Chapter 47
Fact or Fiction?
Grief can bring people together.
Luke
Addison lays her bridal bouquet in front of the gravestone at her brother’s plot and I stand back to give her space as she
traces her fingers over the etching on the stone. She told me on our way out here that all the times she goes for a run in
town, this is where she goes.
She runs in the cemetery.
It’s unusual and something I feel like I should have known about the woman I’ve called my friend for many years, but I can
understand why she kept it to herself. People process grief in any number of ways. I know my mom visits our dad’s plot quite
often, but my brothers and I have the bench on the peak. That’s where we feel closest to him. That’s where we can talk to
him or reflect on him. Remember him and thank him for the beautiful life he’s given us. I even sat out there and replayed
that voicemail Addison sent me and cried like a damn baby.
I glance up to the sky, having my own sort of moment with my dad. I have a feeling he’d be smiling big-time and not at all
surprised that it was Addison I ended up with after all. He probably saw it coming the moment I started volunteering to pick
up the lumber orders.
Damn, I miss him.
And I had years with him, unlike Addison, who only had her brother for eight. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them to lose Aaron so young. I’m glad she comes out here to run. Whatever she needs, I want her to feel supported.
“I talk to him a lot when I come out here. Is that going to freak you out?” Addison asks, turning her head to look back at
me.
“Only if he talks back.” I cringe at the probably awful joke that this is really not the time or place for, but luckily, my
wife laughs.
“I just wanted to officially introduce two of the men I’ve loved the most in my life.” She blinks up at me and I feel my heart
swell in my chest.
Our wedding night was one for the books. Full of passion and confessions. Confessing all the feelings we’ve both been hiding
from each other and ourselves. The buildup of Addison and I was painful in more ways than one, but the satisfying conclusion
is something I’ll cherish forever. I fought for her. For us. I was patient. I was present. And she found me. She loves me.
And introducing me to her brother is probably the best way she could tell me.
A loud throat-clearing sound echoes from behind us and we swerve around to see Addison’s dad standing before us. “So I take
it I’m third on your list of men you love?”
Addison stands up and smiles, moving over beside me. “Naw, you’re fifth.”
“Fifth.” John rolls his eyes. “After Chuck and Bullhead?”
Addison giggles and I wrap my arms around her and press my lips into her hair.
John sobers as he glances down at the gravestone. “Been a long time since I came out here.”
“Flowers look good, don’t they?” Addison asks, her eyes soft on her father.
John nods and makes his way past us to stand a little closer. We watch him stand silently for a moment before he shakes his
head. “You two will do better than me and her.”
My brows furrow as I feel Addison tense beneath my arm.
“What do you mean?” Addison asks, her voice soft.
John turns and looks back at us. “You two will make better parents than me and your mom. Though in fairness, we set the bar
pretty low.” John crosses his arms and harrumphs. “Maybe I’ll get a second chance as a grandpa.”
“Dad, it’s a little soon to be talking about kids.” Addison shoots me a coy look that I would really love to kiss off her
face, because she has come so far, and I feel honored to be a small part of her healing.
“Fine, let’s share some memories of Aaron instead,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Where should we start?”
“Oh, I love this idea,” Addison laughs and the two of them begin ruminating over which story to tell first while I sit back
and enjoy my father-in-law not looking at me like he wants to kill me . . . for once.
And my best friend looking at me like she loves me . . . forever.