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Cary

I held Evan for hours while he cried. At first, I didn’t understand why he was so upset about Mr. Hallock’s death. Then when I talked to Deke, he explained that his family had all escorted his grandpa to the restaurant that day. “Grandpa laid it all out on the table. It was hard to listen to, and I wasn’t even part of it,” he’d told me.

“Well, Evan’s struggling with it. When’s the funeral? It goes without saying I’ll be a pallbearer, but do you need anything else?” I asked.

Of course, they didn’t. Deke’s family were some of the most organized people I’d ever met. Despite the less than stellar décor of the manor and restaurant, it’d been highly regarded until the day they closed.

I knew how much Deke’s family appreciated that Christie and Evan had continued that legacy. In many ways, according to what Deke had told me his grandfather had told Evan, they were all family anyway. Albeit estranged.

They had the funeral on a Friday, and to my surprise, Evan said he wanted to come with me. He sat stoically as they read the old man’s eulogy, then followed us to the cemetery, where he stood next to me as they laid Mr. Hallock to rest.

When everyone gathered afterward to eat and visit, I was talking to Deke’s mom when Evan approached Deke. “After what your grandfather told me, I’m going to say he was as close to an uncle as I ever had. I know we didn’t know each other, but his… you all coming to visit and telling me about my grandmother’s past helped heal some open wounds for me. If you ever need anything from me, I’m more than happy to return the favor.”

With that, Evan shook Deke’s hand, and to my surprise, Deke pulled him into a hug. “I guess that makes you our cousin then, huh?” Deke asked him.

Tears once again fell from Evan’s eyes. “I-I guess it does,” he said, then quickly made his way outside.

I looked over at Deke and smiled. My best friend was a good man. Even on this tough day when he faced his own losses, he’d still helped a man who’d lost so much feel like he belonged. That was about as good as anyone could get, as far as I was concerned.