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She became unsteady on her feet as she took hold of the flag and couldn’t stop sobbing.I wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her into me.I whispered in her ear, “It’s gonna be okay.”
The rifle squad began a gun salute, since Brandon was killed in active duty, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Scarlet.She was my top priority right now.I could feel her shaking in my embrace and all I wanted to do was take away all of her pain.Then again, I could’ve, had I never made the wrong call, Brandon may still be alive and Scarlet wouldn’t be in so much pain.This wasn’t my fault necessarily and there was always a risk, but I couldn’t help but still blame myself a little for the happenings.
My head was spinning and I hardly realized the memorial service was over and it was time for the reception when Scarlet whispered, “Colt, it’s time.”
Every one had left and it was just me and Scarlet.“If you don’t mind, I’m just going to say goodbye.”
I nodded and let go of her.“If you need me, I’ll just be over there.”I pointed to a tree a couple feet away.I wanted to give her enough space to say what she needed to her brother.
As I was walking away, I heard her totally let go and fully cry, dropping to her knees on the grass in front of his closed casket.“Oh, Brandon—” I heard her say before I was out of earshot.
“That was one heck of a service.”I turned to see Max and Brooke hand-in-hand.“We were a bit late, so we just stayed in the background, but it was beautiful.”
“Yeah, no matter how beautiful it was, it should’ve never come to this.”I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.“I could’ve stopped all of this from happening.”
Max huffed.“Dude, you’re making this all about you?”
I just arched a brow, and he harrumphed.“This is not your fault.You didn’t know what was going to happen when you made that call.You did what you had to do.And if Brandon was here, he would tell you the same thing.He would never want you to blame yourself.”
“What the hell am I doing?”I asked no one in particular.
That didn’t stop Brooke from answering, though.“You’re falling in love with her, aren’t you?”
I chuckled.“I don’t know.But she’s definitely gotten under my skin.”
“I don’t want to interrupt,” Scarlet broke in.“I just wanted to tell you I’m going to make my way inside.”
“You’re not interrupting.”
Brooke interrupted.“Are you okay, honey?”
Scarlet blew outwardly.“Not yet, but I’m getting there.It was nice having a moment alone with him just to say my peace.”
“We’re sorry for your loss, Scarlet, and if you need anything, Brooke and I are here for you,” Max said.
Scarlet just nodded, like she had nothing left to say and didn’t want to talk anymore.
“What say we go inside now?”I questioned.
Everyone was silent as we walked into the funeral home for the reception.Inside the room to one side was a set-up of food and drinks.Everyone was mingling, some were even laughing.As soon as someone spotted Scarlet, though, they immediately approached her and gave their condolences.
I watched as a man Brandon and I served with, Tristan, came over, holding something in his hands.“I am so sorry for your loss,” Tristan said.
I inserted myself and introduced him.“Scar, this is Tristan.He served with your brother and I.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry about that.Where are my manners?”Tristan apologized.“Your brother was a huge help to me.He took me under his wing and treated me like his little brother.”
Scarlet smiled.“That was Brandon.Always trying to make everyone feel included.”
“Yeah, I remember I was so scared, but Brandon made everything feel less grim.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me.I’m sure he was grateful to have you as a friend, too, Tristan.”
He opened his hand then and held up a necklace.“This was Brandon’s.Which you probably already know.He gave it to me, told me it always kept him safe.”It was a silver cross.“I thought you should have it.”
Scarlet was shocked, gasping when she saw it.She held out her hands and took the necklace in her hands, just staring at it.“This used to be our dad’s.He wore it every single day, really never took it off.He used to say it protected him.”Then it seemed her mind wandered for a second before she continued, “Thank you, Tristan, but Brandon gave this to you.You should keep it.”
“No, ma’am.I can’t do that.It did protect me, but I still think to myself that if he wore it instead of me that day maybe he would’ve survived.”
