The Chase

She only wept harder.

“What can’t you do, angel?” Seth forced a calm he didn’t feel. “Handle your hometown? Spread your dad’s ashes?” Or come back to us?

“I came all this way and I just can’t,” she choked out.

He and Beck shared a glance filled with both concern and relief. She was clearly going through hell, but at least she’d reached out to them.

“Why?” Beck asked softly.

“I was looking forward to coming home, but now I feel so…unwelcome.” She sniffled, then broke down again. “I can’t put Dad to rest here. It would be like dumping him in a foreign wasteland.”

Beck looked grim. He probably felt powerless, too. After all, what the hell could they do thousands of miles away, except talk to her?

“How can we help you?” Seth asked.

“You can’t,” she sobbed. “These were his wishes. I know that. But I…”

“Are you also afraid you’ll be alone once you put him to rest?”

“How did you know?”

“I’ve been there.”

Beck sent him a questioning glance. “Would it be easier if we came to help?”

She hesitated. “I can’t ask you guys to drop everything.”

“You’re not,” Beck pointed out. “We’re offering.”

“It’s such a long way and I need to figure it out, like I did when we moved to LA.”

But she wanted to say yes so badly. Seth heard it in her voice.

“You don’t have to handle everything alone,” Beck insisted.

Seth nodded. “Because you’re not.”

Heavenly broke down again. Her mournful sobs only strengthened his resolve to be there for her. A glance at Beck told him the other man felt the same.

“Angel…” he crooned softy. “Say yes.”

“You’re killing us,” Beck croaked.

“I feel so guilty. I should be strong enough to do this.” She sniffed into a silence that seemed to last forever. “But…”

“What?” Seth demanded.

“I need you.” Her small voice broke his heart.

Finally, she was leaning on them. No, that didn’t mean she wanted forever…but it was a start.

“We’re on our way.” Beck’s voice was thick with emotion.

The sooner the better. “Where are you staying, angel?”

“The Seagull Motel.” She still sounded in danger of crumbling.

Seth was already Googling the place. He knew its location from her GPS tracker, but nothing more.