He loved the way the sunlight sparkled in her eyes. "What's that?"
"Well... it's Easter Sunday, so I'm sure you want to spend the day with your family, and I have plans, dinner plans with my mom, but tomorrow..."
"Tomorrow I'm all yours."
"Good," she whispered. "Still, if you have some time right now..."
He lifted his eyebrows. "What do you have in mind?"
* * *
Roy should've known. As soon as Beverly pulled into the cemetery, he realized what she wanted, and he couldn't be more touched.
"I thought this might be fitting, what with it being Easter Sunday and all, and rising from the dead and going to Seven and all of that," she said sweetly.
"You're amazing," he marveled.
Once he parked, they got out of his truck. Hand in hand, they walked until they stood before her father's grave.
Beverly breathed in deeply. "Do you mind if we take a moment of silence? To honor my father's memory."
Roy smiled and squeezed her hand gently in his own. He was sure they both understood why this moment was so special and meaningful. It was the perfect way to start their relationship.
He nodded solemnly, and they both closed their eyes, taking a few moments to pray for her father and to give God the glory of all He had given them and those who had come before them.
Roy felt the tranquility of the cemetery surrounding them, and in that moment, he knew that no matter what life threw at them, they could withstand it all.
He opened his eyes again and gazed at Beverly with a newfound appreciation for her, for her strength, her courage, and her determination.
He stood there beside her, taking in the beauty of this special place, feeling as if he had finally found his home. Not so much in the cemetery, but with her.
They shared a moment of silence to honor Beverly's father's memory before Roy squeezed her hand gently and pulled her into his embrace.
He could feel the pain radiating from her, but he also felt the love emanating from both of them in that very moment.
Maybe it wasn't too early to at least think he loved her, even if he wasn't quite ready to say that to her. She had only just agreed to start dating him. He didn't want to scare her off already.
Not that he thought she would be scared away easily.
He brushed his lips against her forehead as they held each other tightly, soaking in every second of this special moment together.
"My grandparents are buried here too," he murmured.
"We can visit their graves soon... if that's okay."
Roy nodded. He felt her relax against him and he was glad.
Finally, they stepped back and he looked down into her eyes with a gentle smile.
"Are you ready to introduce me to your father?" he asked softly.
She nodded, her lips curving into a small smile as she looked at him. "Yes," she whispered, taking his hand in hers. "I'm ready."
Roy smiled as they stepped closer to the gravestone and he noticed the way Beverly's eyes lit up when she read her father's name etched in stone. "Harry Young."
He knew this must be difficult for her but he also knew that she was happy to be here with him—with them both—to honor her father's memory together on Easter Sunday.
Beverly stepped back and looked up at him with a gentle smile on her lips. She squeezed his hands and took a deep breath before turning to look at the gravestone in front of them.