Page 24

TWENTY-FOUR

FARRON

THE SPOT OVER THE HILL

Day 477

How the hell are you meant to measure time when you lose someone? It’s only been a few days, but it feels like an eternity. It doesn’t even feel real. First my parents, then Holden, and now... Ma. Knowing I’ll never see any of them again? The pressure of it all engulfs me, suffocating me, merciless. But Pa and the guys give me a reason to keep moving forward, a thread of purpose I cling to. They lighten the load just enough to keep me from crumbling entirely.

I glance up at the sky, laden with thick, brooding clouds. A storm brews on the horizon, teetering on the edge of breaking loose. The weather mirrors my mood—and probably everyone else’s—a bleak and fitting companion to our shared grief.

Peter and Jasper are on watch today while the rest of us gather for Ma’s funeral. They’d insisted, carrying the weight of guilt for what happened to her and Eric, convinced it was their fault for letting it happen. This, they said, was their way of atoning—standing guard, even now. I told them Daisy would need them here, today of all days. It’s not just Ma’s funeral—it’s Eric’s too.

“We’ll do something private with her later,” they told me. I nodded, but it didn’t stop me from making a mental note to check in on Daisy afterward. Grief has a way of isolating people, and Daisy’s already shouldered more than anyone should.

Dressed in black, the three of us—Adrian, Theo, and I—head toward the small cemetery tucked into the back corner of the ranch. The damp ground beneath my feet seeps its chill through my boots, a cruel, biting reminder of life’s unyielding weight. Adrian and Theo walk on either side of me, each holding one of my hands. Their silent presence steadies me, even as the silence between us is heavy with unspoken grief.

Kenji stayed behind with Pa. He said he wasn’t ready to join us yet, but I know the truth. Kenji stayed to make sure Pa didn’t drown himself in whiskey before we said our final goodbyes. The whiskey will come later, after the tears, when we sit around the fire to share stories and memories.

As we crest the small hill leading to the cemetery, I stop, my breath catching in my chest. Every single person in the community is here. Some clutch tissues in their hands, others hold wildflowers scavenged from the sparse landscape—whatever they could find in this unforgiving weather. Tears well in my eyes, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of their love and support.

Ma mattered to every person standing here. She wasn’t just part of this community, she was its foundation. She was there for every new arrival, every meal shared, every word of encouragement spoken. Her presence was woven into the fabric of this place, and now, even in her absence, she ties us all together.

It’s been a week since we lost her and Eric. They’ve been buried here, waiting for this moment. Peter and Jasper took on the grueling task of digging the graves and laying them to rest, despite Daisy’s repeated attempts to convince them it wasn’t their fault. But guilt isn’t easily shaken, and I know it’ll be a long time before they believe her.

Daisy stands at the head of Eric’s grave, her hand resting protectively on her belly. Her face is a mask of quiet strength, but I can see the weight of her loss in the set of her shoulders, in every line of her face.

Adrian’s hand trembles in mine, and I squeeze it gently, hoping to reassure him. When I glance at him, his eyes are clouded with pain and guilt. I lean in, brushing a brief kiss against his cheek. His eyes flutter shut at the contact, and when I pull away, he exhales slowly, giving me a small nod.

As we move to take our place near Ma’s grave, I spot Kenji and Pa making their way through the gathered crowd. Kenji catches my eye first, and for a moment, my breath hitches. He’s wearing a suit jacket I’ve never seen before—likely borrowed—paired with black pants and his usual scuffed cowboy boots, the sling on his left arm.. His hair is pulled into a half-bun, and for a fleeting moment, he looks heartbreakingly handsome. My feelings for Kenji have been shifting over the past few weeks, morphing from pure hatred to something tolerable, then to grudging respect. And now… now it feels like something so much bigger. Something poignant.

Kenji reaches me first. Without a word, he leans down and presses a soft kiss to my forehead before taking his place beside Adrian on my right.

Pa comes up next, pulling me into a strong embrace. His body trembles against mine, shaking with the emotions he’s fighting so hard to keep in check. When he lets go, he takes his place on my left and clasps my hand tightly in his, as if anchoring himself to something steady.

Theo steps behind me, resting a firm yet comforting hand on my shoulder. The gesture is silent but grounding, a reminder that I’m not alone in this.

Jay steps forward, weaving his way to the front of the crowd. I don’t know how he finds the strength after everything he’s been through, but he volunteered to lead the service today. He said his grandpa would have done the same, would have stepped up for the community when words were needed most. And so, here he is now, offering to speak the last goodbyes on behalf of us all.

Clearing his throat, Jay begins. “This world has changed before our very eyes. A world we once called cruel and unfair has truly become those things in the blink of an eye.” His gaze lands on me for a moment before he continues. “But in the face of adversity, we found something remarkable; a community, a family, a support system to carry us through the hardest days.”

He pauses, his voice softening. “Today, we lay to rest two people who embodied that strength, who helped each and every one of us through those dark and harrowing times. Eric, always the first to lend a hand, the one who did much of the physical labor here on the ranches. He was so happy, so proud to become a father.”

Kenji reaches out and wraps an arm around Daisy, drawing her into his warmth. A sob escapes her, raw and uncontainable, and my heart shatters for her, for what she’s lost, for the future that was stolen from her before it even began.

“And Nora.” Jay’s voice falters, and he stops for a moment, choking on his words. Tears stream down my face as he collects himself and continues. “I’ve known Nora my entire life. I was born right here on this ranch, and she was there, watching me grow up. Just like she did with Farron, Holden, and Todd. She yelled at me when my grandpa wasn’t around to do it himself and always made sure I was fed.”

A soft ripple of laughter moves through the gathered crowd like a fleeting memory. “She wasn’t just part of Rolling Hills Ranch—she was Rolling Hills Ranch,” Jay says, his voice thick with grief. “She was an incredible mother, grandmother, and wife. She wasn’t just someone we thought of when we thought of this place; she made it a home .”

Jay’s gaze finds mine, steady and full of understanding. He pauses, giving me the moment I asked for earlier. I’d told him I wanted to speak, knowing Pa wouldn’t be able to, and because there were things that needed to be said, things only I could say. Behind me, Theo leans in, pressing a soft kiss to the back of my head before releasing my shoulders. His silent support settles me, but as I step up beside Jay and turn to face the crowd, my nerves spike, twisting in my chest like barbed wire.

I take a deep breath, glancing at the familiar faces before me. This isn’t just for me, it’s for them, too.

“I never understood why some people don’t want to speak at funerals” I begin, my voice trembling. “But standing here now, I get it.” My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a painful reminder of the weight of my grief. It feels like I might crumble under it, the urge to scream and pound my fists into the cold ground overwhelming. “Why was she taken? Why did those monsters invade our community that night?!” The words tear out of me, raw and unfiltered, as the unfairness of it all boils to the surface.

I shake my head, trying to banish the relentless “what ifs” before they consume me. My gaze drifts to Adrian, surrounded by his brothers, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, red from grief. I take a deep breath, grounding myself. This moment isn’t just for me. It’s for him, Pa, Daisy, and everyone else who’s been touched by this loss.

“I remember when I first came to the ranch, after everything fell apart,” I say, my voice quivering but resolute. “I saw Eric and Daisy here, so madly in love that it was like the zombie apocalypse wasn’t even happening around them. And what I came to realize is that, even in the worst of times, they chose to hold onto the good. They clung to every bright moment like a lifeline and reminded the rest of us that even when the world stops, love doesn’t. Love carries on. And their love continues now.” Daisy meets my eyes, her lips trembling into a wobbly smile. She mouths “thank you,” and I offer a small, sad nod in return.

“I remember one night when I was a teenager, Ma got very drunk—not something that happened often. But there we were, sitting in the kitchen, watching Pa and the parents out by the fire. She told me how much she loved him, that he was the greatest gift she’d ever been given. That he gave her love, patience, and a family she cherished more than anything in the world.”

Kenji places a comforting hand on Pa’s shoulder while Todd stands by his other side, offering silent support.

“A few nights ago, Ma and I were alone in that same kitchen, in the very same spot. She told me that life and love come in all kinds of forms. She said that when someone comes into your life who lights your world, you hold onto them, no matter how unconventional it may seem.”

I pause for a moment, taking a steadying breath before continuing. The next part won’t make sense to everyone, but it doesn’t need to. It only needs to make sense to one person.

“She told me how proud she was of you,” I say, my voice thick with emotion, “that she thought you were one of the strongest, kindest people she’d ever met. She said she hopes your spark never dies out.” I lift my eyes from the ground, meeting Adrian’s tear-filled gaze for a moment that stretches between us, enough for him to understand that Ma was talking about him .

Jay steps forward to finish the service, offering his final words, and as the ceremony wraps up, I make my way over to the guys. Adrian doesn’t hesitate. He pulls me into his arms, his grief pouring out as he sobs into my shoulder. I hold him tight, letting him feel the pain, letting him know he’s not alone. None of us are. We’ll miss her forever, but we’ll face this loss together.

When the crowd begins to disperse, Pa walks beside me, his hand brushing mine. “Thank you,” he says softly, not breaking his stride.

We walk toward the firepit by the house, where Jay, Todd, Daisy, and eventually Jasper and Peter join us, sitting on either side of Daisy. We sit together, sharing stories and memories of our loved ones, never forgetting the time we had with them and the love that will always remain.