Swear (Landry Family 4)

The door closes with a thump. “I have to do something,” she insists. “What does she need?”

I stand and look at her, my phone in my hand poised over Graham’s name. “There is one thing . . .”

Ellie

The sky is three shades of grey. Not a ray of sunshine to be found. Even the breeze has a chill to it that seems fitting for the day.

Sitting in a chair draped with black fabric, I watch as the hearse pulls slowly into the cemetery. I thought this was a compromise between me wanting to honor his life and Dad not wanting anything—a graveside service.

Sitting under the awning are Violet and Heath and a few of my father’s friends. They give me tight, sad smiles, their faces showing the fondness they had for Dad. It eases the slightest bit of my pain knowing I’m not the only one that will miss him.

The entire Landry clan surrounds me. They’re an overwhelming bunch in the best possible way. Ford mentioned a couple of days ago he told his mother, and ever since, they’ve all shown up at my house with food, drinks, and chitchat. I couldn’t fit another slice of cheese in my refrigerator at this point. Even the Governor is here, sitting in the back with his girlfriend, Alison, and her son, Huxley. Dad would be amused.

The hearse crawls to a stop. As if on cue, the Landry men stand, each looking regal in their suits, and file to the long, black car. I watch in amazement that they took this time out of their day to help me pay tribute to a man they’ll never know.

One by one, they form two lines. Ford, Graham, and Barrett on one side and Mr. Landry, Huxley, and Lincoln on the other. Faces somber, heads slightly bowed, they accept the duty they’ve been tasked with such grace it slays me.

I forgo the tissue and just let the tears roll down my face. There’s no sense in trying to keep up with them. It’s impossible.

I watch these people give me one of the greatest gifts they could ever give. None of them had to be here today. They all have lives running businesses and states and charities. Yet they’re here because Ford asked them to be. They’re here . . . for me.

The casket is brought to the tent and placed on the platform in front of me. Each of them stops and gives me a hug before taking their seats. By the time little Huxley comes through the line, I can’t see for the tears.

“Ms. Ellie,” he whispers.

“Yes?”

“I’m very sorry your dad passed away.”

“Thank you, Huxley.”

“Here.” He takes my hand and presses a small coin in my palm. “This is a token that Lincoln gave me when I was scared to go to Atlanta. He said to keep it in my pocket so I’d remember that I’m not alone, even when I felt like it. I want you to have it now.”

I clamp a hand over my mouth and pull the child into another hug. “Thank you, sweet boy.”

He straightens his tie and disappears into the aisle behind us.

I lean against Ford’s shoulder, holding the little pewter coin in my hand. “Your family is amazing,” I whisper.

He looks down at me. “They’re your family now too.”

The pastor begins the service with an opening prayer. Ford’s arm drapes across the back of my chair and the other lies on my lap.

As I listen to the words spoken for my father, I feel a peace settle over my soul. Ford squeezes my hand and I give it a tug back.

The sun peeks through the clouds, almost casting a glow over the tent. It’s suddenly warm.

I look around and see the faces of Ford’s family carefully listening to the pastor. If you were looking in from the outside, you would think someone important was being put to rest in the black coffin in front of me.

I smile, thinking how proud he would be. And then I smile a little wider when I remember his words, “Figure out what puts a smile on your face and give that a try.”

“I figured it out, Daddy,” I whisper, dabbing my eye with a hankie. “I finally figured it out.”

Ellie

“IT’S LOOKING GOOD, HUH?” I spin in a circle, showcasing the final look of Halcyon before the doors open next week.

“It looks great!” Mallory looks at Camilla. “That green is amazing, don’t you think?”