Page 44 of Most Of All

Knowing Daniel will need a couple of hours with Rose, I hope that’ll be enough time for Raine to settle and say her goodbyes. I scoop her up in my arms, contemplating that maybe a hot bath will calm her frayed nerves. I wrestle with my own doubts, wishing I could fully believe what she has told me. I feel horrible for questioning her reality, especially since the last two times we found nothing. Perhaps all the stress of today is simply getting to her after all. Carefully, I carry her straight to the large bathroom, setting her down on the sauna bench while I fill the tub with warm water. Raine is still sniffling, but her sobbing has ceased. Since she recounted her experience, she hasn’t said another word. I pray she can push through this; I would never forgive myself if she blamed herself for what happened.

Once the bath is full, I help her undress, ensuring she slips into the soothing water. Wearily, I take a seat on the edge of the tub, watching quietly as steam rises around us. I lean closer, and grasp her small hand gently. “You can lean on me for anything, you know that, right?” I assure her, wanting her to feel my unwavering support. She nods slightly, and I place a quick reassuring kiss on her cheek. Straightening back up, I observe as she washes away the remnants of today’s distress.

Once she finishes, I hold the towel out for her, wrapping it snugly around her as she steps out of the tub. “Please stay here; I’ll go grab you some clothes,” I instruct her, then rush down the hallway to the bedroom. My mind races as I sift through her belongings, finally settling on a beautiful black dress, the fabric soft and comforting, accompanied by matching underwear. Satisfied with my choices, I hurry back, eager to see her smile again.

But the sight that greets me is shocking. Water is strewn across the bathroom floor, splattered like a chaotic painting, and Raine is nowhere to be found. Panic surges through me as I shout her name, but there’s no response. My eyes scan the room desperately, and that’s when I notice wet footprints leading out of the bathroom. Where could she have gone?

Without a moment to lose, I follow the footprints downstairs, calling her name frantically, but they dry up right at the door to the garden. Did she really dash out of the bathroom in just a towel? Confusion swirls in my mind when Linda appears beside me, her face mirroring my alarm. I explain what happened, and together, we step outside, where I catch sight of another wet patch leading deeper into the sunflowers. My heart races even more as I text security again, time is of the essence. We need to search this garden and find her before anything happens.

Thisisabsolutelyhilarious!I couldn't have chosen a better day. Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of humor at a funeral? These silicone masks are nothing short of brilliant; they’re a bit sweaty, but truly fantastic. I have to admit, I was skeptical when the lady at the shop first suggested them, but now I see how effective they really are. I’ve strolled past Donovan at least six times, and he hasn’t even glanced my way. It’s as if I’ve become a ghost. Why didn't I try this out sooner? He genuinely believes I’m one of the new security officers. What a fool! This situation is providing endless entertainment. And there’s something deliciously satisfying about watching Raine’s anxiety unravel her reality. I can’t help but think that if I had embraced this kind of playful mischief years ago, my life would have been infinitely more exciting.

Playfully, I blew her a kiss through the bathroom door, and it never crossed my mind that she would actually come after me! It turned into quite an amusing spectacle. Right now, I’m assisting in the search for her. She dashed out into the garden, eyes scanning for me, but I simply pulled on my mask and stifled a laugh as she sprinted right past. I could hardly contain myself; the sight was so hilariously unexpected that I nearly wet myself laughing.

A flurry of commotion pulls me toward the farthest corner of the garden, curiosity propelling my feet forward with urgency. As I push through tangled vines of sunflowers, I’m unprepared for the startling scene that unfolds before me. Raine stands, her voice raised in anger, striking one of the gardeners. The man stands motionless, his shoulders drooping, his gaze fixed on the floor, fear etched on his face. Positioning myself to the side, I’m fully engaged in the show, wishing I had brought some popcorn. As Raine presses forward, her strikes become more formidable. She knocks him onto the ground and straddles him, landing strikes to his face; if she carries on like this, she will break his jaw. I hope she does.

With intensity burning in her eyes, she unleashes a furious scream, shouting at him about her mom, each word vibrating with raw emotion. Then her towel unexpectedly slips, her breasts are now on full display and we have more than fists swinging. She grabs the collar of his shirt and gradually stands up, pulling him up with her. All the while the poor gardener shouts for help. This is the best thing I’ve encountered in a long time. Once she stands upright, Raine seizes him by the hair and strides purposefully toward the house, her grip unyielding. He’s sobbing now, tears streaming down his cheeks, mingling with the dirt on his face. I can barely suppress a laugh, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention to myself. There’s still too much of the plan left to execute, and my own amusement has only just begun.

Suddenly, a chorus of voices echoes in our direction, prompting me to step back further into the shadows of the garden. Donovan and a few others break through a dense thicket of towering sunflowers. They halt in their tracks, surrounding Raine yet keeping a respectful distance, awestruck. The look on Donovan’s face is priceless. Pure disbelief and a hint of embarrassment, as he takes in the unexpected scene. Raine’s attire has left her with very little to the imagination, a fact that clearly flusters him. Ahh, bless him! If he had been more attentive, maybe he could have prevented her from dashing off like that. The laughter bubbling needs to escape, yet I know I must remain inconspicuous for now. The game has only just begun. He signals for everyone to stay back while he steps toward Raine. He starts taking off his jacket as he nears her, wrapping it around her shoulders when he gets close enough, then he pulls her towel back up and covers her. Raine instantly gazes up at Donovan letting go of the man’s hair at the same time. I think the show is over for now.

Slowly backing away, I tread lightly, careful not to make a sound as I navigate the shadows of the garden. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth as I make my way toward the security room, the urgency of deleting incriminating footage weighing heavily on my mind. I know I must act fast before Donovan initiates another round of checks. My bladder clenches uncomfortably, forcing me to detour to the bathroom first. I take a moment to collect myself, lifting the mask just enough to wipe away the beads of sweat clinging to my brow. After splashing cool water on my face, the reflection staring back at me is a mix of adrenaline and mischief. As I step out of the room, muffled voices float through the air, drawing my attention. Instinctively, I leap into the cramped space next to the bathroom, pressing myself against the wall as I strain to listen. Two other security officers stroll down the hallway. They babble on, tossing around words and phrases that swirl in the air, but I latch onto a fragment that sends a chill down my spine. They mention Raine. Specifically, her impromptu spectacle in the garden and then, with a casual flicker of disbelief, reveal Donovan's suspicion: he thinks Raine is overwhelmed with stress and genuinely doubts that I’m here, lurking and terrorizing her. Well, well, well, that’s music to my ears.

Once they pass, I make my way straight to the security room, my heart racing in anticipation. As I slip inside, the door clicks shut with a soft thud, concealing me from prying eyes. In a fluid sequence, I remove the existing CCTV feed and reformat it, the screen flickering momentarily before displaying the new, untraceable footage. The atmosphere feels strangely still, an eerie contrast to the chaos that just erupted. With a smirk, I sit down and plug in my burner phone, scrolling through the feeds I sent myself. This material is pure gold. I can't help it; I burst into laughter, the echoes of my amusement bouncing off the walls of the small room. It's a wonder no one has barged in yet, given the number of times I’ve erupted with laughter over the absurdity of what I’ve captured on film. However, as the thrill of the moment washes over me, a flicker of caution stirs within. I remind myself that enough is enough. I can’t afford to let my guard down; carelessness could spell disaster. Steeling myself, I focus on the task ahead because I need to get everything meticulously prepared for the grand finale that lies just around the corner. They can burn two bodies today.

Ican’tbelievewhatI just saw. Was it real, or is my mind truly playing tricks on me? I can’t help but feel lost in this whirlwind of confusion. Embarrassment floods my veins as Don wraps me tightly in a warm embrace, lifting me up ever so gently. I’m mortified at the fact that I rushed out in only a towel, but I’m certain I saw Jack; he was standing right there. What’s happening to me? Am I really losing my grip on reality?

Fuck! The poor gardener. I convinced myself he was Jack for a moment. Frustrated with myself, I murmur my apologies to Don as we ascend the stairs. He must be so disappointed with me by now; who would want to deal with this kind of instability?

To my surprise, once we reach the bedroom, he keeps me wrapped in his warm embrace. “Everything will be okay,” he whispers gently in my ear. My heart aches, and I don’t even know how to respond. Gently setting me down on the bed, I gaze up at him, worry etched clearly on my face.

“I’m so sorry; I really thought I saw Jack. It…,” I start to explain, but he cuts me off with a soft, understanding kiss.

“I know, Sweetheart,” he replies, his tone soothing.

Slowly he averts his gaze from me, and begins sifting through the drawers and retrieves a few items. He doesn’t seem upset with me, but I wonder if he’s just really good at hiding his feelings. I can’t shake off the fear of disappointing him. Lovingly, he hands me a pile of clothes, blankly gazing at them while it takes a moment for me to process what they are. My mind is still a whirlwind, and it doesn’t seem to want to calm down.

“Are you mad at me?” I blurt out, my voice tinges with anxiety, desperate for reassurance.

“Not at all,” he says gently. “After everything you’ve been through, it’s completely understandable.” Softly he places a kiss on my lips and holds my face in his hands, gazing deeply into my eyes. “You are much stronger than you realize. Now, let’s get you dressed, and I’ll take you to see your dad before the funeral starts.” I nod, feeling a warmth in his words, and rapidly proceed to the bathroom to get dressed, grateful for his kindness and support.

Once I return to the room, I discover Don sitting on the bed, he gives me a playful whistle, and I respond with a playful curtsy that makes him chuckle.

Appreciation floods through me as I admire the clothing he selected, he chose a stylish black pant suit, along with some comfortable flats.

We proceed downstairs hand in hand. Thankfully Don engages me in light-hearted conversation, deliberately steering away from the incident in the garden. I appreciate his effort; it’s a relief not to dwell on my embarrassment any longer.

Relief shatters me as we enter my dad’s room and I see that his eyes are open. I settle on the edge of the bed while Don protectively stands behind me. Excitedly, I begin sharing about how beautiful everything is, mentioning how much my mom would love it. A lump forms in my throat as I speak, but I do my best to hold it together for my dad’s sake. Just then, Don receives a phone call and excuses himself to answer it. I maintain my focus and continue the conversation with my dad, hoping it will bring him some comfort.

Don returns and instantly wraps me in a warm embrace,

“I need to handle a few things. You stay with your dad. I’ll make sure there’s someone outside the door,” he whispers softly in my ear.

“Okay, I will,” I reply, as he proceeds through the door, closing it behind him. With Don gone, I figure it will be nice to wash my dad’s face and help him to look fresh for the funeral. He'll be seated in a special chair, and I want him to appear his best. He may not know what’s going on around him, but I want to do this for him and for my mom.

I rise up from the bed and proceed to the little table that the nurses have prepared. Unexpectedly, a knock sounds from the door. Initially, I think it’s Don, however as I turn around, I’m startled to see an older man. A sense of familiarity overpowers me as I watch intently as he walks toward my dad. Assuming he is here to assist, I continue with my task. A shiver runs through me as my gaze turns back to my dad, the sight before me stopping me dead in my tracks. Jack looms over my dad, gun in hand. There’s a peculiar mask perched atop his head, resembling old, dead skin. Frantically, I drop everything I’m holding and stride toward them with purpose.

“Stay where you are, or I will blow his head off.”

Immediately I freeze, feeling a mix of uncertainty and determination as I consider my next steps. “What do you want?” I ask, my voice shaking.

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