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“I was young when my father passed away. I felt lost and hurt that he left us. I didn’t quite understand how he could be taken away. I was angry for so long.” I pause. “Actually, that’s not true. I still am. And knowing what I know now, probably even more so.
“I grew up thinking life was amazing. I was loved, I had amazing parents, and while we weren’t rich by any means, we were happy. Until that fateful day my dad died.
“And we were sad for a long time. But we picked up the pieces, and Mom and I were a team.” I take a moment to inhale, letting it out slowly.
Because wewerea team until Aaron came along.
Until he came into our lives and gave my mom false hope. False love.
I continue, “And I’m sure you can figure out what happened next. But you know what? My mom deserved happiness. She deserved love. She gave up so much to raise me and get me through the hardest time of our lives. And she thought that love and happiness was in the new family that we created.”
I look up at Xayden with tears in my eyes. I can see his are all red and I know he is holding back as much as he can to keep from breaking. He lost his father in all this, too.
“While that happiness was short-lived, it was actually good to see her smile. She came to life. The entire trip out to Texas, she was glowing. She talked about all the happy new memories we were going to make out there. My mom was ecstatic for the new lease on life.
“And I wish I would have done more to convince her … well, I don’t know what I would have convinced her of. Because at the end of it all, she did what she could to try to do what was best for me.” Tears blur the words on the page. “Even in her last moments of life.” I close my eyes and cry.
Suddenly I feel hands on me, and I open my eyes to find the guys next to me. Dekker nods, silently telling me to continue. Xayden grabs my hand, and Seven rubs my back from behind me. I take a deep breath and wipe the tears away.
“You know, I had all this stuff written out, but…” I take the paper I had and fold it closed. “My mom was an amazing mother who even in her last moments of life tried to protect me. I saw the life leave her eyes. The pain in her face. I saw her die. There have been moments I wish it was me instead of her. That I had been the one who died that day, but then I know she would have to live without me. A mother without her child.
“She would want me to live the life I’ve always wanted. The one her and my father dreamed I would.” I look over at the casket, knowing her body is in there. There’s a part of me that is just waiting for her to wake up and come home with me. That this is all a horrible nightmare that I will wake up from.
But I know she can’t wake up.
I sniffle. “She’s gone. Taken from me and this world. Leaving me without her. She’s really gone. And now she can be with my father once more. So, Mom, I hope you can hear me when I tell you this. Thank you for all the love you have given me, the patience you have shown me. I will do everything in my power to make you proud of me. Rest now, and find yourself back in your husband’s arms. Make sure to tell him that I love you both so much.
“I’m going to miss you.” And on that last word, a sob is wrenched free from my throat. I fall back into Seven’s arms as the three of them walk me back to my seat.
The rest of the service was beautiful, or at least I think it was. My mind gave out. I blanked completely. All I could think about was all the time I spent with my mother. When it was just her and I. Our movie nights, going shopping, even her trying to teach me how to drive.
Before I realize it, we are standing in front of the architecture building at UNLV.
“What are we doing here?” I look up at the guys as I come out of my fog.
“We are following your dreams,” Xayden says.
“My dreams?”
“You want to be an architect.” Seven shrugs. “What better place than to learn at the UNLV School of Architecture.”
“Yeah, but …”
“But what, Rory?” Dekker steps up to me and puts his hands on my shoulders.
I can feel my face redden at the thought: Mybutis them. As much as I hated them to start with, the four of us have grown closer than I had ever expected. I mean fuck, they came to find me.
“It’s us,” Xayden answers as if he can read my mind, and I nod.
He comes over to me, Dekker stepping back, and cups my face.
“We graduate this year. I have already sent in my application to the law school out here. We just have to get through spring semester and then we can move out here. We won’t let you go at this alone, Rory.”
“What?” I gape at him.
He leans in and kisses my lips. “You aren’t alone. The three of us love you more than you can imagine.”
Tears spring to my eyes as the three of them surround me.