Page 50 of Into The Rabbit Hole

She nodded. “Where were youyesterday?”

The question definitely threw him off balance. “I didn’t think I couldcome.”

She turned away from him and looked down at the grave. Wade forced his eyes there, too, and focused his gaze on the granite headstone. When he read what it said, he looked back toher.

Here lies Merissa Stevens, loving daughter. Born 1stFebruary, 1979; Died 29thJune, 2017; and her son, Paul Stevens. Born 29thApril, 2012; Died 29thApril, 2012. Both taken toosoon.

They were both here. Both of them. The back of his eyes stung and, before he could blink, a tear ran down hischeek.

Marlene looked over at him and seemed to know what he was thinking. It was the solemn look on herface.

“She named him Paul, after her grandfather. She wanted to be buried with his ashes so they would always be together.” She nodded. “I always said it was such a morbid thought, but I guess the good Lord knew better. Knew what was to come. We went to the hospital that day when he died. She called us in hysterics, and of course we were shocked by the news. We didn’t even know she was pregnant.” She pulled in a breath before continuing. “I couldn’t understand why you left her, but the doctor in charge explained what happened and I understood it all. But she nevercould.”

“What made you understand?” Wade was in awe to hear her say that, but he had toknow.

A soft smile filled herface.

“The way you used to take care of her when you were with her said everything, and more. It told us all how much you cared. It was exactly how a man should take care of a woman. I might not have known that she was pregnant, but when I thought of it, it made so much sense. You were at her side, attached to her so you could be there whenever she needed you. Always. So when we found out what happened to the baby, we knew it had to be anaccident.”

Her words spoke to his soul and provided the balm he needed so desperately to soothit.

“I ruined her life, Mrs. Stevens,” hestated.

But she shook her head. “No, that wasn’t you, she was different after that. Everything was different after that. It was to be expected, but there wasn’t anything else anyone could havedone.”

“I tried to save her, I tried, but the smoke or whatever it was knocked me out.” He presumed she had to have known whathappened.

“Wade, that is exactly what I expected to hear, and we knew you couldn’t have killed her.” She held his gaze, then moved over to him to rest a supportive hand on his shoulder. “I’ll leave you with them, but let your guilt end here. I watched guilt and the need for revenge consume my daughter. That was what ruined her life. Don’t allow it to ruinyours.”

Wade stared at her, not knowing what to say. He couldn’t help the way he felt, but in the midst of the darkness a light feeling of the redemption he sought surfaced. It was a flicker. A spark, like the first twinkle of fire before it was lit, but it was there. “Thank you,” hemanaged.

She offered a curt nod and walked away, leavinghim.

He focused on the grave again and kneeled down, looking at it all. The flowers, the headstone, the dirt that coveredit.

They were both here. He never thought he’d live to experience something like this. The sadness was indescribable, and the pain was still there. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t through the incoherent thoughts that clouded hismind.

So he sat there, sat there for probably an hour in silence, until he felt a hand on his shoulder offering a gentletouch.

When he looked up to see who the hand belonged to, a tear ran down his cheek. Taylor stood next to him dressed in black. Beside her was his mother and his father. All dressed inblack.

“We thought you could use some support,” Taylor said with a softsmile.

“I do.” Henodded.

They came closer and his mother kneeled next to him so that she could holdhim.