Julian’s arm had to be restitched, but other than that, he’d been okay.
He ached for Petula, knowing she would never be able to keep the ugliness she’d seen that day, out of her head. But since then, she’d bravely and proactively reached out to the therapist who had helped her deal with all theotherhorrific things in her life, and had already been to see the woman, twice within the week.
Not so, Stater. Julian could tell the man was internalizing, and hoped something would arise to give him the closure he needed.
Julian looked out over the small cemetery that held all the headstones of his ancestors. He’d played here as a child. He’d never been afraid of ghosts, or those who had gone on before him, and he’d never encountered anything but peace while visiting the quiet spot.
Trask, who’d agreed to deliver the graveside eulogy today—after picking Statler and Petula’s brains for positive snippets of their sibling from their childhood—had done a beautiful job, and was just about to wrap things up with a final prayer.
Before he bowed his head, Julian looked around again, this time at those gathered.
His entire family had turned out. Statler and his crew were in attendance. And how special was it that Tex had flown in to also be part of the gathering.
The brilliant man and Petula had shared a long, special hug, and shortly thereafter, there had actually been a funny interlude,watching Sherbert fan-boy on Tex, while Tex attempted to shut him down.
There had been several other moments over the preceding days that had given the assemblage a chuckle, and Petula had said Jefferson would have wanted it that way. She remembered her brother as being quick-witted, and fast with a smile before adolescence had thrown him into the hell of mental turmoil.
Julian closed his eyes and listened to the final prayer Trask delivered as Jefferson’s ultimate send-off.
His words were reassuring to the crowd.
Jefferson would end up in the right place.
Julian opened his eyes and joined in with a solemn, “amen” before turning to Petula.
“How are you holding up?” he asked with his arm around her shoulders as they walked back to the farmhouse. He’d noted that her tears had finally dried up.
“Okay, now that it’s over,” she sighed. “I… I’m very sad that Jefferson didn’t have a chance to be with me and Statler again, but I know how proud he was of being able to protect me at the end.”
“I’ll always be thankful that he was there, too,” Julian told her sincerely, having no doubts that he would have liked the untroubled version of Jefferson if he’d gotten to meet him.
Petula was still talking. “I can’t thank your family enough for doing all this,” she expounded.
His people reallyhadgone above and beyond.
Besides giving Jefferson space in the Sothard plot, and Trask agreeing to speak, Ellen—with Bobbie’s catering help—had put on a huge spread which was waiting for them in the farmhouse.
“Hey. You and Statler are family, now,” Julian responded to her previous praise with a squeeze. Nothing was official, since Julian hadn’t proposed to Petula yet, but he’d already let his family know that a ring was coming, soon.
Petula raised a brow at his impromptu words. “Huh. Are you trying totellme something, Julian? Or should I say…ask?” She grinned.
Julian was more than pleased that he’d distracted her from her sorrow, and wasn’t afraid to answer. “Maybe Iamasking something,” he teased.
“Then ask,” she responded with a hitch in her voice.
“Alright.” He wasn’t going to play this straight, but he’d still let her know what was on his mind. This off-the-cuff proposal would get the ball rolling. Buying her a ring would simply cement the deal.
“How do you feel about chocolate cake?” he prevaricated with a smile.
“Choc…?” Petula stumbled. “For what?” Her face was perplexed.
Julian bent to Petula’s height until they touched noses. “For a wedding,” he whispered, then added, “Ours, if you agree.”
Petula blinked at him, and this time the tears in her eyes were happy ones.
“I… Ilovechocolate cake,” she told him solemnly.
That was confirmation enough for Julian.
