Chapter 30
Kassie stood beside Catherine as the town paid their respects. Lizzy, Samantha, and Bryanna helped with the kids while Emma silently held Melody’s hand.
“How long do you want to wait?” she asked gently.
“You haven’t heard anything?” Catherine asked, disbelieving the men who Leo sacrificed everything for didn’t show to say goodbye.
“The calls go straight to voicemail. If you want, we can hold a private service with family when they arrive,” Kassie offered.
“I don’t think I can do this a second time,” Catherine admitted shakily. “If they aren’t here in ten minutes, we’ll have to begin without them. We’ve already made these poor people wait for almost an hour. Whiskey said they’d return yesterday.”
“We’re holding this for you and your family.
Don’t worry about everyone else,” Kassie told her.
“We didn’t expect all these people. Tess opened the community center, and the volunteers have graciously offered to have meals ready there.
Since you’re having a baby, they won’t expect you.
We’ll say a few words here and let them know the reception will be held at the center. ”
“What about the reception at our home?” Catherine asked, unable to think clearly.
“We’ll send family to the house. I didn’t know Leo knew this many people, did you?” Kassie asked.
“I certainly didn’t expect them to show,” she said, stressing about the food and the crowd.
Wolf and Caroline walked up the aisle toward them. “I’m sorry for your loss, Catherine. Leo was a good man, loyal to his country, family, and friends. He’ll be missed.”
“Thank you,” she murmured before turning to Kassie. “Can you please start the service now?”
Kassie led her to her seat, signaling the start of the funeral. She sat beside her with Melody on the other side. Grace started crying, and Catherine reached for her daughter, wanting to run away from it all.
Michael walked up to the podium. “Today, we honor Derrick “Leo” Armstrong. He was a friend, a leader, a devoted husband, and a father. We thank you for coming today to pay your respects. Leo meant a lot to this community, always offering his time…”
The speech faded away as Catherine patted Grace’s back, lulling her to sleep.
“Where’s the ice cream?” Leo called from the kitchen.
“Check the freezer. It’s usually where I put it,” she called back from the bathroom where she bathed Grace.
Leo muttered something about wives thinking they knew everything, making her smile.
When she got Grace down for the night, she entered the bedroom to find a make-your-own sundae platter on the bedside table.
“Do you think you got enough?” she asked Leo as she took off her robe.
“It’s for me and you,” he said. “We haven’t spent much time together, and I want dessert,” he said, wagging his eyebrows at her, making her laugh.
“You mean you want sex,” she corrected.
“No. I want you,” he said, his voice dropping deeper. The sexy voice that made her shiver every time he used it.
“Then why did you bring ice cream with ten different toppings?”
“I want to play with my food,” he said, pushing her back against the pillows. He dribbled the cold ice cream along her nipple and licked it off.
Her arms went around his neck, and she kissed him deeply. He nuzzled her neck with his scruff, making her giggle.
Would she ever have those moments again? The kind that took her breath away. She already missed him in the dead of night. She’d roll over, seeking the heat of his body only to find a cold, empty space in his place.
The idea of spending the rest of her life without the man she loved sent her crying. Kassie handed her a tissue, and Melody leaned against her side.
Addyson graciously took the sleeping Grace from her arms. Melody cried her heart out on her shoulder, making her weep harder for all the missed opportunities.
“Leo’s team has experienced a delay and won’t make it to the services.
They have each requested Archer stand in their place and present their brother with their tridents.
It may seem highly unorthodox, but they wanted their leader recognized for his duty to his brothers, his honor to his family, and his sacrifice for this country,” Michael continued.
“When did Michael know the team didn’t plan on coming?” Catherine asked, surprised.
“It happened before the ceremony,” Kassie whispered. “They asked Archer before they left to ensure Leo knew his team thought about him.”
Catherine swallowed. Two men, Conrad and Archer, and two women, Stormy and Allie, showed up for the service. Where were his friends? The brothers and sisters who meant everything to him? Disappointment filled her.
“We invite anyone who’d like to come and say a few words about Leo to come up and share with us,” Michael said.
After many people came forward to talk about Leo and how he helped them or did something special for them, Melody slipped from her chair and went up to the podium.
“Today, I have to say goodbye to my dad. He died while he protected others. I know my mom, my brother, and my sister are very proud of him. He loved my uncles and called them his brothers. People think he called them that because they served in the military. My Dad said it’s because we’re family.
It’s what makes us special. He didn’t know he was the one who made us all feel good even on our hard days.
Mom says it’s all right to cry today as long as I remember the sun will come out tomorrow and he’ll always be in my heart.
” She stepped off the podium and walked to the casket.
Catherine watched Melody take something out of her pocket. Her daughter’s face crumbled as she laid the picture on his coffin. “I love you, Daddy,” she whispered.
Walking to her daughter, she held her tightly as they sobbed together, grieving the loss of her husband and Melody’s father. The pain felt excruciating, almost bringing her to her knees.
Kassie, Samantha, Bryanna, Lizzy, Annabelle, and Addyson surrounded them, shielding them from public view and letting them grieve.
Archer set the tridents, representing the team. Someone sang a sweet, haunting melody as Catherine and Melody fell apart.
Whispering to Catherine, Kassie asked, “Do you want to leave?”
She shook her head. Cathrine needed to do this for her family and Leo.
Gently, guiding them back to their seats, Kassie held her hand as the honor guard saluted Leo. With every shot, her body jumped as if the bullets hit her heart. Melody clung to her waist, crying uncontrollably, making it hard to breathe.
Taps began to play as she watched the flag get ceremoniously folded. The honor guard faced her, saluted, and presented her with the flag. The last item represented Leo’s act of service. She crushed it to her chest, wishing it were Leo wrapping his arms around her.
She walked to the casket and placed her hand on the empty box, representing her husband.
Gripping the wildflowers in her hand, which she and Melody picked before the service.
Catherine beckoned Melody to come forward and helped her place the last symbol of their love before they lowered the casket into the ground.
She turned and nodded to Kassie, who laid a bouquet of dahlias, the flowers representing a sibling relationship made of strength, resilience, and lifelong friendship. Each of the team’s partners placed another flower, each having a specific meaning to their relationship with Leo.
Kassie held onto her as they made their way down the aisle, Melody still clinging to her waist. Carol followed and held her daughter off to the side as the wracking sobs refused to stop.
Bryanna announced the reception details and politely informed the onlookers Catherine and her family would not be in attendance due to her health.
Michael led them to their car and drove Catherine and the kids to their cabin.
Kassie followed with Maddie and the other grans.
When Catherine entered their home, she and Melody went to Melody’s bedroom and cuddled.
Kassie gently shut the door, taking care of everything else.
Grace still slept, and Addyson cared for Derrick.
Finally, Melody’s misery quieted as she cried herself to sleep. Catherine rose from the bed and went into the bathroom across the hall to fix her hair and makeup before she joined the crowd of family paying their respects.
When she opened the door, Kassie came forward and handed her a mug of flavored water. “Everything has finished. Why don’t you sit on the couch, and I’ll bring you something to eat?”
“I’ll stick with water,” Catherine said as she hugged Claire, who held Ella. Then she hugged little Ryder Leo and Gabby.
“The service turned out beautifully, Catherine,” Gabby said softly.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling numb.
She greeted Wolf’s team and their wives.
Fiona hugged her gently. “You have our condolences. We’re always a phone call away if you need us.”
She put on a brave smile and nodded.
Dude took her hand and said, “I’m sorry, Catherine. Leo came through for us when we needed him. We’ll never forget it. We’ll always be at your service.”
“I appreciate it,” she murmured as the crowd became stifling.
A local shopkeeper approached her. “Catherine, it was a wonderful service. I know they said to meet at the community center, but I knew I needed to tell you something. Leo came in before he left. He ordered you a new rocking chair for the baby. He said he didn’t give you a break and the old one needed replacing. I’ll have it delivered tomorrow.”
Catherine nodded. “If you’ll excuse me for a minute.
” She pushed her way through the horde of guests and entered her bedroom.
She placed her back against the door, unable to breathe.
They’d only said goodbye an hour ago, and Leo forced her to replace her memories with new ones.
She wasn’t ready. Anger boiled up inside of her.
Leo didn’t get to decide when she moved on.
He left her there with four children to raise and a broken heart.