I clear away the dead leaves and overgrown foliage and place Shelby’s remains next to the headstone.
“Hey, Momma.It’s me.Ashley.I feel kind of stupid talking to a rock or whatever, but I’m here, and I brought Shelby with me.Maybe you know that.I don’t know if you can see me or hear me.If you can, I hope that you’re together and that you’ll watch over Ash and me.I love you and I miss you both every day.”I kiss two of my fingers, then press them to the urn and then the headstone.
“I’ll bring Ash next time I come.You’d both be amazed at what a cute kid he is.I promise that I’ll give him a good life and raise him with so much love he’ll feel smothered by it at times.”I get choked by my tears and swipe them away.“I love you both of you.”
I take the bottle of red nail polish out of my purse and place it on the grave along with the flowers I bought on the way here.
The walk back to my vehicle is somber yet peaceful.
Birds are singing.Insects are chirping, and the sun is shining.
I hope Shelby found the peace in death that she never found in this life.
I’m almost home when I get a text from Blood telling me to meet him at the clubhouse.
“What’s going on?”I slip under Blood’s arm as he stares out at the beach.
He points down the shoreline, and I spot one of the guys carrying a woman in his arms.
“Who is that?”
“Not a fucking clue.Guts said Kevlar found her washed up on the beach.”
“Is she alive?”
“I hope so.”
