Page 45 of Annika's Aurora

“Seriously, that was a really sweet thing you did for her.”

“I feel sorry for her. I hope her grandparents get custody. They seemed like a really nice couple.”

“Since the entire town saw what he did the other night and again tonight, I think their chances are pretty good,” remarked Logan.

“By the way, that song?” She waved a hand in front of her face. “Whew! It did things to me that weresonot appropriate in a bar full of people.”

“Really?” he said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “How ‘bout you show me when we’re alone?”

“But my parents…”

“Are clear on the other side of the house. I can be quiet if you can.”

“You’re on!” she replied as they pulled into the driveway behind her parents.

Chapter 13

“Areyoureadyforthis,Sunfire?”Afterthreedaysofgettingtoknowoneanotheragain,theywerenowoutsideofGrandRapidsatthecemetery.Annikagraspedthecar’sdoorhandle,willingherhandtopullitopen.Howhardcouldthisbe?She’dgotoSuzanna’sgrave,sayafewwords,thenleave.Itsoundedsoeasywhenlaidoutlikethat,butinsidetherewasariotofemotionserupting,makingsimpletasks?likeopeningacardoor?muchmoredifficult.

“Yes.” She pulled the door latch, thankful her muscles obeyed her command.Okay, now get out of the car.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“Yes.” But she was frozen to the seat, and the door was only open a crack as she stared out at the rows of headstones. Logan reached in the back seat and grabbed the bouquet of flowers they’d brought for Suzanna, then climbed out of the car.See,if he can do it,why can’t I?

Becausehe’snot about to facehisbiggest failure.She watched as he walked to her side and opened her door, the December chill sweeping through the interior. Reaching in, he grabbed her hand and helped her out of the car straight into his arms.

She distracted herself momentarily by taking him in. He wore dark jeans with a gray sweater that hugged his chest. She could just make out the tiny bird of the Nighthawk logo embroidered over his left pec. To ward off the chill, he was wearing what was quickly becoming her favorite accessory, a dark brown leather jacket. The worn leather matched his eyes and hair perfectly, making her wonder if that was coincidental. His sex appeal in that jacket sent a shiver up her spine every time she saw him in it.

She must have stood motionless for too long, staring at his chest when his warm fingers under her chin urged her to look up at him. She wished she could stay lost in his dark chestnut eyes, not letting the outside world intrude.

“You can do this, Sunfire. And you don’t have to do it alone this time. I’m here.” Yes, he was here, and she was no longer alone. She’d faced so much alone, but no more. He’d be by her side now.

She took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m ready.” They walked hand in hand to Suzanna’s grave site, reading the names and dates on the headstones as they passed. Finally, they came to a shiny new headstone. It was a light gray color with Suzanna’s name etched into the marble. Below her name was her date of birth and death, far too little time between. Annika gasped as she read the quote on the marble.

Literatureistheartofdiscoveringsomethingextraordinaryaboutordinarypeopleandsayingwithordinarywordssomethingextraordinary.

?Boris Pasternak

“What is it?” Logan asked when he saw the tears dropping from her eyes.

“That quote. I gave her that quote once. She loved books and words just as much as I. And she could write so splendidly about the simplest things. You wanted to crawl inside her words and spend some time there.” She wiped a tear away. That was the best way she knew to describe Suzanna’s genius when it came to writing. She hoped someday her parents would get her writing published; the words needed to be shared with the world.

“Okay, how do I do this?” She felt uncertain, at a loss as to what to say, and strangely nervous.

“Just talk. The words will come,” he answered.

Annika let go of Logan’s hand and kneeled in front of the headstone, ignoring the chill from the ground seeping in. She reached out and touched Suzanna’s name in the cold marble. “I’m sorry, Suzanna. I wish I could have been better for you. I tried so hard to fight for you, but I guess God needed you more. I will miss your words. They fed my soul.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say, so she leaned closer and whispered, “Say hi to my brother for me.”

She stood slowly with Logan’s help. When he handed her the flowers, she bent to lay them in front of the marble.

“Miss Northrup?” She heard her name as she straightened and turned towards the voice.Oh,God.It was Suzanna’s family. All of them. Mom, Dad, and her younger sister. She grabbed Logan’s hand, not sure if she was ready for this conversation.

“Miss Northrup,” Mrs. Hoffsteader said. “Your mother told us you’d be here today. We don’t want to intrude, but we needed to see you.”

“Of course. What can I do for you?” She used her best parent-teacher conference attitude but could hear the tremor in her voice.

“We’ve heard … that is, some of the kids in the classroom that day told us … that you never left her side.”

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