Not great…
She was stirred out of her thoughts when the service began with a rousing rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” sung by Julia Lawry, bringing back childhood memories for Sierra of going to church with Nana Ann, who’d had a beautiful singing voice. Tears filled her eyes as she remembered holding hands with her nana and singing along to songs with familiar tunes, including “Amazing Grace,” which had been a particular favorite of her nana’s. Julia’s voice was so beautiful, it took Sierra’s breath away.
Pastor Banks led the congregation through a series of opening prayers. Some of Billy’s friends from the gym did Bible readings. It was almost comical to see the muscular dudes, decked out in poorly fitted suits as they attempted to show decorum and respect for their late friend.
Billy’s friend Niall Fitzgerald performed “Danny Boy,” one of Billy’s favorites of the songs the Irishman regularly performed at the Beachcomber.
Sierra had heard that Billy was cremated and that his ashes were contained in the urn on the altar, giving the whole concept of “dust to dust” new meaning. She was glad no one could hear her thoughts as she tried to pay attention to the lessons to be found in the readings and in Pastor Banks’s comforting words. As always, her ADD kicked in, and her mind wandered in a thousand different directions.
“Are you okay?” Duke whispered.
Sierra nodded. “I’m fine.” That was a lie, as it was impossible to sit through a funeral without thinking of the funerals for her mother and grandparents. The emotions were like muscle memory, built into her wiring now, even if the loss of Billy wasn’t as difficult for her as those had been. He’d still been a friend and far too young to die, which was the hardest part of this for her. He’d been only a few years older than her, and his death had served as yet another reminder that life wasn’t a dress rehearsal.
When Morgan stood and walked to the lectern, his wavy dark hair combed into submission and a black suit showcasing his broad shoulders, Sierra sat up a little straighter, eager to hear what he had to say.
Chapter 2
He’d debated whether to have the funeral in the first place and had engaged in a full-on argument with himself about doing a eulogy. Now that he stood before the packed gathering, Morgan Weyland wished he’d asked someone else to speak about Billy.
He’d decided to have the service because that’s what his late mother would’ve wanted. So he’d done it for her—and for Billy and the many people who’d loved him.
“I want to start by thanking you all for coming today and for the way you’ve stepped up for me over these last few surreal months. As many of you know, Billy and I were raised on here on Gansett, along with our late sister, Amanda. Unlike my sister and me, Billy loved this island with his whole heart and soul, and while Amanda and I were plotting our escape, he was figuring out a way to stay forever. He founded the gym right out of high school in the hope that it would allow him to live here forever.
“Billy, congratulations on achieving that goal. You did it, pal. You spent your entire life on this island you loved with all your heart. After spending these last few months here with all of you, I can see why Billy loved it so much and had no desire to leave. It’s been a reminder to me that even if I wanted out of here as a kid, it’s always been a special place made up of incredible people who show up in good times and in bad.
“Thank you for the meals, the cards, the endless support, the kind words about Billy and for everything you’ve done to prop me up during the awful days when we were looking for him and every day since we found him.
“If my brother were here, I’d punch him in the face for putting me through this.”
The congregation laughed, as he’d hoped they would.
“We were always wrestling, trying to outdo each other, tripping each other and generally acting like fools when we were together. We drove our poor parents crazy with the bickering, trying to one-up each other, constantly competing to see who could do what stupid thing better, faster or with less blood.
“We spent a lot of time in the island’s clinic when we were growing up. Billy held the record for the most stitches, while I was the broken-bone champion. We wore those titles with honor and considered them proof of a well-spent childhood.”
Morgan paused to contend with the lump that suddenly appeared in his throat. Please, Ma, help me get through this and not bawl my head off in front of all these people. I’m doing this for you…
“Our sister, Amanda, died from meningitis when she was in college. Over the next five years, we lost both of our parents to accidents. For a time there, it felt like the universe was out to get us, but Billy and I… We hung on to each other and got through it. Somehow. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to get through this without him to hang on to. He was my best friend, my favorite person to annoy and the only one in the world I talked to every day. That’s how I knew for sure he was gone. He stopped answering the phone and texting me back. He’d never do that to me unless he had no choice.”
A few people sniffed, and he saw tissues being passed around.
“Billy worked his butt off establishing the island’s only gym and made a huge success of it. I was so proud of him, and I’m thankful now that I told him so every chance I got. Like many of you, who, like me, grew up here and escaped to the mainland as soon as we could, the island looks different to me as an adult. I loved coming out here to spend a weekend with Billy. I’ll cherish those memories forever. A lot of you have asked what I plan to do with the gym, and for now, the only plan I have is to keep it open because that’s what he’d want me to do. I’m taking it day by day, week by week, so I guess I’ll just say we’ll see what happens for now.
“I’ll never know what possessed Billy and Jim to try to ride out a hurricane on a boat, but if I know Billy, he was worried about losing the boat he loved and didn’t want to be out there alone. They probably figured they could muscle through it together. I can’t bear to think of what they went through… I’m not a very religious person, but if there’s an afterlife, I hope Billy is with the ones we’ve loved and lost.
“Thank you again for being here for Billy—and for me—and for reminding me why my brother loved it here. I’ll never forget how you all took care of me during one of the worst times in my life.”
He wiped away tears as he left the lectern and made his way back to his front-row seat. As he went, his gaze connected with Billy’s friend Sierra, who was openly sobbing as Duke Sullivan comforted her.
He’d gotten to know her a little as she’d brought meals to the gym, each time asking if there was anything she could do to help him. While he’d appreciated her kindness, he also found himself looking forward to her visits, as she was not only sweet and kind but also one of the sexiest women he’d ever met.
Not that he had time for such thoughts while figuring out how to run a gym and dealing with his brother’s estate, among many other current challenges, including his own job, which had been put on hold when his brother went missing in the storm. He’d have to make a decision about that situation before too much longer, but that didn’t need to happen today.
The last time Sierra had come by the gym, she’d left a gift certificate for a massage at the time of his choosing. She’d put a note in it to let her know when he was ready, and she’d find the time. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle having her hands all over him, which was a thought he absolutely should not be having as Reverend Banks led them through prayers for Billy’s eternal soul.
Morgan was still trying to decide whether he wanted to keep Billy’s ashes with him or inter him with their parents and sister on the mainland. If he had to guess, he’d bet Billy would want to be on the island somewhere, so maybe he’d sprinkle the ashes in some of his brother’s favorite places.
All at once, he was awash in tears at the thought of dealing with what was left of his brother. He wanted Billy here with him, not in an urn on the mantel or lost to a stiff breeze. How could he have risked his life when he knew Morgan had no one else? How could he have left him to face the rest of his life alone? What was he supposed to do now? Billy had poured everything he had into the gym, and the thought of closing it was almost as heartbreaking as losing Billy.
