Don't Make a Sound (Sawyer Brooks #1)(32)

The funeral director came forward then, stood behind the pulpit, and asked everyone to take a seat. He talked about everyone gathering today to celebrate Sally’s life. As he invited people to speak, the sound of a police siren pierced the air.

Sawyer looked around for Aspen. She spotted him in the last row of chairs, his gaze directed toward the main road where the siren’s whirring was now fading. Sawyer turned back to face the casket. She would see Aspen at the house later.

It took a few moments before the murmurs died down and the director was able to finish speaking.

A woman Sawyer didn’t know took a few minutes to say kind words about Gramma. Next came an elderly gentleman dressed in an orange-and-brown plaid suit. He admitted he’d never met Sally but wanted to talk about the hazards of old age and how they all needed to keep moving. Apparently, he’d been walking every day for most of his life and was in tip-top shape. That garnered some laughter. He then invited anyone interested to join him each morning at 9:30 a.m. in front of the wood bear carving at Gold Dust Park.

Old Lady McGrady was the third and last person to speak. When she finished, Sawyer thought about getting up and saying something, but her legs wouldn’t budge. She couldn’t do it. Her feelings for Gramma were too personal to share. Nobody needed to know what Gramma meant to her. Her memories were hers alone.

The director had a few final words, and no sooner had the funeral begun, it was over.

Sawyer stood.

A group of people quickly formed a line, waiting to talk to Mom and Dad.

Sawyer walked toward the back in search of Aspen, closer to the edge of the freshly mowed grass where the tall pines towered over her and she could smell the damp earth.

Someone called out her name. A young woman. A cheerful voice. Sawyer stopped and turned toward her. It was Erika Leonard from high school. She’d been one of the mean girls back then. Every school had their share of them. They liked to mock others and spend most of their time gossiping.

“I’m sorry about your gramma,” Erika said. “I know she meant a lot to you.”

“Thank you.”

“If there’s any chance you’ll be staying in River Rock for a while, Robert and I would love to have you over for dinner. Robert talks about the Brooks sisters all the time, especially Harper. He had a thing for Harper and used to offer to fix her car for free whenever it broke down.”

“Bob Stanley? The mechanic?”

“The one and only,” a male voice said behind Sawyer, startling her. She whipped around, surprised to see Bob hovering over her. His broad shoulders strained against his light-blue button-down shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his forearms. He had big hands, a brawny chest, and a wide smile.

Erika beamed while Sawyer thought about what Melanie had said about Bob beating his wife. She wanted to reach out and pull off Erika’s sunglasses to see if she was hiding any bruises.

Sawyer couldn’t imagine the two of them together. The prom queen and the bad-boy mechanic. Like mixing oil with water.

Erika held up her left hand. “We’re married. Three kids with a fourth in the oven.” She patted her stomach.

“Wow.”

“That’s what I said when she broke the news to me,” Bob said.

Sawyer fixated her gaze on him. His smile was long gone, as if his wife had betrayed him by getting pregnant. “I’m happy for you,” she said. Before she could say anything more, Uncle Theo approached, stepped between her and Erika, and put a hand on Sawyer’s arm. “Don’t touch me,” she said.

He pulled his hand away.

“I’m sorry,” Uncle Theo said, tears in his eyes. “For everything.”

He touched her arm. She slapped it away.

“Excuse us,” Sawyer said to Erika and Bob.

“Sure you don’t need some help?” Bob asked.

“I’ll be fine.” Sawyer walked away. She felt a stiffness in her neck.

Uncle Theo followed, talking all the way. “The pastor at Holiness Church says that I have paid my debt to society. I’m a new man, and I’m getting help. Please. I’m only asking for your forgiveness.”

Sawyer waited until she was far enough away from Erika and Bob before she turned on her uncle. “You’re a fucking pedophile. Bottom of the barrel as far as people go.” Her hands rolled into fists. “I’ll never forgive you for what you did. I don’t want to talk to you. I thought I made that clear this morning. I don’t understand why you’re here. Gramma knew everything. She despised you.”

“She was nice to me. I helped take care of her.”

“Gramma was afraid of you.”

“That’s not true. It was your mother who made Sally whimper whenever she came near her. Not me.”

Sawyer’s jaw hurt from clenching her teeth. “Whimper? What the hell did Mom do to Gramma?”

He didn’t answer, which was fine since she didn’t believe a word he said. “Nobody wants you hanging around,” she said, wanting to hurt him. “You meant nothing to Gramma, and you mean nothing to me. It’s like you’re not even standing here talking to me. You’re invisible.”

Sawyer walked away, every muscle tense. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? He’d taken advantage of her and Aria when they were much too young to fend for themselves. He should be locked behind bars. He didn’t deserve to walk free, and he certainly didn’t deserve her forgiveness.