Chapter 4
Lacey
A girl who just needs her mother to wrap her arms around her and tell her everything is going to be okay is staring back at me in the mirror.
My dark chocolate hair is straight down my back with half of it pulled back in a clip.
I kept my makeup minimal, and I don’t even think I attempted to put on mascara.
Knock Knock
“Come in.”
My brother steps through my bedroom door in his dark denim Wranglers, black button up, and black sports coat, his black Stetson on top of his head. “You ready, Lace?”
I turn to face him, pursing my lips as I fight back tears. Even at twenty-three years old, I still need my mama.
“No,” I whisper.
His jaw tightens and he walks over, embracing me into his arms. “Me either. But we can do this together. For mom.” His arm rubs my shoulder, and I nod.
Grabbing a handkerchief from his sports coat pocket, he hands it to me. “Why don’t you keep it with you?”
I smile up at him, dabbing the cloth at my eyes. When I fold it out and hold it in my hands, I notice the initials, HT, on it.
“Dad’s?” I ask.
All Carson can do is nod.
“I am sure he was so happy to see mama again.”
Our father has been gone for a few years now. One evening while out in the pasture, he fell over with a massive heart attack. Carson found him about ten minutes after it happened.
The strongest man I ever knew left this earth out in the pasture with the animals he loved.
I just wish he hadn’t been heartbroken and sick when he left this world.
“Have you called him?” I ask Carson, knowing I’m poking a bear with that question. He knows the him I am referring to.
His jaw tightens again. “No and I don’t plan to.”
I nod and leave it at that.
I am not sure why we hate Beckett King, once best friend and soul brother of my very own brother, but blood is thicker than water and Carson is all I have now.
All I know is Beckett was once like family when I was a little girl and then one day, he was gone. And neither my parents nor Carson wanted to discuss it.
“Let’s get this over with.” I hold my hand out to my brother.
The warmth of his touch calms me as we head to the Cowboy Church where mom’s funeral is being held. I don’t know if I can do this, but I know I don’t have a choice either.
I can hear her voice now telling me, “Don’t cry, Lace. I get to see your dad again.”