The Redemption(89)

I see the emotion he’s held back start to show as he looks down, lifting his sunglasses to wipe at his eyes, then lets them fall back into place. “I don’t want to sit in those chairs. That makes it real.”

His denial is familiar. I remember thinking the same thing years ago, but I didn’t want to upset Cory’s family by not sitting next to them. “You don’t have to. Stand where you want. I’ll stand by you.”

Shifting, he swallows hard. “I didn’t do the same for you at Cory’s.”

“You didn’t have to. I understood. All that mattered is that you were there.”

“I didn’t know you saw me,” he says, reaching for my hand.

When our fingers entwine, I reply, “You were leaning against a tree. You wore a black shirt and sunglasses. You were holding something shiny. I remembered it catching my eye as it reflected in the sun.”

He releases my hand and pulls out his wallet. Digging inside, he produces an oval coin. I recognize it before he says anything, my heart beginning to throb out of my chest. “Cory gave this to me in Paris. It’s St. Christopher.” My breaths shorten as he continues. “He said he’s the patron saint of travelers.”

“I know.” I take it from him, holding it in the palm of my hand. A tear joins it. “I gave this to him the first time he left to tour without me. He didn’t want to go alone.” I look up at Dex. His sunglasses in his hand, his tear-filled eyes on me. “I told him he was never alone. He had you, Johnny, and Tommy. And you guys would always be there for him when I couldn’t.” I fold my fingers around it.

“He told me this coin would help me find my way home.” His hand wraps around my fisted one. “It was the last thing he said to me before he left Paris.”

The sob I was trying to hide from him breaks free. I sniffle, then ask, “Did you?”

“It led me to you, Rochelle.” He puts his sunglasses over his eyes again and releases my hand. His voice shakes when he says, “I just wish it didn’t come at the expense of him.”

Adjusting my sunglasses down over my eyes, I say, “We didn’t come at the expense of Cory. The universe doesn’t work in such cruel ways. This is how it was always meant to be.”

Taking my hand again, he asks, “Were we always meant to be?”

“We may have taken the scenic route to get here, but we’re here now, baggage and a few cute kids along for the ride.”

“Dex,” Gage calls from behind us.

Dex turns to look. When he turns back, he says, “Guess we should go over there, but before we do, I want you to know that having you share the journey has made the road less traveled worth the risk.”

“Dex!” Gage yells, ending the conversation.

Dex turns and with me by his side, we stand behind the chairs, two people mixed in with the large crowd and watch as his mother is put into her final resting place.





I stand back in a corner of his mother’s living room with Johnny and Holli, Tommy, Kaz, and Derrick. None of us are talking much. I’m not surprised. Funerals suck.

Holli nudges me. “Maybe you should go hang out with him.”

“I don’t want to add to his obligations today. Everyone wants a piece of him to help them find peace with his mother’s death.”

She touches my arm. “I understand, but you being there isn’t a burden to him.”

“Everyone knows about us, don’t they?”

Nodding, she says with a reassuring smile, “And supports you. He’s a good man. It just took a while to get to know the man underneath the fa?ade. You’re good for him.”

“He’s good for me.”

Johnny takes Holly’s hand and moves closer. “Holliday’s right. I remember Dex being pretty cool back in the day. He just lost himself along the way. Fame does that to some people… to most. You reminded him of who he really is. I think he might have done the same for you, you know, reminding you of who you always were.” He steps forward. “We’re gonna go talk to him and take off unless you want us to stay, Rochelle.”

“No,” I reply, “it’s fine. You can go. I might help him escape soon anyway.”

Johnny and Holli leave after a hug and Derrick and Kaz follow closely behind, leaving me and Tommy there. When I lean against the wall next to Tommy, he says, “You know that time we went to Barstow?”

“How can I forget it?”

He rubs his chin in a thoughtful manner. “When Dex called me. He told me two things. One was the motel’s name. The other thing… he said and I quote, “If I die, tell Rochelle I’m sorry.”

I look at him in shock. “Sorry for what?”

“He didn’t say, but something inside me thinks he really was close to death that day. Something made him want to apologize to you and I’m guessing he wanted to go with a clear conscience.”

“I’m guessing it was the drugs,” I remark dryly.

Tommy pushes off the wall, and says, “I’m gonna go. We should talk about the tour soon. Call me next week.”

“I will,” I say, nodding.

I watch as he goes over to Dex and Gage, shaking their hands. Dex’s eyes meet mine across the crowded room before he looks back at Tommy. Once Tommy leaves, a few other mourners talk to them as I make my way over, weaving between small groups of people. I veer to the back door and nod toward it when Dex looks at me. He smiles though I can tell he feels guilty for the small act of happiness when he’s supposed to be sad. I remember battling the same contrasting emotions.