Page 16 of Echoes of Us
Ashley laughed through her tears, though it came out more like a hiccup.
They arrived four hours later, and Ashley managed to locate Cole’s car in the parking lot.
The cemetery itself was quiet, the kind of stillness that felt alive, where every whisper of wind and rustle of leaves seemed to carry meaning.The gravel crunched softly under the tires as Ashley parked, her heart pounding in her chest.
Sarah stepped out of the car with her, but Ashley stopped her with a hand on her arm as soon as she spotted him.
Cole stood by a grave near the edge of the lot, a bouquet of white flowers in his hand.His tall frame was tense, his shoulders stiff as though bracing against a storm.For a moment, he didn’t move, then he shook his head sharply and turned, his fist colliding with a nearby tree.The sound echoed in the still air, and Ashley flinched at the sight of blood streaking his knuckles.
Without thinking, she ran to him.
Cole didn’t look surprised when she threw her arms around him, holding him as tightly as she could.
“Mom didn’t want to come.”
Ashley’s heart clenched at the pain in his voice.“You know how she is,” she murmured, trying to soothe him.
“I’m sorry,” Cole said suddenly, his voice breaking.He buried his face in her shoulder, his breath hitching as he whispered, “I’ll never be as good as him.”
Ashley’s heart ached as she held him, her fingers threading through his hair.She didn’t say anything, letting him cry until the sobs quieted into heavy breaths.
Carefully, as though handling something fragile, Cole took her hand and moved it to rest on the swell of her stomach.“I wish… I wish I deserved this.Deserved you.”
Ashley grabbed his hand tighter, pressing it firmly against her stomach.“You do,” she said fiercely.“I love you.This little baby loves you.And I can help you–we can find a good therapi–”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss, his hands trembling as he cradled her face.Then, with the same care, he swept her into his arms, carrying her back toward the car.
“Did you come here alone?”he asked softly, his lips brushing against her temple.
Ashley flushed.
“Didn’t think so,” Cole murmured, glancing at the nearby vehicle where Sarah was crouched behind the wheel.“Sarah, come out.”
Shyly, Sarah stood, looking like a guilty child caught in the act.
“You’re a 32-year-old woman.How do you explain this?”Cole said, though his smile softened the words.
“Don’t argue with a pregnant person?”Sarah suggested, wiggling her brows in a way that made all of them laugh.
* * *
Sarah droveon the way back; Cole had insisted.The man himself stayed behind to spend more time with his mother.Ashley hadn’t argued.She wasn’t sure what to say to him after the day they’d had.
The car was quiet except for the hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle as Ashley tried to steady herself.Her emotions were a mess–raw and tangled, flaring up and settling again in waves.
“You okay?”Sarah asked, breaking the silence, her voice careful.
Ashley shrugged, her eyes not leaving the road ahead.“Fine.”
“Sure,” Sarah said lightly, glancing at Ashley.“Because ‘fine’ always means fine.”
Ashley let out a sharp breath, her fingers curling into the fabric of her dress.“I just–” She cut herself off, shaking her head.“I don’t know, Sarah.Today was… a lot.”
“Tell me about it,” Sarah muttered.“I mean, I didn’t even know you were capable of stalking.”
“It’s not stalking,” Ashley said defensively, though her tone lacked conviction.“I just needed to be there.”
Sarah gave her a pointed look.“And here I was thinking pregnancy hormones just made people cry over dog food commercials.”
