Chapter 65
—Reed—
Two days later, we gathered around Connie’s graveside in the Gatlin Falls cemetery. Surrounded by three out of five of my brothers plus our parents, I steeled my jaw as we prepared to say goodbye. It was a huge congregation—and no wonder since Connie had touched the hearts and positively impacted the lives of so many in our town.
John, her husband, came forth and cleared his throat before stepping closer to the microphone. He took a moment to look around the assembly of friends and family and smiled with gratitude.
“Thank you all for coming today. Connie’s departure was unexpected.” His voice snagged, and he took a moment to gather himself.
“My darling passed peacefully in her sleep. And while I already miss her dearly, I’m glad she didn’t suffer.
“Connie was a true angel, as I’m sure everyone here will agree. She brought joy to the lives around her and had a passion for helping others. In most recent times, her eyes sparkled each evening as she told me about her day caring for Posie Gatlin.”
John’s eyes sought me out.
“Posie brought so much joy and fulfillment to Connie’s life over the last few months.” He nodded at me. “Thank you.”
I nodded an acknowledgement, then looked at the toe of my black boots. They blurred as tears swamped my vision. One of my brother’s firm hands gripped my shoulder and squeezed hard enough to shift some of my focus away from the grief. When I looked up, Leif’s caring blue eyes met mine. We shared a sad smile before returning our attention to John.
While he continued with his eulogy, my thoughts wandered to Posie. In just a few short months, she’d enriched many lives simply by being on this earth in this lifetime. I couldn’t help but feel that my little girl was gifted to us at this exact moment in time, on purpose. She’d given me something good to focus on while coming to terms with potentially losing her mom, and again today, as we farewelled Connie, Posie was a constant shining light on a grim day.
I glanced to where Kase entertained our precious girl under a nearby lone cedar tree. She’d quietly moved off to the side when Posie began fussing a few minutes ago.
As John’s eulogy came to a close, Connie’s family shifted closer to the casket, preparing to say a final prayer as they lowered her into her resting place.
Mom sniffled, and me, my brothers, and Dad moved closer to her. Connie was the second of Mom’s friends she’d lost in the last five years. Both taken too soon.
As the ceremony concluded, we were invited to sprinkle rose petals on Connie’s casket before she became bound to the earth.
I broke away from the informal line and picked my way around grave sites, heading toward my woman in the long black dress and large dark sunglasses.
She grimaced a little. “Sorry, I was trying to keep her quiet during the eulogies.”
I wrapped my girls in my arms and hugged them hard. “Thank you, darlin’. It would have been okay, though.”
“Is the formal part over?”
I smiled, slipping one arm around Kasey’s waist and kissing her temple. My eyes closed against her wisps of hair dancing on the breeze, and I took a second.
“It is. We’re about to say our final goodbyes. Join us, babe.”
“I’d like that,” she murmured.
Posie leaned toward me, so I plucked her from Kase’s arms, then smoothed my hand across Kasey’s lower back again.
“I love you.”
The smile she aimed up at me completely melted my heart. “I know. I love you too.”
Side-by-side, we picked our way through the cemetery. The gathered crowd had dissipated into smaller circles, each exchanging hugs and comforting touches, allowing the three of us to pause a little longer at Connie’s final resting place. Kasey and I each sprinkled a small handful of rose petals onto her casket while internally saying final farewells.
Posie watched the petals float into the hole, then suddenly twisted in my arms and looked off to the side—the opposite side to where Kasey stood. A wide, gummy grin appeared on her little face, and she let out a happy, “Coooooo.” When she raised her little arms as if wanting to be passed to someone, an eerie shiver zig-zagged across my shoulder blades, chased immediately by goosebumps.
“Uh, babe? Are you seeing this?”
“Seeing what?” Kase asked.
I glanced at her while Posie jiggled in my arms and giggled. “Watch her. It’s like she’s interacting with someone.”
We observed, and sure enough, Posie cooed again, then giggled.
“Holy shit,” Kasey whispered.
Posie’s loud squeals started to garner attention. Mom approached, then Joan—John’s sister.
“She’s here,” Joan remarked. “Posie can see her.”
The four of us watched in awe as Posie continued to interact with the apparent apparition.
As suddenly as it started, Posie seemingly searched for a short time then snuggled contently into my chest. Kasey, Mom, Joan, and I exchanged baffled glances.
“I’ve got goosebumps,” Mom said, lifting her arm.
“Same,” replied Kase and Joan, also revealing a shock of goosebumps across their skin.
I shook off the spooky afterthoughts and took the moment for what I hoped it was: Connie saying one last goodbye to our little girl. That thought brought a surprising wave of comfort, given the circumstances.
“Lord, I need a drink,” Joan declared.
Since Mom and Dad were hosting the wake, Mom smiled and tenderly set her hand on Joan’s forearm. “The house is unlocked, head on over when you’re ready.”
~
Kasey hovered outside my childhood bedroom as I put Posie in her crib. Once tucked up tight and kissed, I quietly left the room and pulled the door almost shut behind me.
“She’ll go to sleep alright?” Kase whispered, hugging my waist when I pulled her close.
I rested my chin on the top of her head. “Yeah, darlin’. She sleeps well here. The extra chatter in the house should help too.” I smoothed my hands up and down her back and hummed. “Thank you, darlin’. I appreciate you being here with us.”
Kase nodded. “It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but I’m glad I was.”
After releasing a deep sigh, I voiced the nagging problem I now faced with Connie gone. “I need to find Posie a nanny.”
Kasey’s reply murmured against my chest. “You don’t.”
“Uh, I really do, babe. Connie’s left a huge hole to fill.”
She shook her head and gazed up at me with big brown eyes. “You don’t need to find a replacement, Reed.”
I frowned. “How so?”
Her eyes held the answer before it became voiced. “I’m staying. For good… If you’ll have me?”
A jolt ran through my body, strong enough to buckle my knees before I caught myself. “Like, moving here?”
The biggest smile erupted on her face. “Like moving in with you, just like we had planned months ago.”
Flabbergasted, I floundered for words. “Are you sure? I mean, it’s an absolute yes from me, but are you sure, babe?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything since the accident. I’ve fallen for you, Reed. Again. I love you,” she whispered.
Well, fuck me.
I cupped her face and kissed her with tender passion, then hugged her to my chest again.
“Welcome back, darlin’.”
For good this time.