lyn'
. when I got to the funeral
ady seated, and several head
sage-one of many generic condole
ping to hear from-even just
. Not even
-My hu
en by my side today... couldn't
an I should have, hoping maybe s
seen this kind of coldness fr
e back into my clutch and strai
tall frame moved determinedly like a storm, crossing the aisle in just a few strides, c
edged. "Mom waited for you for years, and
, trying to keep my voi
t blame the flight, Kately
"Believe it or not, I'm the
r loving husband? Shouldn't he be here, holdi
Derek, though his eyes were bloodshot and
Ethan?"
meetings," I lie
other dies, and he's too busy to pay his resp
ered, glancing at the rows of peop
time you try to reach him, you have to go through his secretary. You don't even get your husband on th
wasn't ready for thi
rope. Wake up. He doesn't give a damn about you. He didn't even bother t
hissed. "Th
with uneven breaths. I could tell he wanted to say more, but
as a heavy knot formed right behind my ribs. I reached
st normal tone I could manage. "Di
e ans
and pointed to th
id. "He didn't want
ew. He was half-hidden behind a woman's hat. His small fingers were pu
e, and his jaw was bobbing as his lips shifted from a buzz to
to my chest. I hadn'
lived, I'd entrusted Lucas to Marcus t
rbed in his world, I ju
his laugh, the way his fingers cu
lowly. "Lucas,"
ent his eyes landed o
Mo
round my waist. I bent down, hugging him tigh
," I murmured
said. "Grandpa's been he
na
cour
ack pocket of his pants. It was a mess of colors-red scribbles,
he said proudly. "I'm makin
ile f
course my sister would
gave a quick nod like he was proud of himself
it was a big secret. "He told me not to tell an
hair off his forehead. "It's ok
nd went back
the hallway as I pulled out my phone. Th
It rang once.
. I'm still busy." Ethan said flatly, his
ay anything, the
expected one. It wasn't even sadness anymore. Just a dull,
*
one tapping echoed sof
out to speak," s
down, murmurs fading into silence. I turned b
into the crook of his arm. I walked toward him, planning to
s tal
rlett," he said, patting
mped once-lo
ht, bud. Your mom's been way
n't b
r. "Not just you, Lucas-everyone likes Sc
t them like it
move. Cou
few steps away, invi
n't bring myself to sit down-o
chapel had become and suddenly clear about how un