Page 30 of Rocky

“Hello?”

“Hello. Is this Rue Abrams?”

“Who’s asking?”

“This is Nurse Martin at OC Memorial. I have you listed as the emergency contact for Deacon Lewis.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“He came to the ER beat up pretty bad. I can give you more details when you arrive.”

“Umm, I?—”

“He’s in room 310.”

“I’m not—hello?”

The woman had ended the call. Rosemary heard my end of the conversation and waited for me to give her the details.

“What was that about?”

“Deacon…Someone beat him up, and he ended up in the ER.”

“Oh.” She responded dismissively and went back to the arrangement she was creating.

“I’m his emergency contact, and she said she’d give me more details about what happened to him when I arrived at the hospital.”

“You’re going to see him?”

“I don’t know. I?—”

“How, Rue? How do you not know? Yesterday, that man put his hands on you and would’ve hurt Briar had you not stopped him. The answer should be no, and I don’t wanna hear shit about him being Briar’s father.”

“You’re right.”

“I know I’m right. If anything, you should be trying to find the person who beat his ass to thank him.”

The bell chimed above the entrance, and an elderly couple entered.

“Good afternoon! How can we help you?”

“Hello. We’re looking for very special arrangements to put on our daughter and grandson’s grave. This year, his birthday falls on Mother’s Day, and we want something special,” the elderly woman said.

“Oh my! I’m so sorry for your loss, and I have no doubt we’ll be able to create something special for them. I’m Rue, and this is my sister, Rosemary.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Aveya, and this is my husband, Colten.”

“It’s nice to meet you both,” I responded, extending my hand.

“It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for choosing our shop for such special arrangements,” Rosemary said.

“I’ve heard wonderful things about your shop and am excited to see what you can create.”

“And I’m just here to pay the bill,” Mr. Colten said jokingly.

For the next hour, Rosemary and I used the computer to help them design two of the most beautiful arrangements we’d ever made. While doing so, the couple shared stories about not only their deceased daughter and grandson but their two other grandsons and their great-grandson.

It was such a joy listening to them share how mischievous the three boys were growing up and the situations they had to getthem out of during their adolescent years. The more they shared, the more familiar they became.

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