Page 7 of Roped in Chaos
“I suggest you use whatever you have available for expenses and then head to wherever your grandparents live. They should be coming for the funeral, no?”
Oh yeah, the funeral. “What does it say about that?”
We go over arrangements, and he gets me in touch with the funeral home that has his body. Apparently he has a chunk set aside for costs so it wouldn’t fall on my shoulders when the time came that I needed to do this, I just didn’t think it would happen so soon. I wasn’t ready to lose him.
Once I leave the lawyer’s office, I get a hold of the funeral home and ask for someone else to just follow Daddy’s wishes, and whatever the cost is, is fine. Just do what he’s asked. I can’t handle taking care of it, it hurts too much.
* * *
I’ve slept at a hotel the last two nights, and today is the funeral. I haven’t left the room and have only opened the door for food delivery and to get more towels. I’m sure the grandparents I’ve never met are here somewhere. I asked the funeral home to make the proper arrangements with them so they know that first, their son is dead, and second, when to be in California for the funeral.
I have to leave today, so I’m packing up everything now and will bring it with me to the service. Before I go, I need to stop somewhere and buy a dress and heels for today. I wasn’t thinking ‘funeral’ when I shoved all my shit into a rolling case of sorrow when I had to leave my house. Although it’s been cleaned, I refuse to go anywhere near it right now. Looking around, I make sure I haven’t left anything behind and take a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm the nerves surging through me. Here goes nothing.
* * *
After I have my dress and heels, I show up to the church I was told was holding the funeral and sit in my designated spot. We had to keep the casket closed because of the damage to the body. Apparently whatever damage was done was pretty bad, so staring at a plain brown box it is. I stare forward as the pastor starts and then the next thing I know people are coming up to me to offer condolences. I must have zoned out for the entire thing, I’m not even sure what all was said. Standing, I just follow the crowd to where the burial is happening. I watch as he is dropped into the hole in the earth and look around at everyone crying. I catch a glimpse of an older couple weeping from the other side of the hole. That must be my grandparents. They’re the only ones who seem old enough to be Daddy’s parents unless they didn’t show up. That wouldn’t be right, though. Who wouldn’t want to be at their own son’s burial? I talk myself into believing it’s them because if it’s not, I’m going to make a fool out of myself when I approach them later.
Once the burial is finished, I seek them out. I walk over to them and wait for them to finish talking to an older guy, probably someone Daddy knew from work.
I haven’t had any real interactions with anyone since I left Hannah’s place, not even talking to her out of fear of her being hurt.
I clear my throat, and they turn around to face me.
“Oh, dear,” the lady cries. She throws herself at me and wraps her arms around me.
“Um,” I say. I don’t embrace her back, instead choosing to throw my hands up in surrender. I’ve never been one for physical touch. She seems to get the memo pretty fast and pulls off of me.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she starts. “You just look so much like him.” She sniffles and brings a tissue up to dab at her eyes.
“I’m Phillis, or you can call me grandma.”
“Hi, Phillis. I’m Esme, but I’m sure you know that.” I say the last part of that quietly in hopes they don’t hear me.
“Of course we know who you are!” Phillis exclaims.
I turn to the old guy and look at him. I see an older version of my dad and tears start to well in my eyes again.
“I’m Peter,” he says with an outstretched hand.
I shake it and snicker. “Wait, so you’re P and P? PP?” They look at me like I am a child of Satan.
“Damn, tough crowd.” I tend to make jokes as a coping mechanism. Totally not appropriate, but I guess whatever gets me through it. I rock back on my heels and fold my hands in front of me, uncomfortable with their lack of humor. “Okay, so when does our flight leave?”
“In three hours—we should head to the airport soon.”
Okay, let’s get this over with.
Chapter6
Craving You
Asher
Istayed back to take care of the ranch while Peter and Phillis went to California. They didn’t know how long they were going to be gone, so I mentally prepared myself to do everything by myself for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I assumed they were going to be gone forat leasta week, so I was surprised when they called to say they’d be home soon after only three days. This is shorter than I had originally thought, but what scared me the most was who they were coming home with. I found her social media, and fuck, she’s hot. She has this beautiful body with these perky tits. “Fuck,” I say as I get up from my spot on the couch. My cock is tenting my pants from just the thought of her. I know I can’t have her, my dick just hasn’t gotten the memo. She’s my boss’s granddaughter, and as hot as she is, it’s not worth losing my job or dealing with the hassle. What person has only met a couple for two point five seconds before they start making fun of their name? When they asked her what she had packed it was: heels, pajamas, skirts, shirts, panties, bras, makeup, and hair stuff. She sounds like she’s coming straight from California, and I don’t mean that in a good way.
I look down at my bulging zipper and groan.
“No,” I say out loud, with a hand on my hip and the other one pointing at it. Ha, not like it’s going to listen to me. That head has decided she’s the one. It hasn’t been this affected by someone since college, and that’s been six years. Even then, I’m not used to being hung up on one girl, especially since she’s so different from me. We’re complete opposites in so many ways. She can’t even handle owning a decent pair of shoes. It’s not like she’d be able to handle my lifestyle anyway.
