Page 128 of From Us, Forever

I tugged the blanket over us and sank into his hold as my heavy eyelids lulled me back to sleep.

Only this time, I felt weightless as a dandelion flying in the sky.

CHAPTER 25

“Here, I’ll take it.” Jay retrieved the roses from my hand.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, folding my arms as I pulled my jacket closer to me.

A cold, chilling wind rippled through the air, ruffling the leaves on the trees lining the road. It was a quiet street with little to no traffic, only a few houses up front with the church and the cemetery taking up most of the space.

I took a deep calming breath as I waited for Jay to gather the rest of the flowers while I stood by the curb with my book clutched in my hand.

“Ready?” Jay asked, his arms full of roses—of every color. She liked them in every single color.

“Hmm.” I frowned. “Are you sure you can carry them?” I inquired.

“Yes.”

I let him be, following his steps as he walked ahead, knowing exactly where to go. I couldn’t believe it’s been a year since we last visited her. The last time I came here I was a broken girl but this time I was anything but.

Unlike the usual sadness I always felt when I visited her, this time I felt nothing but joy. Because I had so much to tell her, so many good things.

I smiled as Auntie M’s name came into view and a thunder rumbled through the sky and that made my smile deepen.

I eased down on the grass beside the headstone as I watched Jay arrange all the flowers neatly.

“Is that okay?” He wrinkled his nose in question as he rose to his feet.

I nodded, reaching out my hand, and he smiled, taking it. He dropped down as he held me from behind.

I leaned back, sinking into his warmth. “Do you remember the last time we came here?”

“How can I forget?” he muttered.

“A lot changed, hasn’t it?” I asked, picking at the grass. “You wouldn’t believe the things that happened, Auntie M.”

“Yes, Marie, you wouldn’t believe it. Evelyn wears heels now and actually learned to walk with her two left feet. Also, she sometimes makes decisions—all bad ones but she tries her best. And she wears dresses!” Jay teased, his eyes gleaming with mirth.

I gave him a sharp elbow to the gut. “Ass.”

“Ouch, woman.” His grip tightened as he bit the shell of my ear.

“Ah.” I swatted him away before returning my attention to her. “So first things first. I published my book.” My fingers traced over the spine and it wasn’t like she could see it but I showed her anyway. “And I dedicated it to you,” I said, slipping it through the pages till it landed on the dedication section. “Let me read it out loud,‘To my dear Auntie M., Lifewouldn’t have been possible without you.Thiswouldn’t have been possible without you. You gave me strength and courage when no one did and taught me how to love. Even though you’re not here today, you are always in my heart.’” I finished, closed the book, and gently laid it by the flowers. “This one is yours.”

“She would’ve definitely bawled at that,” Jay added softly.

“I think so too.” I smiled. Auntie M was definitely a crier. For the next few minutes, I carried on giving her the cliff notes version of everything that transpired last year. It was the happiest monologue I’d given her in all the years I’ve visited her, and I know deep in my heart that it was only going to get more happier.

“That’s all I have.” I ran my thumb along Jay’s hand, which was laced with mine. He sat quietly offering me comfort while he listened to every word I said with no judgment or opinion. It was at moments like this, that he made me fall a little more for him.

“There’s one more thing,” Jay whispered in my ear.

“What?” I frowned, snapping my head in his direction, my mind reeling back to the events of the previous year.Did I miss something?

He grinned. “Marie, I think you know, I already asked you once. Do you think I can, one more time?”

“Ask what?” I scrunched up my nose.

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