Page 102 of This Memory

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She dropped my hands and covered her mouth. When she abruptly stood, I did as well.

“I’m going to be sick!”

Following her into the bathroom, I bent with her as she threw up. My hand moved in slow circles around her back as I tried to silently comfort her. I didn’t have any words because I was still in shock myself. My mother had told me to just be there for Brystol. To hold her, tell her I’d be by her side always, that I didn’t need to have all the right words. It was a good thing because I didn’t have a single one. Nothing. I felt empty.

When she finally sat back, I got up and held a washcloth under the hot water for her. She took it and buried her face, and I knew she was crying, and it killed me. I wanted to take all of her hurt and pain away. I sat down and wrapped my arm around her. She leaned her head against my shoulder and drew in a shaky breath.

“The baby.”

I swallowed hard. “I know.”

She put her hand on her stomach.

“It’s my fault,” I whispered the words.

Her head jerked up, and I could see her staring at me from the corner of my eye.

“What?”

“I was the one who told Denny to take Evelyn to New York City.”

Brystol took my free hand in hers. “Don’t you dare do that, Gavin! This isnotyour fault. You didn’t pour alcohol down that driver’s throat or put Evelyn and Denny in a car at the wrong time and place. This isn’t your fault. The only one to blame is the person who killed them.”

I dropped my head back against the wall. “Why did this happen? They were both so happy, and Evelyn was back to her normal self.Why?”

Brystol sniffled and wiped her tears away. “I don’t know. But what Idoknow is this baby no longer has any parents. Our job moving forward is to protect her…or him…to make sure they know who their parents were, and to…”

Her voice trailed off. When I lifted my head to look at her, she was staring at me.

“Did they have a will?”

“I’m sure they did. I just don’t know if they updated it.”

Brystol’s breathing had increased slightly, and she looked away. With a long exhale, she said, “We need to call their office on Friday morning.”

I nodded as I stood. “Let’s get you off this cold floor and into bed.”

Brystol stood, and we walked hand in hand to her bedroom. We both got ready in silence. When we finally climbed into bed, Brystol rolled onto her side, and I drew her to me. When she started to cry again, I held her a bit tighter, and let my own tears fall as well.

Brystol

I’d always assumed that people gathered in a stuffy office when someone passed away and a lawyer read the will. That wasn’t the case. There was no official reading at all. Apparently, that was mainly only done in movies.

Evelyn and Dennydidhave a will, and it was updated after the confirmed pregnancy. Gavin and I were currently walking up to the building in Lake Placid that housed the law firm of Hoffman and Bryer. Mr. Thomas Hoffman was a probate lawyer who’d gone to law school with Evelyn and Denny. Turns out, we didn’t have to call their office that Friday because Mr. Hoffman called me first.

Denny had given Gavin a letter a few months back, with his and Evelyn’s wishes on what to do if anything should happen to them. Evelyn and Denny had stipulated if anything should happen to either of them. They wanted to be cremated, and their ashes spread out to sea, preferably off the coast of Massachusetts. Denny had made all of those arrangements, and I loved him even more for doing so. Selfishly, I was glad we didn’t have to go through the process of a funeral. I wasn’t sure it was something I could do.

“You okay?” Gavin asked as we stopped outside suite 200.

“I think so.”

He gave my hand a light squeeze, and we walked in. The receptionist looked up and smiled warmly. Her blond hair was cut in a cute bob, and her blue eyes were warm and calming.

“Ms. Duggan, Mr. Quinn?”

We both nodded, and Gavin replied, “Yes.”

Standing, she walked around her desk. “First, let me give you my condolences. Mr. and Mrs. McCain were such wonderful people.”