Page 52 of The Facilitator: Part 3
I called a funeral parlor and gave her wishes. No service, no family, just collect and burn him. It would be afitting ending for someone who had spent years destroying lives. The ashes would be spread at the crematorium. I ran the decision past Gabriella, who confirmed. Like her mother, she thought that too good for him but understood, as his mother, Vivienne didn’t need to be troubled.
“We’re going to head on home, give you guys some peace and space,” I said, Lauren looked sharply at me. “To the beach house,” I clarified.
Gabriella hugged Lauren and thanked her for being with her. She did the same to me and, after Alex trying to find my door key, I borrowed Gabriella’s car to head home.
“How long have we been awake?” Lauren asked.
“More than twenty-four hours, I know that much.” I chuckled. We had dozed on and off but we hadn’t slept for nearly two days.
Lauren took in a deep breath when we left the car. “Oh, Mackenzie.” She closed her eyes and just breathed. “This is where we need to be right now,” she said.
I took her hand and opened the door. It was bright, airy, clean, and refreshing. Lauren had renovated the place when my father had died. I had someone come in to clean once a week, and I guessed the timing worked. All we needed to do was make up a bed. Lauren pulled out fresh linens from a cupboard and did just that. Icould have fallen into it there and then, but she had other plans.
She held my hands in hers. “Swim with me,” she said. We had a private stretch of beach with signs, not that it deterred people who clearly didn’t read.
It wasn’t tourist season, the public area of the beach was empty, so I felt confident we’d be alone. She stripped naked and I did the same. I grabbed two large towels and she wrapped one around herself. We left the house by the back door and down the sandy path. Leaving our towels on the sand, we dove under the cool waves.
When she surfaced, Lauren swam to me. She hooked her legs around my waist and placed her hands around me neck.
“This is where we need to be right now,” she repeated.
“Why?”
“We’re not reminded, we’re not hanging curtains or gardening,” she said, chuckling. “And I think this is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Everywhere I look, I see you. I see the child with the body board, the teenager with the surfboard and the bottles of beer around a fire on the beach. I see the man who became so successful, despite everything. I love it here because I’m surrounded by your history,” she said, quietly.
For me if was different. I loved the house, I lovedwhat Lauren had done with the place, but my mom had died there. My father had emotionally distanced himself from me there when I needed him the most. However, when I followed her gaze, when I saw the old wooden body board and the beat-up surfboard that would be classified as a classic, on the porch. I understood what she meant.
“Our child, whether that be born or adopted, will love it here,” she whispered, looking back at me.
“Maybe we need to rethink that one,” I said, sighing. After seeing what Alex went though, I didn’t think I could manage as well if I were in the same situation.
“We’re not doing that, Mackenzie,” she said. “We’re not looking at the past couple of days and deciding a future based on that.”
I smiled at her. “Sure, you’re right. As fucking always,” I said. I laughed, and when the next wave came, I slid my feet off the sandy bottom so we were pushed into the shore.
We body-surfed back, racing to catch the next wave. “I have sand in places I shouldn’t have sand,” Lauren laughed. It was wonderful to just do something so out of character.
We swam a little and then headed back to the beach where we sat, wrapped in our towels.
“I wonder how Gabriella and Alex are. Can you imagine what they must be going through?” sheshuddered as she spoke. “I wonder what will happen to Addison?” she mused.
“Not much, daddy will bail her out.”
“I didn’t think he had any money left,” she said.
“He still had friends.”
“She seemed genuinely shocked at what Daniel had done,” Lauren said.
“She might have been. The trouble I have with her is I know how great an actress she is. I was locked in a cell overnight once because she punched herself in the face, actually punched herself, and told the police I’d done it.”
“Sick bitch,” she said, shaking her head. “I should have punched her more.”
“Well, hopefully she’s had enough of a fright for now,” I said, wondering if she doubted that Daniel had taken his own life. I was sure we’d hear about it at some point.
I stood and held out my hands, pulling Lauren to her feet. “I think we need to head to bed,” I said, watching her yawn.
“Mmm, yes, I think that’s a great idea,” she said, laughing.
