Page 96 of Plot Twist

I shook my head as an announcement told us it was time to board the boat.

I wondered what kind of romance trope my relationship with Riley had been. My kind, I guessed, without the happily ever after.

45

‘Follow me,’ Drew said.

The summer sun was setting in the sky ahead of us as Drew heaved open the heavy iron gate. As we stepped into the grounds, I swallowed my fear and wrapped my coat closer around my body.

I could do this.

Rows and rows of headstones stretched ahead of us. Their names passed in a blink of an eye as I followed Drew along the path. So many people. Gone.

I wondered how many of them had abnormal cells. Or growths. We were surrounded by statistics. Cancer. Heart disease. Liver failure.

Car crash victims. I shivered.

I caught sight of a small collection of teddy bears and flowers beside a small heart-shaped headstone for ‘mummy and daddy’s little angel’. Gulping, I put my head down.

Drew stopped at the side of a grave and knelt down. He gestured for me to do the same.

‘Here,’ he said.

I stood behind him.

Rae. It said so on the headstone, alongside the names of her gran and grandpa. She’d been so fond of them, so I knew she’d at least be content with where she was laid to rest. But still. This was so wrong. So not where she was meant to be.

‘I can’t believe she’s. . . here,’ I said, my eyes filling with tears.

Drew nodded wordlessly in agreement and closed his eyes. Was he going to pray?

‘Can I ask something?’ I blurted out.

‘Sure.’

‘Were you going to get married in a church? Or the Bahamas?’

He opened his eyes and smiled.

‘Church, huge reception at my hotel then an epic honeymoon.’

‘And she definitely still wanted me to be a bridesmaid?’ I whispered.

He stood up and put his arm around me, pulling me closer into him. Drew smelled like he always had. Strong and secure. But I knew he was broken inside, just like me.

‘She practically wanted you on the honeymoon, Becca,’ Drew laughed. ‘She wouldn’t have married me unless you’d given us your blessing. You meant the world to her.’

‘The feeling was entirely mutual,’ I mumbled.

‘I guess that’s why I wanted to bring you here. So she can see that we made up. Does that sound stupid?’

‘No,’ I whispered, putting my head on his shoulder as we stood, staring at her grave. ‘It sounds just right.’

The lump in my throat was growing larger by the second. I swallowed it down, determined to get through this. For Drew, for me, but mostly for Rae.

‘I would have come around, you know,’ I said. ‘Of course I would have. After I’d read the letter and huffed a bit, I’d have agreed to support her. And you. And be your bridesmaid. I could never stay mad at her for long.’

He rubbed my shoulder. ‘That would have meant so much to her.’