The morning sun burned off the cloud cover as it rose into the sky, turning it into a sparkling clear day. Even the temperature had risen into the upper forties. It still wasn’t the best time of year for a gravesite service, yet Rusty was shocked by the turnout.
He stood by his grandfather’s coffin with his hands clasped in front of him as people walked by and tossed a flower on the casket. Everything had happened so fast, he still felt like none of this was real. That he’d wake up from this awful nightmare in his bed at home, with his grandfather yelling that his teeth were missing again.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Mrs. Cramer said, tucking Ryan into her side. “Frank was always a good man to this community. It was a beautiful service.”
“You didn’t have to come. I’m sure this is tough for you both.”
“My William passed away over a year ago. It’s time for us to start dealing with life. Ryan and I have been so blessed with having your assistance on our house. I know Becca lives there, but nonetheless, you’ve done so much for us.”
“It’s been my pleasure.” Rusty smiled down at Ryan then back at Mrs. Cramer. “Have you spoken to Becca today?”
Mrs. Cramer squeezed his forearm, indicating she knew about their breakup. “No. She left early, I’m afraid.”
“She was crying all night again. Did you do something to her?” Ryan accused.
Mrs. Cramer ushered him forward. “We’ll talk to you later at Jimmy and Trianna’s.”
She’d been crying? The thought of her upset only made the fog of regret thicker. He’d made so many mistakes. He scanned the crowd and caught a glimpse of Becca before James, with Judy on his arm, approached. “Beautiful service. Frank would approve.”
“Sorry about the cold. But it was my grandfather’s wish. He didn’t want to go to a church or anywhere else. He just wanted to be buried next to his wife as soon as possible. I guess he didn’t think about the people attending in the middle of winter.”
“It’s the least we could do for him. He was always a good man to his friends and neighbors. To the whole community. He wouldn’t even think twice about helping someone who needed it,” Judy said, dabbing a tissue to her nose.
The line continued, person after person offering their condolences. Despite the cold, everyone had stayed for the entire ceremony.
Becca, with Cathy and Devon by her side, walked up to him. Rusty straightened, trying not to pull her into him and hold her forever.
“If you need anything, let us know,” Cathy offered. Devon shook his hand and nodded his agreement.
“I’m really sorry,” Becca choked. “I’m sure you’ll miss him. I know I will.”
Even with the dots of mascara under her eyes and the streaks of tears in her makeup, she was still the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. “It really means a lot that you attended. Thank you.”
Becca only nodded and took her father’s hand to follow the trail of people to the parking lot.
A smack upside the back of Rusty’s head made him jump. He turned to see Cathy with a smug look on her face. “That’s from Frank.” She marched off without further explanation, leaving Rusty rubbing his scalp.
The next couple gazed at her hurried exit with judgmental eyes. He didn’t know what to say, so he just shook their hands. “Thank you for coming.” They each nodded and left.
Jimmy and Trianna brought up the end of the line. Jimmy pulled him into a brotherly hug. “Sorry, man. This sucks.”
“Yeah, it does.”
Trianna and Jimmy drove him back to their house where everyone in town soon arrived, carrying various casseroles, appetizers, and plates of cookies. It reminded him of what Frank said when he asked why everyone brought food to their house when his parents passed away. “In the south, home-cooked food is the answer to everything,” Frank had told him.
The small home was bustling with people. Trianna was the perfect host, greeting, directing people and serving food.
He caught her in the kitchen before she could hurry off to do something else. “Thank you so much for allowing me to have his reception here.”
“Of course. You’re welcome here for as long as you like,” Trianna said.
Jimmy approached with an odd smile, his cell phone in hand. “I have some news for you. The preliminary investigation ruled it an accident. I’m pretty sure the insurance company will pay out now and you can rebuild. I’d be happy to help in any way I can.”
“Thanks so much. That’s amazing news.” He turned to share the good news with Becca then remembered he’d pushed her away. “Will you excuse me?” Rusty maneuvered between the mass of people out to the yard for a moment of peace. He needed to think. Had anything really changed? What did he have to offer her? He could rebuild, but he couldn’t ask her to give up on her dream of working at a large design firm. And the job at Francisco’s was already gone.
“You’re such an idiot.” Cathy’s voice caught him off guard and he nearly fell off the front porch.
Rusty grabbed his chest. “You shouldn’t scare someone like that. I thought I was alone out here.”
“No, but that’s what you’re going to be for the rest of your life if you don’t get your act together.”
Rusty sighed. “Cathy, I tried to speak to Becca, but she doesn’t want to see me.”
“As I said, you’re an idiot. What do you expect? You told the girl it was her fault your grandfather died.”
He cringed. He had been an idiot. “I know, but it was the only way…”
“The only way to what? The only way you could run her out of town? Why would you want to do that? Don’t you love her anymore? Did you get sick of her?”
“No. Of course not.”
“So, then what made you do it?”
“I knew Devon was right. I needed to let her go. Without me, she can have all the dreams in the world. But with me, she has nothing.”
“Really?” Cathy propped her hands on her hips. “You listened to a girl’s overprotective father instead of to her? I thought you were smarter than that. And the only dream she had was you. You broke her heart. The girl had just pieced herself back together after her mother abandoned her and now you’ve gone and broken her again. You did exactly what you promised you wouldn’t do. Shame on you.”
“I know,” Rusty said, hanging his head. “I’d do anything to make it up to her, but I can’t. I need to let her go. I have nothing to offer her. I can’t ask her to share her life with me like that.”
“No, you’d rather reject her, lie to her, send her away from her family and friends and the only boy she’s ever loved. Thank you. I’m so glad you have her best interest in mind. And as for you not being good enough, well we’re going to clear that up right now.” She waved her arm at someone across the yard. Rusty turned to see Devon shutting the car door for Becca. Cathy waved once more and Devon held up one finger to Becca inside the car before trotting over to them.
Rusty wanted to run over and beg her to stay and talk to him.
Devon stopped at the bottom step. With one glance at Cathy, he turned to Rusty and said, “I guess I overstepped my parental boundaries a bit, and I want to tell you I was wrong. My Becca hadn’t smiled in years until she met you. She’s gained confidence, purpose, and most of all, passion for life. You did all that, but in the last few days all of that disappeared. My heart’s breaking for my little girl. She’s been devastated after you broke up with her. Trust me. The best thing you can do is not listen to me and just follow your heart. If she still wants to go to her internship, it’ll only be for a year or two. There’s no reason you guys can’t try a long distance relationship.”
“Or you could move there with her. I mean, you’ve got nothing holding you here now,” Cathy added.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you love her or not?” Cathy asked.
Rusty couldn’t remember ever loving anyone the way he loved Becca. “Yes, with all my heart.”
“Then you better start making a plan to win that girl back and quick. I’m talking major red carpet here. She’s worried you’ll run out on her again. How are you going to show her that won’t happen?”
Rusty rubbed his forehead, trying to relieve the mounting pressure. “I don’t know. She doesn’t even want to talk to me for more than a few seconds.”
Cathy rolled her eyes. “Men. It’s a good thing I’m here. I’ll tell you what. I’ll get her to a romantic location with some privacy and you grovel, woo, or beg, however you need to in order to win that girl’s heart again.”