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Kelly laughed. “Okay, did everyone in my life take a class in how to make inspirational quotes?”
“Nope. I just spend way too much time reading Facebook memes.”
Chapter 27
On Friday afternoon, Chris stood over Ray’s grave, reading his headstone for the hundredth time.
Raymond Charleston Jackson
Beloved Son. Brave Soldier. Honorable Friend.
Chris’s eyes pricked with tears as he squatted down and put his hand on the top of the headstone, just like he used to do to Ray’s shoulder. The sun beat down on him, alerting him that the ungodly hot we
ather of summer was fast approaching. Yet the green lawn of the graveyard would never turn yellow like the rest of the plant life in Sweetheart. In fact, the ground squished under his feet, and water droplets clung to the blades of grass around him.
He had no idea why he’d come here today. It was crazy and sentimental. Except that he’d just needed to talk to his best friend and this was as close as he could get to Ray.
“Hey, man. I know it’s been a while since I’ve been here. Although, I’m kind of convinced that it is really you visiting me in my dreams. If I’m right, give me a sign.” He stood back up, looking around for a cool breeze or some imaginary being to punch him in the shoulder, but nothing happened. Still, he kept talking. “Anyway, if you really have been looking down on me, and those dreams weren’t all in my head, then you know that Kelly and I have feelings for each other. And I want to apologize. This is something that happened. Neither of us planned it, but I’m struggling with everything. I don’t know why I’m so nervous about being with her, but I am. All I keep thinking about is that if we don’t work out, things won’t be the same. Then I realize it’s already too late; we’ve already reached the point of no return.”
Chris wiped at his eyes when his vision blurred, and he realized he was crying, that tears were falling down over his cheeks. “Damn Ray, I really miss you. There was never anyone like you. I’m making friends though, trying not to be such an antisocial loser. But…none of them have our history. No matter how cool they are, they can never be you.”
The snap of a twig behind him startled him and he turned to find Ray’s mother, Grace, watching him with a small smile. Her long black braids were pulled up away from her face, strands of gray highlighted in them now. She wore a loose, floral dress that ended just above her ankles, and gladiator sandals encased her feet. She was holding a flower in a pot, her dark eyes sad.
“I’m sorry, Chris. I didn’t want to intrude.”
He tried to erase the evidence of his emotional meltdown with his sleeve. “Mrs. Jackson, not at all. I was just checking in with him. Making sure he knew he was missed.”
She stepped up beside to him and set the plant down next to Ray’s headstone. Then, she straightened up and pulled Chris in for a tight hug, her head barely coming to his shoulder.
“My boy was lucky to have such a good friend.”
Chris hugged her back. He’d spent so many dinners and birthdays with her family, and she had always treated him like a second son. “I was lucky too, ma’am.”
When she pulled away, her cheeks were wet. “How’s Kelly? I haven’t seen her since Mother’s Day.”
Chris was surprised. He’d had no idea Kelly still visited Mrs. Jackson, and it made him feel all the worse for not making an effort to check on her and her husband more. “She’s good. Busy with Something Borrowed, as usual.”
“Oh, yes. Max and I are so proud of her for everything she’d accomplished. Ray would be proud of her too.” Mrs. Jackson seemed to hesitate, then asked, “Is she seeing anyone?”
“Um…yeah, she is.”
Although she smiled, Grace’s eyes held a deep sadness that caused an ache in Chris’s chest. “I am so glad. I mean, I was always grateful for the devotion she showed my son, even after he was gone, but Ray adored her. He’d want her to be happy.” Grace met his gaze searchingly. “Is she?”
“Happy?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Chris nodded. “She’s getting there, I think.”
“Good.” She patted his arm, and shot him a teasing grin. “What about you? Still seeing that doctor?”
“No, I…well she broke up with me.”
Grace clucked her tongue sympathetically. “Oh, I am sorry. You’ll know when you meet the right girl. She will bring out all the good things in you and you’ll do the same for her. Just be sure when you find her that you never let her go.”
Chris’s mind strayed to Kelly and his dream of Ray.
“Mrs. Jackson, I’m…I’m the one seeing Kelly.”
