“Take a look and tell me.” The crowd milled around outside, and he recognised several people from his childhood. His heart swelled to see such love for his parents.
“I’ll stay at the back,” Sam murmured to him. “Keep an eye on everyone.”
“Thanks.”
Only Darcy knew what the man from Stonefish looked like, but it was doubtful he would turn up today.
Georgie scanned the crowd. “All the important people are here.” She glanced at the celebrant who was waiting for them on the porch. “I think we’re ready.”
No. They were missing one person. “Where’s Amy?”
“She went to get changed when we did,” Georgie said.
Then where was she? “I’ll check her room.” As he walked across the yard, he searched the crowd in case he’d missed her. No blonde woman with curly hair anywhere. He knocked on her door, his pulse a little fast. The door swung open and he stepped back.
Wow.
Until now, Amy had tied her hair back in a ponytail and dressed only in shorts and a polo shirt with the Retribution Ridge logo on it. Now she wore a black retro-style mini dress which ended just above her knees and clung to the curves he hadn’t realised she had. She’d tamed her hair so the frizz was more like curls and it hung just below her shoulders.
She tugged at the bottom of her dress. “Is it all right? It’s the only black thing I own. I don’t remember it being so short.”
“You look beautiful.” Her eyes widened and he cursed himself. Probably not the most appropriate thing to say at a funeral. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
He gestured for her to precede him. They joined the others and together they walked with the celebrant over to the shed. The crowd followed. Beside him Amy hesitated. They’d reserved seats at the front for the family. He held her hand and pulled her with him. “Come sit with us.”
Her eyes shone and she pressed her lips together, nodding.
He sat at the end of the row next to Amy and the celebrant moved to the lectern to begin. Brandon let out a slow breath and Amy squeezed his hand. Her support gave him strength.
Brandon barely heard the words the celebrant said. He stared at the slideshow, the images all at once making what he was doing here real. His parents were dead.
His throat closed over, and his hand shook as he attempted to get a grip. Amy slid her other hand across his knee and he clenched the hand he still held, grounding himself in her. The shaking eased and he could breathe a little easier.
Darcy stood and strode to the front, placing a couple of sheets of paper on the lectern. He cleared his throat and looked at the attendees, tears already in his eyes. The sight of his brother upset only made things worse and Brandon gritted his teeth. He would not break down.
“Thank you—” Darcy’s voice broke. He cleared his throat again and gripped the sides of the lectern as if it was a lifeline. “Thank you for coming. Mum and Dad would have been thrilled to see you all here, and I’m sure they’re sad about missing their own party.” His voice wavered. Lara ran to her dad, slipping her hand in his. Darcy’s smile was tremulous as he continued. “They always did like a good party. Were always the first to invite people to stay for a meal.” He bowed his head, squeezing his eyes closed.
Brandon shifted, wanting to go to his brother, but before he could stand, Georgie joined Darcy, sliding her hand around his waist. He leaned into her as she continued the speech they had prepared. “Dad loved this land and knew from an early age that he would never leave it. It would take a strong woman to join him here in such harsh country.” She dabbed at her eyes and blew out a long breath, but she was struggling to control the tears.
Ed rushed to her side and she handed him the sheet of paper. “But Mum was the perfect match, strong and kind, ready for any challenge thrown at her. And she had to be, raising five children out here, often alone.”
Brandon’s heart clenched. Only four of them left now.
“We lost Charlie too young…” Ed faltered.
Shit. He couldn’t stay seated, not when his family needed him. Brandon let go of Amy’s hand and strode out to be with his family. He placed a hand on Ed’s shoulder and scanned the speech on the lectern for where they were up to. “We once asked Mum what she saw in Dad, in this place and she smiled and said she’d seen her future.” He blinked back the tears and Amy caught his eye. She smiled at him, dabbing her own eyes which were streaming with tears.
Before Brandon could continue, Darcy read the next line and together the four of them finished the rest of their speech. He handed the tissues out but kept a couple for himself. When he returned to his seat, he passed a tissue to Amy and wrapped his arm around her waist, wanting to comfort her the way she had comforted him. She leaned into him and her touch soothed his aching heart.
The next person to speak was one of his mother’s friends but he zoned out, focusing on the woman by his side. Amy had only known his parents for a few months and her quiet sobs broke his heart.
It said a lot about who his parents were that she would feel so bereft at their loss after so little time. He should have trusted them, shouldn’t have stayed away for so long. He’d lost his chance to make amends.
But he had a chance to make it up to his siblings. And he wouldn’t let them down again.
The funeral ended and Amy dried her eyes and stood. “I’ll go check the urn and the food.” She hurried off and he hated that she felt she needed to be working at a time like this. He moved to follow her but Darcy grabbed him. “Taylor’s here.”
