Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“God, Megan is entrusting Maliah into Your care, to share in the enteral light of Your presence until they will be reunited again. You may have been denied holding Maliah on earth, Megan, but in Heaven, you will hold her for eternity.”
Sobbing, she turned toward Cole to be held tightly in his arms. Then Megan forced herself to watch as Silas, Isaac, and Jacob lowered the casket into the ground. Only when it was completely covered with dirt did Cole turn her away from the grave and Megan realized the crowd had left.
“They left after the service. They’re waiting at the house.”
Megan felt inadequate at what to say to Cole after hurting him the day before, and yet he still showed up to help her through an ordeal that she didn’t know if she could have made it through without him.
“How did you find out I was having a service for Maliah?”
“You’re not the only one who can’t keep a secret.”
“I can’t believe so many people came.” Tearful, Megan twisted the handkerchief in her hands. “I saw Winter and Viper.”
When they crossed the knob of the hill, Megan frowned. Since she had parked her car, two white tents had been raised. Underneath were tables and chairs. Another tent had been set off to the side, where people were placing food on three tables.
“They’re holding a funeral reception for me?”
Cole turned her to face him. “It’s not a funeral reception.” He tenderly cupped her cheek. “They’re giving you a homecoming.”
Twenty-Three
Laying her head on Cole’s chest, she took a deep, sobbing breath. So many people were there. She had thought she would be burying Maliah alone with only the pastor, yet here, Willa was organizing the food trays and desserts, which Megan had been sure were meant for the church dinner. The Last Riders were taking outdoor heaters out of trucks and placing them in the tents so everyone could be warm. The Colemans were carrying chairs from a van, placing them around the tables.
Raising the handkerchief, she wiped her damp cheeks when she saw Greer slowly walking toward a table, his hair snow white. Watching him, she couldn’t help but laugh when she saw him poke Dustin with his cane when he was about to take the chair Greer clearly wanted.
“Let’s get you something to eat.”
Megan raised her head to look at Cole then at all the people who had come. Her jaw set in a firm line. They had come for her today … and when they had tried to help her, she had refused to give them what they needed. All because of fear. The same reason why she had planned to leave after the service. She had spent the majority of her life in fear … and she was done.
She took a step back from Cole and looked him straight in the eyes. “I love you with all of my heart,” she confessed. “I never realized I could love someone this much, but I do.”
“I love you.” He grinned. “You’re not leaving?”
“I’m going to leave that up to you”—Megan nodded at the crowd of people—“and them.”
Cole frowned. “What does that mean?”
Megan moved away without answering. Walking to the tables, she raised her hands in the air. “Would everyone please have a seat? I would like to say something before you eat.”
Megan waited until all the chairs were filled or people had moved to where they could see her.
“I want to thank everyone for coming to Maliah’s service and going to so much trouble for me. I don’t deserve your kindness. I didn’t deserve it when you tried to save me from Curt and I threw your help back in your face.” Megan pinpointed one face in the crowd, nodding in her direction. “I let Jo stand alone to fight against someone evil, holding my silence at her expense. I’m sorry, Jo. I’m truly sorry.”
Megan tore her gaze away from Jo’s. Shaking, she returned her focus back to the crowd. As she did, she felt Cole move closer to stand behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“I wish I had a better excuse, other than I was a coward. I still am, actually. You see, after Maliah’s funeral, I was going to run away because I was too afraid something would come out that I didn’t want anyone in town to know. My pride was more important than stopping Curt.” Megan gave them a bittersweet smile. “Karma is a bitch. I didn’t want to be humiliated or shamed if I told anyone Curt had touched me when he worked at the school. Then, here comes Karma, showing me that I shamed and humiliated myself when I couldn’t accept the loss of my baby.”
Winter rose from her chair. “Megan, you don’t need to do this.”
“I do, Mrs. James. I want you and everyone else to understand why I acted the way I did—”