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Every time we’ve come to visit Teddy, I haven’t even got out of the car. I’ve been good, letting Charlie have her moments and get over everything that happened, but I’d be lying if I said I was over it.
I’ve tried to tell myself let the past live in the past, but it’s hard when it affects the person you love. The nightmares have finally stopped for Charlie, but I’ll never forget having to wake up and hold her to chase the demons away. Teddy did that. He hurt her in more ways than I probably know, and that’s something I can’t forgive him for, even if he is dead. But I made a promise to myself and him that I would take care of her, and I feel he has the right to at least know I’m keeping my word.
As we pull through the arched gate, Charlie’s hand tenses in mine. “It’s okay, baby.”
She nods, biting her lip and looking out the window. I feel she’s to a point that these visits hurt her more than anything, but she does it for Blake. She has it in her mind that Blake needs to know her father and the only way to do that is to stay close to him.
I slide the car into park, then step out and circle the hood. When I make it to Charlie’s door, I open it and help her out. “I’ll come with you this time.” Her eyes light up in a pained way, but she doesn’t object. I know she needs me this time.
I leave her by the car as I open the truck and pull out the potted flowers I brought. Their blue/purplish petals spill down the stems, a little wilted from the drive but still standing tall. I carry them in one hand by the base of the elegant pot, then wrap my other hand around Charlie’s waist.
We walk inside in silence. I don’t point out what I want her to see, because I want her to notice on her own. She walks to his tomb and perches herself on the edge of the step next to the crying angel. She tells him everything I assume she does every time. How Blake is growing, and she’s estimated to be around six pounds now, how she’s able to handle the smell of eggs, and keeping up with the bed rest per the doctor’s orders. Once she’s done, it’s almost like she’s out of words, so she stands, kisses his plaque, then turns to me.
I step forward now that her moment with him is over and set the flowers on top of his tomb. “I finally took her to the beach, boss.”
I don’t feel anything else needs to be said. If by some stroke of fate he is listening, he’ll know exactly what I mean.
When I turn back to Charlie, she’s studying the plates I asked Carl and Julius to have installed. Under Teddy’s there is a blank space with the Hale name following it, intended for Blake, and on the plate under mine, Charlie’s name is etched with no dates.
“What is this?” she asks, stepping closer to run her fingers over her name. “I thought I would be laid with Teddy.” She doesn’t sound angry or upset. Her voice is genuine and confused.
I come behind her and look over her shoulder. “I wanted to make sure when the time comes, you’ll be safe—you’ll be with someone who loved you. I never intend to leave or hurt you.”
She nods, then glances behind us to Teddy’s. “And Blake will be with him?”
“She will. I know the way she came about isn’t ideal, but I have no doubt he would have loved her. It will be his way to protect her in the afterlife. We aren’t religious, but we do have some beliefs.”
Her green eyes catch mine as tears start to well. “I’m yours.”
I nod and pull her into my chest. “You’ve always been mine, Flower.”
The End.
