Come Away with Me (With Me in Seattle, #1)(84)

It’s my favorite photo of the day.

“You’re so talented, baby. They’re going to love these. My mom will hang them in the family room.” He sets the frame on the desk and pulls me to him, kissing me in that soft way he does that makes me all weak in the knees.

“I hope they like them.”

“You’re so sweet. You didn’t have to do this. I already put both our names on the gift I got them.”

“I know.” I hug him tight and bury my face in his chest. “But I wanted to do something nice for them. I’ve grown very fond of your parents. I put both our names on this too.”

I feel him smile against my head.

“What did you get them, anyway?”

“We,” he stresses the word and I smile. “Got them a second honeymoon in the South of France.”

“Of course we did.” I laugh and kiss his sternum.

“Is that funny?”

“No.” I pull back and look up at his impossibly handsome face. He didn’t shave this morning, and I rub my hand down his cheek, enjoying the roughness.

“I love how generous you are.”

He shrugs and looks uncomfortable.

“They deserve it.”

“Yes, they do.”

“Have you decided what you’re wearing Saturday?” He asks as I gather the frames back into their bags.

“Yeah, I picked something up the other day when Jules and I took Stacy shopping. Thank you again for including Jules’ family. They’re excited to go.”

“My

parents

really

enjoyed

themselves with Jules’ family. They’ll be happy to have them there.”

“Do you have lots of work today?” I ask, steeling myself to tell him about Brad.

“No, I’m done. You?”

“I just so happen to have a clear calendar for the rest of the day.”

“Hmm… what can we do with a whole day off in the rain?” He raises a finger to his lips and pretends to be thinking really hard and I laugh, but then remember that there is somewhere I need to be, and my mood shifts, and Brad and meeting with Sam is the furthest thing from my mind.

“Actually, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but I do have to run an errand.”

I look down at my hands and then back at him, biting my lip.

“Okay, do you want company?”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“I always want to be with you. Where are you going?” He looks concerned, leaning back on his desk, his arms crossed over his chest.

“The cemetery.” I shrug nervously.

“Why?”

“I only go twice a year, on my birthday, which I missed this year because my incredibly sexy boyfriend whisked me away to a tropical paradise.” I grin sassily at him and he grins back.

“And on their birthday.”

“Their birthday?” He asks, confused.

I nod. “They shared a birthday, exactly three years apart. They always made a big deal of it, with a big party or a fun trip somewhere. They always made sure to include me, and so I want to always remember it for them.” The last few words are a whisper.

He crosses to me and kisses my forehead. “Let’s go.”

***

Melancholy settles over me as we get closer to the cemetery. We took my car since I know where to go in the large graveyard, and I just needed something to occupy my mind.

Luke will most likely drive home.

“I’m sorry, honey, but this might turn into a sad day for me. I don’t dwell on this often, but I’m usually not good company after I’ve been here.”

He kisses my fingers gently and sighs heavily. “I wish you never had to go through this, Nat. It’s something I can’t fix for you, and I would do anything if I could.”

“I know,” I whisper.

I park on the single-lane paved driveway a few rows back from my parents’ large headstone. After getting out of the car, I reach in the backseat for two bouquets of flowers, lilies for my dad and sunflowers for my mom. They were her favorite.

I walk over to where they rest; Luke walks just a couple paces behind me, giving me space. He always knows what to do to comfort me. I’ll have to thank him later.

This section of the cemetery sits up on a hill with a great view of downtown, the Space Needle, and the Sound. I gaze around me, taking in their view, and then turn back to the large, black marble headstone.

I kneel before it, not caring about the wet ground, and brush leaves and grass off the base, cleaning it up, keeping myself busy and my eyes averted from their names and dates of birth and death.

I place the flowers beneath their names and then sit back on my heels and look up.

CONNER is written in big, bold letters across the top, their names and dates are below. Written in script below that is I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

I lean forward and place my palms flat on the smooth, cold marble over each of their precious names and close my eyes, letting the memories flood my mind.

Luke kneels next to me and places his hand on the center of my back.

“Talk about them, baby.” His voice is rough and he’s rubbing my back gently.

I don’t look at him, I just keep my eyes closed and my hands on the stone, but I find myself talking.