Caleb furrowed his brow as he thought of something. “When did your grandmother pass away?”
“A few months before my mother drowned,” Simone replied. “It was hard losing them both so closely together.”
“How did your grandmother die?”
“The doctor said it was cancer,” Simone replied. “She was suffering greatly towards the end of her life and she just wanted to die.”
“And your mother died a few months later?” Caleb pressed. “Does that timing not seem odd to you?”
Simone shrugged. “It was terrible timing, but death is unexpected. It is not something you can plan.”
“Who was with your mother when she drowned?”
“No one,” Simone said. “She used to go swimming in a lake near our country estate every morning. When she failed to return, they went in search of her.”
Caleb held her gaze. “Who found your mother?”
“Sadly, they never found the body. No doubt it is somewhere in the depths of the lake.”
“Simone—”
She put her hand up. “I know what you are going to say, but the coroner did not suspect any foul play. The water was unusually cold for that time of year and it was just a terrible accident,” she said. “I once thought as you did, but my investigation yielded no results. I was forced to conclude that my mother did, in fact, drown.”
“Where were you when this happened?” he asked.
Simone dropped her gaze. “I went to visit a friend in the next town over and I will always regret not being there.”
Caleb could hear the pain in her voice and he wished hehad the power to wipe it away. “It was good that you were not there.”
“I doubt that,” she replied. “My mother would often invite me to go swimming with her. If I was there, I might have been able to save her.”
“You don’t know that for certain.”
In a shaky voice, Simone said, “The only thing I know for certain is that my mother is gone, and I will never see her again.”
Feeling the need to provide her some measure of comfort, Caleb raised his hand and gently cupped her right cheek. “I have heard that ‘time heals all wounds,’ but I do not agree with that sentiment. The wound remains. But, in time, it will scar over and the pain will lessen. But it is never gone.” He stopped, hoping his words were enough.
Simone leaned into his hand. “I just miss her so much.”
“That is to be expected, but you are strong enough to go on without her.”
“I don’t feel strong,” Simone sighed.
Even in the dim light, he was able to see the sadness in her eyes, causing his heart to ache. “You are the strongest person that I know,” he uttered, his words sincere and low.
“You must not know very many people,” Simone joked.
His thumb started caressing her cheek as he replied, “There is no shame in grief. The only way out of the pain is going through it.”
Simone’s eyes searched his, as if she were looking for the answers to her questions. “I don’t think I can.”
“Perhaps you can’t by yourself, but I can help you,” Caleb said. “You just have to trust me and let me in.”
Her voice was soft as she admitted, “I do trust you.”
Caleb felt elated by her words, knowing he was making progress by tearing down Simone’s walls. He had seen the dents and worn edges of her past, but he had no desire to run away. If he had his way, he would never let Simone fightanother battle alone. “Then you need not fear. I will be by your side, always.”
“Why?” Simone asked.
