Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Oh…Molly,” Declan murmured, sounding as if he were talking to himself as he relaxed in his chair.
“Good guess.” It took us five minutes of winding through the enormous graveyard to reach a stretch of ground that had been cleared in the past few years. Fewer trees marked this area, and those that were here stretched only five or six feet into the air, saplings still learning their lifelong sentry duty for the dead.
I pulled to the side of the road and turned off the engine. When I looked at Declan and smiled, I could feel that my grin had become a little crooked and frail. “I just heard from Molly’s parents that her headstone was installed a few days ago. I promised them I would visit and send them a picture.”
“Of course. I’m surprised they didn’t want her to be buried closer to them.”
“They did, but they also knew it was my plan to stay here to raise Joy. I think they wanted Molly to be close to her daughter.”
We got out of the car, and I waited for Declan to walk around to me so I could thread his fingers with mine. With him at my side, my heart didn’t feel so heavy as I strolled across the grass that was turning green again after the hot, dry summer. This was the first time I’d been to Molly’s grave since the funeral. I’d meant to come back, but it had slipped my mind as more things had happened.
Molly’s headstone was a simple pale-gray granite stone with deeply carved black lettering. There was no additional adornment like a picture, but I liked that her parents had put on there “Beloved daughter, mother, and friend,” because she really was.
“I know, I know. I should have come sooner,” I said by way of greeting. My fingers tightened on Declan’s hand, while my eyes remained locked on her new headstone. “But I knew I was going to talk to you, and it’s easier to talk to your headstone than it is to talk to the dirt. Call me crazy. And I’m sorry I didn’t bring Joy. I promise I’ll bring her in a couple of weeks. You’re going to love seeing her. She’s gotten so big and sassy. Just like her mom. Oh! I’ll put her in her Halloween costume. You’ll love it.” My voice caught on those last two words and the lump that seemed to form in my throat whenever I thought about her returned.
Declan lifted our joined hands and pressed a sweet kiss to my fingers, silently reassuring me.
After a deep breath and clearing my throat, I could continue. “Today, I’m here because there’s someone I need to introduce you to. This…is Declan Foster.” I threw up a hand, as if trying to halt traffic. “Stop. I can imagine what you’re going to say about his hotness and if you continue, they’ll kick you out of heaven.”
“Really?” Declan murmured, and I smiled at him as I dropped my hand to my side.
“Yeah, she had a filthy mouth. It terrified me to think what Joy’s first words were going to be with her as a mom.”
“I worry about that with you sometimes,” he teased.
I clicked my tongue at him but couldn’t argue. He was right. I wasn’t great about watching what I said around Joy, and that was going to get me in trouble one day.
Turning my attention to Molly, I resumed what I was trying to say. “Declan is amazing. He’s brilliant, kind, and so fucking patient. But most importantly, he loves our daughter. He’s done such wonderful things to make sure she’s happy, healthy, and safe. And I’m so sorry that you never got the chance to meet him. You were right. I should have grown a set and asked him out months ago. Then maybe I would have been better prepared…or…hell…” My voice broke, and the first tear slipped down my cheek.
Declan pulled his hand free, but before I could register what was happening, Declan was pulling me tightly into his arms. I laid my head on his shoulder, my tears soaking into his shirt while my body trembled. It felt like I would never stop crying over Molly, but the pain almost felt manageable with Declan holding me. It was as if all the pieces weren’t going to fall off me and be lost because he was there to catch them.
After a few minutes, I drew in another ragged breath and stepped out of Declan’s embrace to wipe my face.
“Sorry about that,” I murmured, not sure who I was talking to that time. Smiling at her gravestone, I felt a little better, as if some of the weight on my heart was lifted. “I wanted to bring him by, because it’s important to me that you meet. I would like for him to be a big part of my life and Joy’s life.” Still smiling, I gazed up at Declan, who was looking teary as well. “And that means understanding that Molly is still a big part of my and Joy’s life.”