surface. My Harriet pearls. I’d watched her get ready for years and always loved it when she donned these. They were classic, timeless, and seemed so very elegant.
When I graduated from college, Harriet had given them to me. I didn’t cry often, but I’d burst into tears right in the hotel suite. She had known me so well. Gifts with a story always meant the most.
I inhaled deeply, my breath stuttering as it moved. I would face today, my head held high, for Harriet. I would pretend that Grant, Clark, and Annabelle weren’t even there. I locked eyes with my reflection and made a vow to never once let my armor slip.
A knock sounded on the door, breaking my trance. I quickly grabbed my purse and slipped on my black wedge heels. I flicked off light switches as I moved from room to room, this place that had become my sanctuary. It called me to stay—safe within its walls. But I couldn’t.
I tugged open the door, and Bell immediately pulled me into a hug. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I gave her a quick squeeze and then straightened. “They don’t get to steal this moment from me. They don’t get to ruin it with their hate. I’m going to say goodbye to Harriet.”
The Abbot family hadn’t even bothered to let me know when they’d scheduled the memorial. The pastor of Harriet’s church had informed me. They would’ve put Harriet to rest, not even giving a second thought to the fact that I wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye.
“That’s my girl.” Bell bumped my shoulder with hers. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
Ford was waiting at the front of his SUV. As we approached, he stepped forward, wrapping me in a gentle hug. I don’t think I’d ever hugged him before. I’d known the man for almost my entire life, and he’d never wrapped his arms around me. The tenderness of the gesture almost broke me.
“I’m so sorry. We’re here for you. Whatever you need.”
I swallowed back the swirling ball of emotions gathering in my throat. “Thank you.”
The ride to the cemetery was mostly silent. Ford took pity on me and flipped on the radio, letting the soft music cut into some of the awkwardness. I’d known these two forever. Bell had seen me through all of my highs and lows for twenty-some years. So why did I feel as if I wanted to crawl out of my skin?
Ford pulled into a spot at the back of the lot. Caelyn and her siblings, Will, Ava, and Mia, were waiting near their SUV. As soon as I stepped out of the vehicle, Mia flew towards me. When she was a foot away, she launched herself at me. I caught her mid-jump and swung her into my arms, the move startling a laugh out of me on a day when I’d thought a smile would be too much of a struggle.
Mia pressed her face to my chest. “Kenna-Benna. I’ve missed you.”
Guilt lit through me. I usually saw the kids a few times a week, trying to help lighten Caelyn’s load as much as I could. But over the past few weeks, I hadn’t been by as much as I should’ve been. I hadn’t been sure I could keep it together. “Sorry, Mi. How about I come for a sleepover next weekend?”
Her little head snapped up. “Bells, too?”
“Me, too.” Bell stepped in and rubbed a hand up and down Mia’s back. “You gotta tell us what you want from The Mad Baker.”
“Rainbow sprinkle cake.”
I stifled a laugh. As if there were any other answer from my sweet Mia. “That we can do.”
Caelyn moved in close, giving my arm a squeeze. “She’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”
“Just where I like to be.” I smiled at Ava and Will. “Hey, guys, how are you?”
“Good.” The single word Ava spoke was barely audible.
Will straightened, his teenage face looking so grown up in that moment. He and Caelyn both had endured way more than they should’ve had to, at way too young an age. “I’m sorry about Miss Harriet. She was a great lady.”
“She really was. Thanks, Will.”
He ducked his head and placed a hand on Ava’s shoulder. “Should we go?”
Ford glanced at his watch. “It’s almost time.”
Mia squirmed, and I gently set her down, her small hand slipping into mine. The pang that sliced through my heart wasn’t as strong as it had once been. When Bell and I returned from college to