Page 124 of All Too Well
Again with him talking about Mom like he has a clue about her wants. “I don’t think so.”
He looks around. “Is Rose here?”
Ainsley squeezes my hand and I meet her gaze. Her brown eyes are pleading. I turn to my dad. “She’s next door.”
“I would love to see her. I have some things that I’d like to give you. Things that were your mother’s. You could give them to her.” My father’s voice cracks at the end, and I feel a break in my heart.
With the lighting, I can see the garden in all its glory. This is exactly like I remember. Only there’s something over to the left that wasn’t there.
My father steps closer again. “Your mother’s ashes are back there. I hired the same landscape people she used and asked them to make an extension for her. Her own place so she can always be in her garden.”
I look to Ainsley, who smiles softly. “It’s really beautiful.”
“I sent you an email about it. I did a ceremony for her, hoped you’d come, but I don’t know if you got it.”
He had a ceremony?
Instead of opening the emails, I just delete them because there is nothing my father can say that will change how I feel. It was better to not open them instead of getting angrier than I was.
“I didn’t.”
“I delayed it a few times, but I wanted her to rest where I thought she’d be happiest.”
I nod once. “Right.”
“Lachlan, I . . .”
No, we’re not doing this now. “I’d like to see it and then we’re going back. Ainsley can bring Rose over tomorrow.”
Ainsley’s head snaps up. “Lachlan ...”
I sigh heavily. “We’ll talk and come up with something, but yes, either way, you’ll see Rose.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave you both alone now,” my father says as he takes a step back. “I hope you like her special area back there.”
When he’s gone, Ainsley rests her other hand on my back. “I didn’t know he was here.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shake my head. “It’s not your fault. You knew about the memorial for her?”
“Yes, I was here the day it was dedicated.”
“And no one told me.”
Ainsley releases a heavy breath. “Well, we weren’t talking, so I didn’t think reaching out was a good idea. Caspian said he tried to bring it up to you, but you shut him down, and he wasn’t going to push.”
I run my hand through my hair and pace. “I should’ve been here.”
“You’re here now.” Her voice is soft and there’s no judgment there. “Go see it. It’s really beautiful.”
I turn to her. “Come with me.”
I don’t think I can be alone right now.
Ainsley takes my hand, and we make our way into a small clearing. I can’t remember what was here before, but now it’s perfect. There’s a small water fountain in the center of a round area. The stone benches curve around it, and there are bushes and flowers everywhere.
