Juniper couldn't promise that. Walter's life-saving surgery was still in Nelson's hands.
The two of them stayed by the grave for another two hours, the suffocatingly heavy atmosphere refusing to lift.
It was evening by the time they descended from the cemetery.
The workers carried Brooks back down the steps. As he was getting into the car to leave, he couldn't help but give Juniper one last warning. "If you ever get the chance, stay far away from Nelson. Never let him find you."
He said 'if you ever get the chance' because he knew full well that neither of them had the power to do so right now.
Juniper nodded. Her face was still dreadfully pale, and she reached up to adjust the silk scarf around her neck.
Brooks left first; his eyes were swollen shut, and he desperately needed to rest.
Juniper looked back up toward the cemetery. That solitary headstone marked the sum of Beatrice's life.
She sat down slowly, not caring about the dirt on the steps beneath her.
Her mind was a chaotic blur. She buried her face in her knees, just wanting a moment of peace.
She sat there for half an hour. When she finally stood up, her vision went black, and she nearly tumbled down the stairs.
Just then, a pair of hands reached out and steadied her by the shoulders.
The distinct scent of Nelson enveloped her. She averted her gaze and gently pushed him away.
He didn't force the contact. Once he was sure she had her balance, he let go. "I'm going up to pay my respects to your mother."
He might have despised the Lane family, but out of respect for the dead, he felt obligated.
He took a step toward the stairs, but Juniper's voice stopped him cold. "Don't dirty the ground up there."
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means