead, sunglasses perched on top of his head, his somber blue eyes scanned my face. With his hands tucked in the front pockets of his black dress pants, his suit jacket pushed back, he looked exactly how teenage me imagined he would have for prom or our fairytale wedding.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Gabe.

How did he know? It had only been two days since Nan had passed and years since I walked away from him, but he came.

Behind him stood Max, Hawkley, and Daire.

The corners of my mouth pulled down ominously. I stepped back but with the crowd behind me and the priest waiting patiently in front of me, there was nowhere to flee.

My lips parted in need of air.

He came alert, his energy reaching me. Catching my eye, he jerked his head to the side.

Instinctively, I looked in the direction he nodded and found Harley, Wren, Bridge, and Noelle making their way toward me.

My jaw dropped. I snapped it shut just as quickly as relief swept through me. Wrapping my arms around my middle, I looked to the sky and battled back my tears.

Soft arms, warm hands, and hints of delicate perfume enveloped me. Harley and Noelle’s sweet little baby bumps pressed in on either side.

Reminding me.

My eyes filled.

I began to pull away when Wren grasped one of my hands in hers. Wren, who with everything she had going on, took time off work to be here with me.

You don’t understand what you’re missing until life hands it over wrapped and topped with a bow. A sob caught in my throat.

I hung on to her hand, fought back the despair of being left, the bittersweet of being found, and sucked in a breath before slowly exhaling, emptying my lungs, calming my galloping heart.

A gentle breeze lifted the tendrils of hair that had escaped my ponytail back from my face.

I drew in another breath.

The heavy fragrance of roses, Nan’s favorite, wrapped around me like a hug.

She was here.

Ach, love, no one ever really leaves.

I filled my lungs once more as I acclimated to the unexpected presence of my girls, their sweet hugs, the love they freely offered me, and gained control over my wayward emotions.

Then Bridge moved in.

“Hey, bitch,” she whispered. The tip of her nose pressed against my cheek. “I love you.”

I lost the fight.

I covered my face to hide behind my hands as my body bowed forward but there was no need. They shielded me, their soft touches and low voices holding me upright and wrapping around me like one of Nan’s quilts.

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