Page 69 of Shielding Maya

"Elenor and the other ladies have been with her this morning. They have him prepared for burial. They've prayed. They've visited. She's been busy, which is good. Tomorrow will be different."

"Yeah."

He sat up straight. "Are you staying with me tonight?"

"Yes."

A smile formed on his lips. "Great. I can't wait."

"I'll see you in a couple of hours. I love you."

He chuckled. His future looked pretty damned good. "I love you too, baby."

He heard her giggle before the call ended and his heart felt full.

He picked up the pot of beeswax and started applying it to finish the casket. His final gift to his father.

Jasiah's eyes searched the parking lot for Maya's Jeep. He felt a hot pit in his stomach when he didn't see it. He'd thought of her for the past few hours and couldn't wait to hold her hand or wrap his arm around her. Swallowing his disappointment, he stepped from his truck and hurried around to open the passenger door for his mom. She smiled at him as he helped her from the truck. Her dark dress and hat made her face seem paler than usual. Lack of sleep and extreme loss such as this didn't help.

He walked beside his mom as they entered the funeral home. It was the first time his community had a funeral in town. All of this was new and not exactly a happy occasion.

The instant the door closed, the room was dark. He heard his mom gasp, and he laid his hand on her shoulder. "Let your eyes adjust, Mom." He whispered.

Soon his eyes grew accustomed to the dimness of the room, and he managed to look around. A beautiful woman stood with two people near the doorway of another room. She turned to face him and her smile, that gorgeous familiar smile, greeted him. Maya's hair billowed around her shoulders in curls. She wore something shiny on her lips and something made her lashes longer and darker. Quite simply, she was stunning.

She moved toward them and he grinned. She wore dressy shoes with a slight heel on them. Not her customary combat boots. Her dress slacks hung delicately over her legs and the soft pink sweater made him want to squeeze her tightly like a stuffed animal.

He stepped forward and pulled her to his body. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent. Citrus, clean, soft and powdery. All good things.

"Thank you for being here."

She chuckled into the crook of his neck, "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"I didn't see your Jeep outside and I worried."

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I rode with my parents."

She turned and held her hand out to her parents. He pulled his mom forward.

"Jasiah and Lili, I'd like to introduce you to my parents. Dodge and Jax Sager."

Her mom, who could have been Maya's twin looked into his eyes. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Jasiah. But, I'm happy to meet you." She hugged him softly and he choked up.

He heard her father greeting his mother, then turned to meet the man who was so important to Maya.

He held his large hand out and Jasiah took it solidly and squeezed tightly. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sager."

"Dodge." He pumped a few times. "It's nice to meet you, Jasiah."

A man in a suit approached them. "We have the room ready for you. The family only first, then we'll let others inside."

Jasiah nodded and looked at his mother. She nodded once and he turned to the Sagers. "Please join us." He put his arm around Maya. "You're family."

40

Maya stood to the side of the covered community meeting place with her parents. They'd spent the past few hours eating, chatting with the community, and getting to know them all. She stiffened as Adam Jacobs, Zara, and Marni approached. She stepped closer to Jasiah, still feeling uneasy about Adam.

Adam held his hand out to Jasiah. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Gerard will be missed."

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