Page 96 of Steadfast

Instead, she felt numbness trickle from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet.

“Okay,” she nodded. “Thanks for letting me know.”

Maeve could feel Maureen’s pitiful glances as she took a seat in the waiting room. Her mind raced with all the things she would need to do next.

I have to break the news to everyone.

There has to be a funeral.

And then—

Her mind went blank.

Every picture she had of the future included him in it.

The days that followed were a blur. They had the memorial at the ranch. It seemed like the entire town was there to celebrate his life. They scattered his ashes into the wind, just as he would have wanted. At least, that was what Maeve assumed he would have wanted. They had never even discussed sickness, let alonedeath. They were young and healthy and had always presumed to have a lot of life ahead of them.

Of all things, hit by a car while changing a tire.

What a meaningless end to such a vibrant soul.

Maeve felt hollow as she stood there sharing about Abel’s life and accomplishments in front of their friends and family.

It was like a terrible haunting nightmare that she expected to wake up from at any moment.

She would be in his arms again.

He would kiss her brow and hold her tightly to his chest until she stopped trembling.

That moment never came.

When everyone had offered their kind words of condolence, and finally took their leave, she hugged her boys tightly and made her way upstairs. She went down the hall to her expansive bedroom, draped now in heavy solitude. Leaning on the doorframe, she examined her large bed, which now seemed excessive for just herself.

She went to the closet and shuffled through Abel’s clothes. Pulling on one of his plaid button-up shirts, she savored his lingering scent and the softness of the fabric against her skin. She caught herself staring off into the distance, caught up in her memories.

She laid her head on her pillow and noticed his wedding ring on the nightstand, now empty of the warmth it once held. When her eyes finally closed, it was a restless sleep. Jolting awake, she found herself reaching for him, sliding her hands across the cold, wrinkled sheets.

In the oppressive quietness of those early morning hours, she replayed the comforting words of her friends.

He’s in a better place, dear.

All of her days walking with the Lord told her that was true, but it did nothing to soften the jagged edges of her grief. She prayed earnestly for some closure, some sign from God that could bring her comfort. It was as though her words were seeping from the irreparable crack in her broken heart.

When the sun finally peaked over the distant mountain range, Maeve brushed the tears from her eyes and pushed asidethe aching void in her chest. She forced herself out of bed one foot at a time and pulled on her jeans, shirt, and boots.

That morning, Maeve Callaway went to work.

Chapter 31

Empty Cup

Maeve’s stinging eyes felt raw as she blinked away the blurry haze. She must have slept because when she awoke, she noticed Oakleigh fast asleep. She was kneeling beside the bed with her head propped gently on the mattress. There was no doubt in her mind that Oakleigh had been asked to watch over Maeve that night, a task the exhausted young woman had heartily failed with the best intentions.

She had to admit that Oakleigh’s presence there was comforting, shearing off the edges of the emotional wounds she was attempting to sleep away.

Oakleigh awoke with a sharp snore as she swiped a bit of drool off the corner of her mouth. She shot up, her tone marked with panic. “Maeve, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Maeve reassured her, even though the truth was quite the opposite. “Go ahead and get to your day.”

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