Page 85 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

She visited them. She cared for them.

When I hadn’t been here, she’d tended to them instead.

A lump clogged my throat. “Thank you.”

Mom’s hand slipped into mine, and we stopped at the base of the grave. The marker only had Shannon’s name on the stone along with her dates of birth and death. But in the lower corner, I’d asked that they carve something for our child.

A tiny pair of angel wings.

Shannon had been eight months pregnant, but we still hadn’t picked out names. We had narrowed down the boys’ names but had struggled with options for a girl.

And since I hadn’t been able to put her name on the granite, I’d given her wings instead.

Tears dripped from my eyes and into my beard. I didn’t even bother wiping them away. I just stood there, holding Mom’s hand, and let go.

Like Piper had once told me on the ridge, sometimes you just needed to cry.

The tears lasted a while, but when they stopped, I closed my eyes and spoke to the ghost I’d tethered to me for years.

Good-bye, sweet angel.

A breeze blew past, lifting her up to fly free.

“Thanks, Mom.”

She squeezed my hand. “You’re welcome.”

I took one last look at the grave, smiled at Shannon’s name, then turned away and escorted Mom back to my truck. Maybe I’d visit again. Maybe this would be my farewell. I wasn’t sure. But one thing I did know was that I had work to do before I went back to Lark Cove.

Talking to Mom had helped me deal with my fears for Piper’s pregnancy. They were still there, they probably always would be. But Mom’s excitement about becoming a grandparent had broken through. She’d helped me see things from a different angle.

I was getting another chance. I hadn’t destroyed the first one. He had.

But if I didn’t pull my head out of my ass, I would ruin this one.

“Kaine,” Mom said as we left the cemetery’s gates. “I’m proud of you for going there today. I know it wasn’t easy. I hope it gives you some closure.”

“It did.”

“Good. We-we should talk about—”

“No,” I cut Mom off.

“But—”

“No.” My voice left no room for argument. “We won’t talk about him. Ever. If you want to be in my life, you won’t bring him up.”

Her shoulders fell, but she nodded. “Okay.”

Just the idea of him made my jaw clench. I didn’t want to be so forceful with Mom, but he was a no-go topic. If I was going to forgive Mom and get over what had happened three years ago, I had to block him out.

I’d made some peace with Mom. I refused to let him take that too.

“What are your plans? How long can you stay?” she asked, changing the subject.

I rubbed my beard with a hand, forcing the tension out of my jaw. Then I took a deep breath, releasing the anger and concentrating on what had to be done. “I need to deal with my old house. I have no idea what’s become of my stuff. I wouldn’t mind stopping by and saying thanks to my landlord at the old shop. And I’d like to fix your fence. Maybe get your car into the mechanic.”

“Oh, Kaine. Don’t worry about those things. I can manage.”