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“Can we stay here for a little while?”
“As long as you need.”
I rested against him. We stayed until the last dirt was placed on the plot and smoothed over. The director picked up the marble slab and put it on the grave. I stood and walked in front of all three plots. Three-fourths of my heart was buried here. I would never understand why it had to be them. I’d never understand why they had to go, and I was left here to fend without them... but I was still here.
I had to live for them if I couldn’t live with them.
I still had life. I had love in abundance. I may have been bruised. I may have bent, but I wasn’t as broken as I once thought. The good Lord had kept me for a reason. It was my time to make the most of this life I had left.
More people than I expected were at the Timmons’ home.
In addition to the family that came to the service, many of Avyn’s aunts and cousins were at the house preparing food before we arrived. They all greeted me with open arms and warm hugs. I was taken care of from the moment I stepped into the house. I couldn’t move unless someone were there to ensure I didn’t need anything.
“Everyone is so nice,” Callum commented.
“They are. It’s been like this since I met them. When my parents passed away, Avyn’s family was right there to help me grieve.” I looked around at all the people. “This is what I miss. To be surrounded with unconditional love and support.”
“Well, you have a chance to have that back,” he stated, kissing my forehead.
“I have to get it back. You know what I realized while I was away? I needed to do part of this journey on my own to prove to myself that I was strong enough. But just like it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to heal. I don’t want to be broken, Callum. My grief and depression took over so much of my life. I don’t want it to have that kind of power over me moving forward.”
“I have faith in you, baby. Where you fall, I’ll be right there to pick you up. You have me for as long as you want me.”
“I don’t think I could ever not want you, Callum. You’ve been a blessing since day one. I don’t know if we were meant to cross paths, but I’m so grateful that you were the one to rescue me that night. You are the best type of unexpected gift, and I love you so much.”
I pulled his head to mine and kissed him passionately. It was a brief kiss because the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted us. We looked up to see Mr. and Mrs. Timmons. They took a seat across from us.
“Pasha,... I don’t believe you introduced us to your friend here,” Mrs. Timmons said with a smile.
“Oh! I’m so sorry. Mr. and Mrs. Timmons, this is Callum Ellis, my boyfriend.”
Callum extended his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you. We didn’t get a chance to be formally introduced earlier.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Mrs. Timmons said. “My daughter told me what you did for Pasha. Thank you for being here for her.”
“No thanks are necessary.”
“I guess I don’t need to ask if he’s good to you,” Mr. Timmons said.
“He’s very good to me,” I confirmed with a light smile.
“Then he’s okay with us.” The smile slowly faded from his face. “We, um... We heard about Raymond. How are you handling that?”
“Honestly, it’s sad that he lost his life, but I don’t feel any type of way about it. It might sound horrible to say, but I dealt with enough from that man. He made life so much harder for me this last year and a half. I can’t say I’m sad he’s gone, but I can’t give any of my focus to that. I’ll pray for his family, but I left all of him behind the day I signed those divorce papers. He was dead to me long before now.”
Mrs. Timmons nodded. “Well... I’m glad you’re okay in that department.” She reached for my hand. “Again, I’m so sorry about the loss of your son. You held it together gracefully today. It takes strength and courage to bury a child. No mother should ever have to do that. I’m so happy you finally got to lay him to rest.”
“Me too. He’s right where he should be... next to his grandma and grandpa. I felt so much peace this morning, knowing that they would be rightfully reunited. I couldn’t have done this without Avyn and this beautiful man right here.”
I grabbed Callum’s hand and squeezed it. He blushed at me calling him beautiful, but it was true. He was a beautiful soul inside and out. I would always stand on the fact that God broke the mold when he created this man. I never expected to find love like this.... Not this soon and maybe not ever. He was everything I could ever want, but more than that, he was exactly what I needed, and to think I was afraid to let him pursue me. He gave me the courage to love him with how he treated me.
I wasn’t sure how long I would have him, but as long as he was mine, I would love him fiercely, unselfishly, and with my entire heart.
Chapter
Thirty-Four
Callum
