by Louise River
They reach the front of the church and sit in the front pew. Ryder takes his seat next to Sam with Parker to his left and Paige on hers. Grabbing her hand, he tries to soothe her by rubbing his thumb on the back of it. It doesn’t appear to do much good, but he doesn’t know what else to do. She’s shaking.
The pastor starts talking. Ryder looks at her, but he can’t seem to get the thought of what she said in that classroom out of his head. He’s been thinking about it over and over while he waited for her to come out. Was he becoming a relationship guy? He brought her estranged best friend to her when he knew she needed her most. He was sitting here, holding her hand at her parents’ funeral. He was jealous of her creepy ex-boyfriend trying to touch her. He wanted to do whatever he could to make all of this better for her.
No, he doesn’t do the boyfriend thing. But the thought of walking away from her makes him sweat and feel like the world is closing in on him. She can somehow calm all of the demons he has, and she makes him feel like he deserves more than he’s been given. Aside from her. He doesn’t know what he has done to deserve her. And no one has been able to make him feel worthy since Tara.
Ryder’s attention is brought back to the present when Parker slips her hand out of his. It feels cold and empty. She stands, takes a deep breath, and walks to the podium. He wants to run up there and hold her close to comfort her. He can see her hands trembling, and she sets the paper down. Luckily, she already had everything committed to memory because there is no way she could read the words she’s written down.
“First, I would like to thank everyone who came here to support my family and their memory. Mom and Dad are looking down on all of us right now smiling. They loved everyone in here, and it shows me just how much all of you loved them. You see, my parents were great. Every kid says that at some point, whether they want to really accept it or not, and I may sound biased, but my parents were truly the best I could have ever asked for. I am so grateful God chose them to be my parents.”
Tears start to form in her eyes, and she looks down as she takes a deep breath. “I’m sure most of you already know this, but I’m going to share it anyway because Dad would.” The crowd chuckles. “My parents were high school sweethearts. Peter Lewis saw Anne Fuller in the cafeteria one day, and he says it was like he got glasses for the first time and just now saw her. And he knew that long blonde haired girl whose smile lit up the entire room was going to be his. She had to be his. He didn’t know if he could live without her. And sure enough, he made that happen.”
Sniffles come from the room, but Parker is in her own thoughts of her parents. “He knew she’d be the mother of his child and they’d grow old together. He actually tried to tell me the movie The Notebook was based on them and how they’d pass away together. He couldn’t live without her, and she couldn’t live without him. They may not have been holding hands and passed peacefully in their sleep, but he was right about them leaving this Earth and going to Heaven together. It’s a little bit of comfort for me to know they’re together.”
Parker pauses and looks at her mother’s picture, and Ryder knows she’s going off script now. “Mom, you always made sure I had clean underwear, a full stomach, and the understanding I could achieve any dream I wanted. When I was twelve, you told me you’d do whatever you could to find me a prince so I could the princess I desperately wanted to be at the time. You always told me no dream was ever too big, and you wanted me to reach for the stars. I know who I am today because of you. I am a dreamer with a heart full of love because that’s who you were. I never went a day without feeling just how much you loved me. When I hurt, you hurt. When I laughed, you laughed. When I cried, you cried. That’s what a mother does. And you were the mother of all mothers.”
Tears fall from her face, but she just takes a deep breath and keeps going. Looking at Peter’s picture she smiles. “Daddy, I think everyone in here knows I’m a daddy’s girl through and through. Mom would always joke that I was never more than a few feet away from you as soon as I learned to walk. My love of running came from you. You started running with me when I was little, and it was my bond with you. Even though I’m pretty sure it started as a selfish attempt to wear me out since I was a child full of energy. And even when you had to stop running, you kept encouraging me.”
She steps back for a minute to try and compose herself and wipe her eyes. The whole crowd stays silent as she pauses. “You worked hard your entire life to save up money for college for me. Little did you know, I was working hard and pushing myself to earn a scholarship. When I was offered a full ride, I told you that you had to take mom on a second honeymoon. You both spent all your time and money on me to make sure my dreams were achieved. Now it was your time to spend something on yourselves. You were going to surprise mom with a trip to Puerto Rico this Christmas. But now you won’t get to go.”
Ryder moves to stand up, but Paige puts her hand on his arm. She needed to do this. He glances over to see Sam trying to hold himself together, and he reaches his arm around him and squeezes his shoulder. His pain is too strong, and he puts his head into his hands and sobs as Ryder tries to comfort him.
“You taught me how to work hard, have dedication, and how to love people. You are the true inspiration on how I should live my life. Love hard. Laugh often. Live every day as though it’s your last. Man, I thought moving away in the fall was going to be hard, but I was so wrong. This new distance between us is so much worse than college. I don’t get to see your face, feel your hug, or tell you just how much I love you both anymore, and that just about kills me. You won’t get to walk me down the aisle, and Mom won’t get to help me get ready for my wedding. You won’t be there to help me when I have a child and feel like I have no clue what I’m doing.”
Sobs take over her body, and the crowd is crying with her. Ryder realizes just how much everyone truly does feel for one another, even though they’re all a little crazy.
“I’m so devastated, I can’t even express into words the pain I’m feeling. The only thing that gives me any comfort is knowing I have two of the best guardian angels watching over me. You many not physically be here with me, but I know you will be watching over me when I hit every milestone in my life. And I just hope you know how much I love you. And I hope I don’t disappoint you. I love you both, and I miss you so much it still hurts. I hope you’re both somewhere warm, happy, and drinking pina coladas. I love you.”
She lets another sob escape as she returns to the pew. No one in the room has a dry eye, not even Ryder. This girl has a way with words, and she knows how to cut deep. Walking to them, she sees Sam’s face in his hands, and she puts her hands on his. He lifts his face, and she gently pulls him up to stand in front of her.
“It’s okay,” she whispers for only him to hear. “We’re going to be okay.” He grabs onto her and hugs her tightly as a sob escapes him. No one speaks.
Chapter 20
Everyone files out of the church into the yard, and Parker loses sight of Ryder. People she’s known all her life are coming up to her, telling her how sorry they are. They’re telling her to let them know if there is anything they can do. Her first grade teacher, Mrs. Paulson, shows up. A tear slips down her face as she hugs Parker, and Parker can’t help but be surprised; she was pretty sure her teacher hated her.
A table was set up buffet style with food from every church woman, business owner, and family friend. Parker still can’t believe the entire town shut down for her parents. She also can’t help but worry she’ll have to take all of this food with her afterwards. It won’t fit in Ryder’s fridge.
As she moves to stand away from everyone, she starts to feel a tingle move up her spine, and the hair on her neck stands on end. He’s here.
Looking around frantically, she searches the trees for any sight of him. The entire town is here, and she didn’t want him to hurt anyone else. She couldn’t handle it. But someone would have had to have noticed something, right? She can’t help but wonder if everyone is just obli
vious to him, or if he truly does blend into the world around him that well.
“What’s wrong?” Ryder asks as he runs up to her with Sam in tow. “What’s going on?”
“He’s here.”
“You saw him?” Sam asks, signaling the other deputies.
“No, I feel him. It’s hard to explain.”
“Trust me, Park. I know better than to question you now.” Mack, Scott, Travis and a few other deputies she doesn’t pay attention to run up.
Paige walks up and grabs her hand. Aside from herself and Ryder, Paige is the only other person who’s physically seen Kane. She looks over Parker’s shoulder and her expression changes to pure terror. Everyone else turns to see a blonde man staring at everyone from the tree line.
Ryder and Sam grab their guns from underneath their jackets and take off running with Mack and Travis on their heels. Everyone else around them starts to panic and rushes back toward the church. Scott moves to stand in front of Parker and Paige as a human shield.
“I got you,” he says.
Parker reaches out and grabs onto Paige, her fear consuming her. Paige rubs Parker’s back. “It’ll be alright. Everything will be okay.”
Aaron is rushing against the crowd of fleeing people and reaches them. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Kane’s here,” Paige says.
“Oh, shit,” Aaron says just as five gunshot ring through the air. He and Scott cover the girls protectively as they continue to look into the woods.
“Breathe,” Paige says. “Just breathe.”
“Hopefully they’ll kill the son-of-a-bitch,” someone from behind them says.
“Maybe he shot them!” another volunteers.
“Not helping!” Aaron yells at them.
“She’s standing right there,” someone blurts.
“Shut the fuck up!” Scott hollers.
“It’s okay, Parker,” Paige says. “It’s okay.”
“They’ll get him. Everyone wants him dead,” Aaron consoles.
“Someone’s coming!” someone shouts, and everyone starts to panic without realizing who it is.
Everyone looks to see Sam and Travis running out first.
“Thank God Sam’s alright,” Parker breathes.
Next, Mack runs out. She pulls away from Paige and hurries over to him. “Where’s Ryder?”
“He’s not here yet?”
“What’s wrong?” Sam asks coming up to them.
“Where’s Ryder?” Parker screams.
“He was right behind me,” Sam says.
“He wasn’t in front of me,” Mack says.
Another gun shot rings out.
“Edwards!” Mack yells as he takes off running with Scott and Travis following.
Parker’s world begins to spin, and she’s pretty sure she’s going to pass out. “Park, breathe. Please, you’re going to faint if you don’t. Breathe,” Sam says.
“Ryder,” she whispers.
“He put a bullet in Kane’s thigh.”
“How the fuck is he still running?” Aaron asks. “Is he on something? He’s got to be on something.”
“He’s fucking psychotic! He blocks out the pain because he’s focused on his goal,” Parker snaps.
“What’s his goal?” Paige asks.
“I don’t know,” she whispers. “Why isn’t Ryder coming out of there?”
“Is she in love with him?” Aaron asks.
“So not the time,” Paige says.
A gunshot is heard and everyone starts screaming.
“Be quiet! Shut up! I hear something!” Parker screams as everyone quiets down.
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Travis yells.
Mack and Ryder are running of the woods carrying Travis whose leg is gushing blood. Scott quickly follows behind them.
“Get a bus!” Mack yells.
Sam grabs his phone and calls for an ambulance.
“Ryder’s okay,” Paige says. “He’s fine.”
“Kane shot Travis.”
Mack and Ryder set Travis on the ground, and Ryder takes off his tie. Wrapping it around Travis’ leg, he ties it tight.
“Fuck!” Travis yells.
“We need to apply pressure,” Mack says.
Sirens wail as everyone turns to see the EMTs rushing toward the men. The same EMTs who responded to Parker’s house the night her parents died. She feels instantly sick.
Once Travis is in the care of the paramedics, Ryder rushes towards her. Pulling her into a hug, he holds her tight. “I tried to get him, kid. I tried.”
“He’s still out there.”
The weight of her words settles in the air around everyone as they peered into the trees as though he might materialize out of thin air. He’s still watching.
About the Author
Get in Touch with Louise River
Get news about new and upcoming releases at www.louiseriver.com.
Contact Louise at [email protected]
