Spotting Trouble holding Elijah, and Remi over by Benjamin, I lead Eden in that direction. It almost makes me laugh at the look on Trouble’s face and the tight grip he has around Remi’s waist with his free hand. He doesn’t care for Benjamin too much. Before he and Remi got together Benjamin showed interest in her. Ever since then, Trouble can’t stand the guy.
When we walk up to the trio, I notice the haggard look on Benjamin’s face. He’s pale and looks like he’s lost some weight. He also has dark circles under his eyes and his clothes are wrinkled to shit.
I feel sorry for the guy. No man wants to feel like a failure. Diego got the jump on him, and because of that, Jenny died. Not that anyone blames him. There wasn’t anything he could have done to save her. He was passed out and bleeding from a gash bad enough to need stitches, for fuck’s sake.
When we stop in the small circle they formed, Benjamin’s eyes dart away from Eden and me.
“Hey, Eden. How are you holding up?” Remi asks, her eyes almost as red and swollen as Eden’s still are.
She shrugs against my side. “Could be better.”
Remi nods in understanding. “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”
Eden sniffs, indicating she’s on the verge of crying again, so I change the subject.
“You never officially met Eden,” I tell Benjamin. “Eden, this is Benjamin. Benjamin, meet Eden.”
They shake hands, and I notice Benjamin still doesn’t look at Eden. He quickly withdraws his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Benjamin. I just wish it was under different circumstances.” She offers a sad smile.
“Yeah,” he responds.
“How’s your head?” she inquires.
He reaches up and fingers the bandage on his forehead. “Still hurts a little. It should have been worse,” he finished on a mutter.
I look around the room. “Where’s Leddy?”
Benjamin swallows thickly, his throat bobbing, and he shoves his hands into his pockets.
“With her mother. They’re in San Antonio for several days visiting her family. I didn’t want her to come to the funeral.”
“Is that your daughter?” Eden asks.
“Yes.”
Grace appears by my side holding two glasses in each hand by their bottoms.
“I figured you all could use a drink,” she states and passes them around. We all take one, except Benjamin, who declines the offer and excuses himself.
“Where’s Emo?”
Using the hand that’s holding a glass, she points with her finger behind me. “Talking to Mae and Judge.”
I glance back and see the three deep in conversation. Emo has his arms crossed over his chest, looking like his usual emotionless self. Judge has a couple days’ growth of beard, something that you normally don’t
see on him. He’s always impeccably dressed and groomed.
“He’s done, by the way.”
I turn back to look at Grace. “He told you that?”
She nods. “Yes. He watched the last one last night.” She takes a sip of her beer, her eyes turning sad. “Because of what this Wednesday is, I’ll be staying a few more days, but after that, I need a break.”
I dip my chin in understanding. The woman’s been through Hell the last week, and it’s only about to get worse. She never complains and is always there when he needs her. It’s just another testament to how deep her feelings for him run. It’s a shame, because Grace is a good woman. She’d be good for Emo. But that part of him was broken by his father when he was still a child. The only girl who could ever tame the darkness in him died by her own hands as a child.
“What’s Wednesday?” Eden asks.