People filled the seats, bustling around the empty spaces, and most of them weren’t just idly talking. They moved flowers around, waving in others, hugging the ones who cried, laughing with the ones who shared memories.
The town was a family, and I smiled because grandma had been a big part of it.
The director came to talk over logistics, but Grandma had said she wanted a speech from the priest, nothing from me, and wanted one thing played before they ended the ceremony.
Nothing from me. A part of her probably always wanted me to do nothing. She’d never ever wanted to be a burden. Today, more than any other day, I appreciated that.
I sat next to Bradley and he put his arm around me while the priest spoke of Grandma’s love for the town, the work she and my grandfather had done, and how every moment spent with her was a joy.
Everything he said, people nodded along.
I didn’t let a tear escape as he talked. I’d cry alone in the silence tonight.
Today, I’d let the town cry for her instead.
The priest announced that there was one song she’d chosen and motioned for the funeral director to play it.
Grandma hadn’t let me know this part but as the beat started up, I think I was the first to chuckle.
We’d always played Eminem and requested it just to irritate patrons of the tiki bar. When, “Without Me” started to play, I couldn’t help but laugh.
The words were absolutely ridiculous and those who knew them started laughing too.
We sang along, and the tears that streamed down my face were happy ones.
When it ended, the funeral director hurried forward but I stopped him. “I just want to say one thing.”
My breath shook as I took it in. “I’m not good with words. We all know I’m mercurial by nature. I’m a product of my parents, right?”
Most of them laughed at my joke.
“Maybe my grandma was a little perturbed with my mom marrying a guy that bent with the wind. And when the accident took them, I think she was a little mad even. Still, she never bent to anything, the wind, the water, this town could have tried to push her and she would have stood her ground. We were lucky to have that, I think.”
I took a shaky breath and tried to smile instead of cry. I caught Bradley’s eye and he nodded for me to continue. “We knew we could count on her in anything. Bradley even counted on her to take down more moonshine in the tiki bar than anyone else. I’m pretty sure she made you thousands with the bets you won every time a businessman stopped into town.”
Everyone laughed at that.
“I guess we all know with me, you can’t do that. I’m always doing my own thing.”
More chuckles.
“Except for the food truck, our puppies at the humane society, and the ocean. You’ll know I’ll always be there for you when it comes to that. So, she’s gone but she’ll always be a part of the city, and here’s to hoping that her spirit flying through here will make us all a little more like Maribel.”
Bradley whooped and everyone clapped.
I stepped down from the podium and went to lay a hand on the urn. Some heavy weight lifted from my chest and I believed in spirits, in things of the atmosphere shifting, and if she was there, I think the weight lifting was her spirit sighing in relief.
“I’ll be fine, grandma,” I whispered.
That moment marked the exact second that I finally felt I would be. This town was going to be the place where I’d never feel alone.
When I looked back into the crowd, the air around me changed. I don’t know if it was because I’d slept with him or if it was because of the aura he carried everywhere but Bastian tampered with my atmosphere every time he showed up. What the hell was he doing here?
I finally needed the rose quartz in my pocket. I squeezed it.
I glanced at the beads on my wrist and eyed my newest addition up against the bloodstone and howlite. Pure black tourmaline for protection, confidence, emotional stability, and strength. But I also wore it for Grandma. She was strong and I wanted that strength with me always.
His eyes met mine as he looked up at me on that stage near the urn. I shot daggers his way. He nodded, turned, and left.