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I’m glad she told me I couldn’t talk because I have no idea what to say. Tugging her even closer, I rest my chin on her shoulder. She places her hands over mine and squeezes. So much make sense now. I wish I could make her feel better. She probably doesn’t want me to move my arms, so I kiss her shoulder. Lucy relaxes into me, the tears still falling. I hate those tears so damn much.
“Luce?”
Our heads turn at the sound of Corey’s voice. Patrick and Jonathan are standing on either side of him a few feet away. She quickly wipes away the evidence of her crying. The brothers silently walk over, each taking turns kissing her forehead. Then Patrick sits to my right while Jon and Corey sit to my left. Not a word is muttered as we stare at the headstone. Lucy seems to be fighting for control, but suddenly she leans forward and the only reason I know she’s crying is by her shaking shoulders. She buries her face in her hands.
I run one of my hands up and down her back while leaving the other around her waist. After a few minutes, she’s still crying, her breathing too rapid. I grab her hips, push her to stand, and turn her around before pulling her back in my lap, so she’s straddling me. Lucy immediately throws her arms around my neck as droplets of tears fall onto my shoulder. I hug her to me as tight as possible.
She told me not to talk, but I can’t bear to see her like this anymore. Turning my head, I let my lips brush over her ear and whisper as quietly as possible.
“Hey, do you remember what I told you?” Lucy nods. “Say it.”
She is barely audible, but I hear her voice crack as she says, “I’m with you and everything is okay.”
“Again.”
“I’m with you and everything is okay.”
“One more time for me.”
Lucy says it again, takes a deep breath, and sits up with a tiny smile. She gives me a quick, soft kiss on the lips before turning towards Patrick.
“You okay, Luce?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She looks at Jon and Corey. “Are you mad?”
The brothers glance at me, and I wish they would tell her yes, so I could finally beat the shit out of them. They shake their heads though, and she turns back to Patrick.
“Are you?”
“No, Luce, of course not. Believe it or not, I trust your judgment. If you want Grant here, then I want him here for you.”
Lucy leans over to hug him, whispering something to him. Then she stands and returns to how she was sitting before, in between my legs, and I tuck her against my chest once more. “I think I'm going to stay with Grant for a few more days,” she announces quietly. “If he'll let me, of course.”
“You know you can,” I interrupt before she can continue.
Lucy smiles, intertwines our hands in appreciation, and faces the headstone once again. We're quiet for a few minutes before Jonathan interrupts it, pulling something from his pocket, which I just notice is full of something.
“Look what we found.” He pulls out a small Minnie Mouse stuffed animal.
Lucy gasps as she snatches it from his hand. She seems at loss for words as she stares at it, turning it over to inspect it. I rest my chin on her shoulder, realizing this must have been the favorite stuffed animal.
“Minnie Mouse, huh?” I chuckle. It fits perfectly.
She wrinkles her nose at me. “Yes, what's funny about that?” She clutches the animal to her chest.
“It's so you, that's all. Soft voice, big smile, and entirely too nice and sweet.”
Lucy rolls her eyes at me, but there's a hint of a smile upon her lips. “Thank you, Grant,” she says, and I have a feeling it isn't only for what I said.
“You're welcome.”
She stands and faces all of us still on the bench. “I think we're ready to go.” Lucy reaches her hand out for mine, so I take it and stand with her. “Same place as always tomorrow?”
“Yep,” Patrick answers as they nod and stand.
He hugs her first, then Jon, and then Corey. Lucy keeps her hand in mine the entire time. Because of this, I can hear each whispered “I love you” and Corey's, “Are you sure, Luce?”
“Yes, I'm fine, and he'll take care of me if I need him to.”
