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When she wrinkled her brow, I shook my head. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Well. I might have ignored your wishes and entered your pictures in a contest.”
“Is that why people were inside the cabin when I got home?”
“Well…” She looked at me sheepishly. “I knew you wouldn’t do it. They’re brilliant, incredible. I bet you’ll win.”
“And just what’s the prize?”
“Ten thousand for first place.”
I wanted to be annoyed with her but the love in her eyes had kept me going. “You’re a bad girl. We’ll deal with that when we get home.”
“You are such a mean man.”
“I keep telling you not to forget that, but you like to push my buttons.”
“And you don’t push mine?” she countered.
“That’s why I adore you.” I took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to face this. Then I opened the driver’s door.
Chasity didn’t say a word as she exited the truck, Apollo jumping out around her, scampering toward the freshly cut knoll.
“Where is he going?” she asked as she stood waiting for me to join her.
“My grave.”
She tipped her head, a brief hint of sadness in her eyes. “Animals always know.”
“He lay down on my grave after…” I swallowed hard. “Well, after Justin was laid to rest. Mustang told me Apollo didn’t want to leave.”
I wrapped my arm around her, hearing approaching vehicles behind me before I had a chance to walk her up the hill.
As I turned around, my muscles stiffened, the same ache I’d had at the funeral returning. “You told them.”
“I had a gut feeling. I thought it was important that they were here.” Chasity searched my eyes, her face pensive. “I hope you’re not angry.”
How could I be angry with a woman who’d endured so much in such a short period of time? I slipped my hand into my pocket, making certain the ring was still safely secured in the small pouch. “No, baby. I’m grateful.”
Today would end with a celebration, not sadness.
As the others approached, they were all searching my face. I nodded to each one of them, trying to maintain my composure. There was no need to be emotional. This was saying goodbye to a ghost and nothing more.
Yet we all remained quiet as we walked up the hill. I expected to hear Apollo barking after a few seconds, wondering where I was, but as we crested the top of the hill, he was sitting in front of the freshly dug up soil staring at the gravestone.
It was to be removed in a few days, which was why I’d felt it necessary to pay my final respects to the man I’d once been.
The others flanked our sides, every one of them completely quiet.
There were no words to say, nothing that would change all that had happened, but I was reminded once again just how precious life truly was.
Friendship.
On this day as well as so many others, I was reminded just how precious friendship truly was. Chasity’s love had nudged me, reminding me of all the reasons I couldn’t toss aside everything and everyone that was important to me.
Apollo shifted, turning to face me, cocking his precious little head. I could tell he was confused, yet his eyes reflected the same kind of loyalty the six of us had shared almost our entire lives. And as he jumped into my arms, not one of us didn’t become emotional.
We’d been and would always be brothers in arms.
