Page 79 of Her Sweet Surrender
Brie enjoyed listening to their familiar banter. There was a normalcy to it that helped lighten her spirits.
“Since we’re not allowed to hang out at the bar, where would you like to go, Stinks?”
Brie thought about it for a moment before she suddenly realized what she needed. “It’s a bit far.”
“Don’t care.”
Brie got teary, touched by what an incredible friend she was, and choked out, “Thanks, Mary.”
She immediately chastised Brie. “Don’t get all emotional on my account. Now give me the directions, woman.”
Brie smirked, wiping her eyes.
Lea took her hand and squeezed it.
They rode in silence, her friends uncertain how to bring up the topic of Kylie’s death and Brie unwilling to break the comfortable cocoon their presence provided.
When they finally reached the destination, Brie told Mary to pull over.
“You sure this is the place?”
“Yep.”
Brie got out of the car and stood at the edge of the steep embankment overlooking the huge city of LA. There was only one other person she had brought up here after Sir introduced her to the place.
It had become a sacred spot for Brie.
Sir had first driven her here after an unexpected run-in with his mother. Brie glanced at the tree where he had released his anger with his fists. That night had been both terrible and hauntingly beautiful at the same time.
Brie smiled back at her girlfriends. “I brought my mother here once. Just after we found my wedding dress.”
“Oh, wow, Brie. This is a killer view of Los Angeles!” Lea stepped up beside her.
Mary sauntered up behind them. “Eh, it ain’t bad.”
Lea gave her a hip bump. “Mary Quite Contrary.”
Brie looked over the city in silence, taking strength from the life it represented.
“How are you doing, Brie?” Lea finally asked.
Still staring at the city, Brie asked, “Have you ever watched a person die?”
“No…” Lea whispered.
“It haunts me every day.”
Brie pulled out her phone and showed them the photo she took at the hospital. Faelan had his arm around Kylie, both of them glowing as they looked down at their baby. “I took this just before she died.”
Lea whimpered.
Ever the blunt one, Mary asked, “What was it like?”
“Her death was quick and so terribly final…” Brie glanced at the photo again. “How can a person so young and full of life be gone just like that? I still can’t believe she’s dead even though I was there.”
Lea cried, “Poor Faelan.”
“He’s definitely been given a shitty hand in life,” Mary muttered.
