Mark told me to move on and be happy, but how can I even consider it when my heart’s so broken?
Patrick reaches for me, and I close my eyes as I fall into his arms.
“It’s okay, Cassie. We’ll get through today together. I’m not going anywhere.” He plants a kiss in my hair. “I’ve got you.”
I pull back and nod. “Thank you.”
Everything’s so easy with him—just as it always was. Guilt tugs at me even though I’m not doing anything wrong.
This is all what Mark wanted.
I have to remember that.
Taking a deep breath, I follow him out to the car. Lauren and Sophie sit in the back and Lauren reaches over and gives my arm a squeeze as I take the front passenger seat.
“We’ll be okay, Cassie. Let’s celebrate his life.”
It’s not a far drive, and we walk into the funeral parlour chapel together.
Mark’s coffin is already at the front, and the sight of it nearly brings me to my knees.
Patrick slips an arm around me and guides me to the front row of seats.
Lauren and Sophie sit either side of me.
I grimace when Ian walks in, but Lauren slides her hand in mine.
“Ugh why ishehere?” I sigh.
“I guess because he was Mark’s friend.”
She rolls her eyes. I stifle a laugh.
“There’ll be all kinds of people here today. We just have to get through it.”
Lauren leans her head against mine. “You’re right.”
As the service starts, I hold it together. But when Patrick gets up to speak because he’s the only one of us who can, it becomes harder.
“Mark was a simple man—his words, not mine.” Patrick smiles. “All he wanted in life was to work with his hands and love his family. I had the huge privilege of becoming friends with him after his diagnosis, and we talked about this day a lot. He didn’t want today to be sad. He wanted it to be full of love and laughter. And he wanted the world to know how happy his life was. Eight years ago, Mark met the love of his life, Cassie.” He meets my teary gaze. “It was love at first sight, and he said when he met Sophie, that love grew even bigger.”
Sophie reaches for my hand and squeezes it tight.
“Nothing made Mark happier than being at home with his girls. That includes his sister, Lauren, who he told me was always a handful.”
Lauren laughs softly, and I tighten my grip on her hand.
“He loved you all so much. Mark was also larger than life. I remember the first time he and Cassie welcomed me intotheir home. He’d had the worst news imaginable, but the first thing he did was offer me a beer and we sat and watched cricket. We didn’t have much time, but I’m proud to be able to call him my friend.”
The service isn’t long—Mark didn’t want it to be.
And then we’re all in the car and travelling to the crematorium for a private cremation.
It gives me time to gather my thoughts before I face everyone at the wake.
After more brief words from Patrick, Lauren squeezes my hand.
“I love you,” she says.
