“I’m in.” I don’t hesitate. “Didn’t he have a kid, too?”
“Yeah, a daughter I think.”
“We’re all in,” Thad says, shaking Robbie’s shoulder gently in support.
“Hell yeah.” Tripp takes a long tug of his beer then looks straight at me. “You guys okay?” he asks with the same concern of all our family and friends when a serviceman is killed.
There’s no stopping the images that flood my mind of the day of our accident—the dead bodies, the smoke, the burning flesh all around. I fight the sting in my gut, remembering the urgency to find Robbie and fearing he was dead.
“Yeah.” I run a hand over my face. “It just fucking sucks.”
“You want to talk about it?” Thad eyes me wearily.
“After dinner,” Robbie says. “Ember’s been looking forward to this for almost a week. I won’t ruin her night.”
We all agree, because Ember is the girl you agree to anything for.
An hour later, after dinner, Robbie and I replay our time with Simon and the memories we have. Ember makes me sit next to her and Robbie on the sofa, continuously squeezing my hand. Somehow, we start discussing the roadside bomb and the friends we lost.
Thad sucks down his drink and focuses on me. “I get it now. He’s Hero.”
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath. I’m not a hero.
“Cruz, can you take my shift at the shop? I’m going to the funeral,” Ember asks.
“Of course.” He narrows his eyes in irritation. “Anytime, you know this.”
“Baby, you don’t need to,” Robbie pulls her into his lap and talks into her ear. She folds into him, like usual, and laces their hands together.
“I’m with you. This family needs to know how much we respect them. Tell Max he’s welcome to stay here. As a matter of fact, anyone who wants can stay here. We need each other.”
Her implication is clear. She wants us here together.
“Little Star,” Cruz reaches over from the floor and grips her calf, “you take care of these boys and I’ll have the shop covered.”
He gets up to clear the coffee table of bottles, and Alex kisses her head. She gives a small smile, and Robbie cradles her as close as possible.
I sink into the couch and, for once, envy my friend. There’s no doubt the death of Simon is on his mind. We’re replaying the same images in our head. But Ember will be by his side to help ease the pain and sense of loss. He’ll fall asleep with her in his arms, beating back the demons. I’ll go to bed and think about another brother lost, alone.
The parking lot is overflowing with cars, and a policeman guides our SUV to the back. We step out, one by one, in our Dress Blues. Max first, Robbie, then me. Ember, Tripp, and Thad give us each an encouraging look then go to the front to join the line entering the church.
The three of us walk to the area where the hearse holds the casket, a few fellow Marines and civilians ready to take it inside. We stand in salute as it’s moved and stay back, waiting. Once everyone, including the family, is inside, we take our place on the side of the pews, choosing to stand in respect.
I never see the family, but move my eyes once to see Ember, Thad, and Tripp. Seated next to them are Robbie’s parents, Jenna and James.
Ember is bawling silently, comforted by her father, her tender heart no doubt breaking for the family.
We stand for the whole ceremony, listening to the sermon and knowing one of our own has gone down. I force my mind to stay in the present and silently thank God for Robbie’s and my survival.
There’s a rustle in the front pew, and I tilt slightly to see a woman and man holding hands get up and walk to the front of the church. The woman stops to run her hands over the head of the casket, then she follows the man up the few steps, and they both take seats. He wheels a keyboard in front of his body, while she reaches for a violin.
The minute she straightens, my whole body goes on alert. It’s Presley. She looks different with her hair falling freely in soft waves and dressed in a simple black suit. Her face is pale and gaunt, those incredible hazel eyes now rimmed in red. I follow her focus and see a little girl in the front row holding an older man. She reaches out he
r small hand to Presley, who in turn blows her a kiss.
The man on the keyboard clears his throat and leans into a microphone, his voice breaking my trance.
“We want to thank you all for being here today for Simon. He’d be honored at the love and devotion in this room right now.” He takes a deep breath and looks at Presley. She lays a hand on his, giving him support, urging him to go on.