Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
My voice chokes on a sob as it barrels out of my lungs. And when tears start to flow unchecked down my face, I wrap Summer into my arms, and I hug her.
I hug her in the way I’ve always craved to hug her but couldn’t.
I hug her like this hug will make up for all of the hugs we missed out on.
I hug her like it’s the first and the last hug I’ll ever give her.
Because it is.
My Summer is gone. But by the grace of God, so is her pain.
40
Norah
Friday, September 10th
Mayor Wallace and Sheriff Peeler carry the back of the casket while Bennett and Clay carry the front, the whole town gathered together to put one of the best people I’ve ever known to rest.
There are so many people here, if I listed them off, I’d be doing it until next week. Even Lillian is here from New York, rearranging her schedule to come as soon as I told her about the arrangements.
Starkly missing, however, are Bennett’s parents and brother Logan. I suppose, given his history with all of them, it’s probably a good thing, but in my heart of hearts, I cannot imagine being so callous toward my son or brother.
The wind carries a frigid chill, and it’s just as I imagined a Summer-less world would feel. I pull my black cardigan around my body tighter, and Josie steps closer to wrap an arm around my shoulders.
“You okay?” she whispers.
I shake my head. I’ve never been less okay in my life.
After allowing myself a deep breath first, I steel my spine and lock my knees to keep them from collapsing. Bennett’s face is sallow, it’s so sunken, and the tips of his fingers are white with the painful grip he has on the casket. His hurt only confounds my own, and I have to look away when they set the wooden box on the lift that will lower it into the ground because it takes him more than a long moment to let go.
Clay and Sheriff Peeler stay with him until he forces his legs to move, to the side and away, only to take a seat in the front row across from me and right beside Breezy. Choosing to stay standing, Josie and I shuffle to the side as Clay and the sheriff squeeze in next to us.
I haven’t seen or spoken to Bennett in a week, but it’s not for a lack of trying. I’ve called and texted, and even showed up at his house one day, but all of my efforts have gone unanswered. I don’t blame him, though, and Breezy has done a beautiful job of keeping in touch with me despite his reluctance. He’s in a dark place, one I can’t even begin to fathom. I only wish he would let me sit in it with him.
A cloud falls across the sun, casting us in shadow as Reverend Bob, the pastor at the only church in town, begins the formal graveside ceremony. “Welcome, everyone. I’ll start by thanking you all for being here on this momentously difficult day. We’re here to pay our respects to sweet Summer Bishop, taken from our earthly world far too soon.”
Bennett looks down at his hands, his head sinking below his shoulders like a cement block tossed into the ocean. I stare—because I can’t do anything else—willing some measure of comfort to teleport across the space to him.
“We are all suffering, but we must take solace in the fact that Summer is not. Her impact will be felt by all of us for the rest of our lives. And for our time with her, we are thankful. Because in that time, we were privileged to learn the value of seeking and living in joy. Summer took her misfortune and turned it around, finding pleasure in the simplest of gestures. A cookout at the church, a wedding in the square, a day with friends at the town festival. Over the years, I’ve personally had the occasion to laugh with Summer more than a dozen times—even, I’ll admit, when my own mood was sour. She was a vibrant embodiment of our most innocent happiness, and I will miss her most dearly. But I know heaven will welcome her with an open gate and even warmer arms, and I know that God—my compassionate, loving God—will give her an afterlife free of pain and full of happiness. An existence she more than earned.”
Bennett’s body shakes, and Josie has to grab me by the elbow to keep me from diving across the damn casket to get to him. Breezy’s eyes find mine while her hand finds his and squeezes. Just as she’s told me every time we’ve spoken, she’s got him. For now, she will bear his burden, she will walk it with him, until he’s ready for me to be there for him again.