Page 53 of A Seaside Escape
‘Well, we could get a few friends together and say a few words and maybe release balloons or lanterns for her?’
Greg shook his head. ‘I don’t know… her parents and I weren’t close. I only met them once and it didn’t go down too well. And her friends already did a climb in her memory. There would be no one to invite.’ He looked so forlorn and Mallory wanted to hug him, but didn’t dare.
‘Well, okay, you and I could do it,’ she said, determined to help him, considering Sam’s memorial had helped her so much.
‘You’d do that… for me?’ He seemed surprised.
Mallory smiled. ‘I would… of course.’
‘When could we do it? And where?’ He seemed to perk up at the idea.
‘Whenever and wherever you feel ready,’ she replied.
‘How about on my birthday?’ he asked, looking a little more positive now, a smile playing on his lips.
‘That’s fine by me.’ She could see his mood improving as the plans began to come together.
Greg’s smile turned into a handsome, beaming grin. ‘Great. I’ll write a few words and we’ll get some lanterns to release. Leave it with me. You can speak too if you like.’
Mallory pursed her lips. ‘Hang on though. Wouldn’t you prefer to have your family and your friends at your birthday? Maybe the memorial should wait until after you’ve celebrated?’
He placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Mallory,youare my friends. The only friend who understands and the only friend I’m that bothered about spending my birthday with anyway. And as for my family… well we don’t really see each other much. My brothers are busy with their own lives and my parents are long gone. But it’s fine. And it would mean the world to me to do this on my birthday. The anniversary of her death is bound to be too difficult.’
That settled things. Mallory finished her coffee and took Ruby home. She started planning what they could do for the memorial/birthday. It felt so good to be helping Greg. It was what she had hoped for all along, since she realised they had this terrible grief in common.
