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When the door closes behind me, I exchange a knowing look with Milo before heading down the street. His smile curves with mischief as he strolls along his side of the street, perfectly matching me step for step.
People weave between us as I make my way down the sidewalk, sometimes blocking him from view entirely. But he always reappears a few seconds later, his eyes finding mine across the street as if there were an invisible thread keeping us connected.
For a Monday night, Main Street is surprisingly busy. I don’t recognize most of the faces passing me, but I barely notice them. Not when my attention keeps drifting across the street to the one face I could never forget.
When I reach the end of the block, I turn the corner, cross the road, and start making my way up the hill. I don’t even have to look back to know Milo is following me every step of the way.
The heavy black gates of Alder Cemetery soon come into view. I turn around and push one open with my back, smiling at Milo as he quickens his pace.
“You’re making me work for it tonight, aren’t you, Morgan?”
“Haven’t I always, Fletcher?” I wiggle my brows.
His chuckle causes a familiar warmth to spread through me as I turn and start walking between the rows of headstones.
The smell of freshly cut grass hangs in the cool evening air, mingling with the heavy sweetness of flowers left behind by loved ones earlier in the day. Somewhere in the distance, leaves rustle against one another, disturbed by the fall breeze, and gravel crunches beneath my shoes as I follow the narrow path deeper into the cemetery.
It’s been years since I’ve been here, yet my feet remember exactly where to take me. Up the hill, past headstones bearing familiar names, toward the two that shaped my very existence.
When I finally reach my parents’ graves, I stop and wrap my arms around myself.
“I’m all for some alone time with you, Max, but this place isn’t exactly romantic,” Milo says, coming up from behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist, his warmth shielding me from the bite of the fall wind.
“But you’re here. That’s all that matters.”
His arms tighten around me as he rests his chin on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry about your dad,” he says softly.
“Me too.” I lean back against him, needing the comfort of his arms around me. “This is the first time I’ve seen him here. I mean, since the funeral.”
“I know.”
“Does that make me a bad daughter?”
“No. Not at all.”
I let out a sigh. “I wish I could believe that. I know he wasn’t always there after Mom died, but he tried his best. He really did.”
“I know he did.”
I tilt my head back against his shoulder so I can look at him.
Milo offers me one of his quiet smiles before pressing a kiss to my temple.
“You did the best you could too. And the same way you never faulted him for his shortcomings, he’d never fault you for yours.”
Tears sting my eyes at his words. I turn in his arms and bury my face against his chest, immediately enveloped by his embrace.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. No.” A sound escapes me that’s half laugh, half sob. “I’m not really sure. I just wish he could see me now. I wish they both could.”
Milo lifts my chin and wipes away the tears slipping down my cheeks.
“Who says they can’t?” He gives me a small wink, trying to cheer me up. “Wherever they are, I know they’re proud of you. How could they not be?”
I hold his gaze, wondering if he’s only saying those things to make me feel better. But one look at him tells me he means every word.
