Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
With one arm around Bella’s waist, I reach over and pull the blanket up over Granny’s arms. “I love you, Granny. You were a mother to me. You loved me when others didn’t. I’ll never forget you, but I know we’ll see each other again.”
I lean over and press a kiss to her forehead and pull back and brush the hair off Bella’s face. “You have anything you want to tell her, baby?”
Bella sucks in a deep breath. “I love you, G. I’ll always think of you any time I dance, or when I hear rap music. You were once my grandmother’s best friend and then became mine. I’m going to miss our talks. I’m going to miss you. I love you, Granny, forever.”
Bella leans over and kisses Granny on her forehead, and when she sits up, I hold her to me. “Come on, baby.”
We stand up, and I nod at Ford. “Okay.”
He nods in understanding and then goes to open the doors. We all stay by her side until she’s loaded onto the gurney. We walk beside her all the way downstairs, outside and when they load her into the car.
Ford stops next to me. “You want me to stay tonight? I can get Lilian to stay with Ollie.”
I shake my head. “No, I’ll be fine.”
Ford nods. Austin has his arms crossed over his chest, and Beau has his glasses off, cleaning the lenses. “I’ll be back in the morning. We probably need to plan the funeral.”
Bella starts to speak, stops and clears her throat, and then tries again. “G had everything planned out. She didn’t want any of you to worry about it after she was gone. We worked the last two months, and everything she asked for, she put in her diary by the bed. I helped her arrange it all.” She looks at me and then at my brothers. “I hope that’s okay.”
I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Of course that’s okay. I’m sure that was really hard to do, Bella. Thank you for being there for her.”
My brothers all chime in and tell her thanks. Hugs are given, and each of them leave with the promise of being in touch tomorrow.
I turn and look at the house I practically grew up in. The house I’ve shared with Granny since I’ve become an adult. It won’t be the same without her here. Nothing will.
Isabella
For three days, Lucas and I have lived in a trance. I’m worried about him. He’s put his guard up, and it seems that I’m already losing him. He’s gone from not being able to keep his hands off me to moving to his office and sleeping–if he does sleep–on the couch in there.
Today is the funeral. I ride with Lucas and Austin, but only because they insisted. I can tell by the way Austin keeps looking between Lucas and me that he’s trying to figure out what’s going on, and all I can give him is a shrug of my shoulders.
The service is beautiful. It seems as if the whole town showed up to express their love for the woman that first made whiskey in Whiskey Run. So many people come to the podium to speak and talk about how G had helped them or their family at one time or another. She has a special place in so many hearts in this town, and it’s great to be a witness to it.
Probably the highlight–if there is one–is when the pallbearers lift the casket and start to carry her out of the church with Nelly’s “it’s Getting Hot in Here” playing in the church. Thank goodness it was the clean version. Everyone in the crowd smiled from ear to ear. I knew it was planned, and it makes me love G even more. Of course we can depend on Granny to make us smile, even at her funeral.
It’s not until later in the day, when everyone has left and it’s only Lucas and me left at the house that I begin to wonder about the future. I have so many questions I want to ask Lucas, but it’s not the time.
He’s changing from his suit, and I’m kicking off my high-heeled shoes. He’s quiet, and I just need to hear his voice now more than anything.
“Talk to me, Lucas. About anything. About nothing. Just talk to me.”
He pulls his shirt off his shoulders without looking at me. “What do you want me to say, Isabella?”
I suck in a breath when he uses my full name. “I dunno. Talk to me about Granny. Work. Your brothers. You’ve been quiet for three days, and I’m worried about you bottling it all up.”
He pulls off his pants and sits on the edge of the bed. I pull a T-shirt over my head and watch him as he tries to form words. Finally, he shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. I just keep thinking I’d give anything to hear her voice again. Even when she was trying to teach me something.” He changes his voice. “Now, Lucas, you need to be open to love and when you find it, hold on to it.” He laughs bitterly. “I always blew her off and said I would. Fuck, Bella, I would promise her anything at this point.”