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Chapter Three
Friday, April 5
“Do not thinkof me as gone, for my journey has just begun…”
As the minister opened his Bible, Heavenly closed her eyes and tried to block out this final goodbye to her father.
Losing him still didn’t seem real. Everything about it made her angry. Like the overcast weather for not giving him the most beautiful sendoff. The pastor for sounding as if he had spring allergies. The flowers for being so pungent they made her slightly dizzy. And despite this surprisingly lavish service, Beck and Seth for forcing her to confront the one loss she’d never, ever wanted to.
It wasn’t their fault, but who else did she have to blame except God? Right now, she wanted to rail at Him. Her father had deserved a far better life and he’d been taken too soon.
On her right, Seth caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, silently reminding her that he was here with and for her. Beck did the same on her left. For now, she pushed aside the fact that he was neither single nor the steadfast hero of her naive dreams. Selfish or not, she simply let him comfort her because she needed the strength so badly. Without the two of them, she wasn’t sure she would make it through this service. After that, she’d have to face what came next.
The violinist played a soft, weepy tune in the background while the minister recited from the gospel of John. The crowd around her was expectedly small but filled with familiar faces.
Liam, Raine, and Hammer had come, their moods somber and concerned. Raine’s brother, River, had shown up with Dean, an LAPD officer she’d met once or twice. Nurse Lewis, who coordinated the volunteers like her at the hospital, had also taken time out of her schedule to attend. Since none of these people had ever met her father, she was grateful they’d come to support and comfort her.
Dr. Litchfield had surprised her when he’d arrived and given her a kindly hug. She’d nearly been moved to tears when she saw Ralph Johnson and his wife, volunteers at the VA, who had often cheered her dad up.
The last person who had inexplicably joined the solemn group was annoyingly crude Pike. He and Beck were friends…sort of. Seth hated the tattooed bad boy. He worked with Hammer—at the dungeon Macen owned?—and he was a pig. Every time she’d run into him, he’d undressed her with his eyes before propositioning her. Today, he merely sent her a respectful nod.
“Abel Phillip Young was a vibrant man and a good father before illness stole him from his loved ones…” The minister began. “He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to two loving parents, and his childhood was a warm one, full of friends, family, school, and tradition. At twenty-one, he met and married Lisa Townsend. Shortly thereafter, the two moved to a dairy farm in Bayfield, Wisconsin, and had their only daughter…”
Heavenly squeezed her eyes shut, but that didn’t keep her from hearing about the worst of her father’s life, including his untimely end. Behind her, a delicate hand cupped her shoulder. She turned. Raine was there with soft empathy and a look in her eyes that promised I got you.
Her friend had come through with everything she needed for the plan they’d discussed yesterday at the mall.
Filled with both relief and dread, Heavenly sent her a smile of thanks and faced the front of the little chapel once more. The rest of the service passed in a blur. When it was over, the men flanking her helped her to her feet.
“How are you holding up, little girl?” Beck wrapped steadying fingers around her elbow.
“You look pale.” Seth frowned.
They were so concerned and attuned to her that it broke her heart.
“I’m fine. Thank you. Both of you—for all you’ve done for me and my father. I couldn’t have said goodbye to him with half as much dignity if you hadn’t stepped in.”
“You don’t have to thank us.” Beck caressed her shoulder.
“Anything for you.” Seth brushed a kiss across her cheek.
She drank in their bittersweet comfort as she filed out of the pew. The rest of the guests crowded around her then, threatening what little peace she had.
“Your father sounded like a good man. I’m sorry I never met him.” Hammer took her hands in a tender clasp.
“He was. I’m sorry you never met him, either. I think he would have liked you.”
Liam approached, gently taking hold of her shoulders. He stared at her like he always did—as if he could see right through her. “How are you feeling, little one?”
The kindness in his Irish lilt penetrated her numbness and almost broke her down, but Heavenly steadied herself. “I’m managing. Thank you for coming. And thank you for letting me spend yesterday with Raine. I needed that.”
“My lovely said as much. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for you. But you know that.” He sent her a sly smile.
Heavenly swallowed her alarm. What had Raine told him?
The pretty brunette elbowed him aside and moved in for a hug. “That’s right. All you have to do is let me know.”
Of all the people she had met in Los Angeles, Raine had become one of the dearest. Yesterday, they’d shared a heart-to-heart, Heavenly explaining that she’d never told anyone about her father because she hadn’t wanted to burden her friends with her troubles. Thankfully, Raine had understood and forgiven her. They’d hugged it out after pedicures, then started talking about what came next.
