“Yeah.I thought Zuri was coming, too.Have you seen her?”
Zuri found us a few minutes later, and we got in line to speak to Christy.After we offered her our condolences, we made our way to the football field for the service.
Shortly after we sat, the music changed.Everyone stood as the funeral director brought the casket onto the field, guided by six pallbearers, including Oscar’s sons, Evie, and three other kids I assumed were former players.Josh and Oscar flanked Christy, the three of them right behind the casket with two other couples behind them.I assumed they were the parents of the other pallbearers.
I pulled out my phone and snapped a few pictures of them all together.It was a sad moment, but after seeing Josh’s house, I thought it might be something he wanted to capture.
The entire crowd was quiet as the minister spoke about the impact Coach Ross had on the community and the players he coached.I heard sniffles from all around me, knowing this man I’d never met was truly loved by all there.
Josh stood and delivered the eulogy, praising the man who’d always been a supporter of himself, Christy, and Oscar.I took more pictures of him, one with a sad smile on his face that I knew I would keep forever.He talked about Coach encouraging Josh to pursue his dreams and offering parenting advice to him.
It brought back the conversation from a few days ago about kids.I hadn’t had the courage to say anything to Josh about it, even though I knew he was wondering why I was so quiet that night.I’d considered bringing up the subject the next morning, but Evie came home and I never had a chance.
Josh sat, and the service continued.When the minister was done, he invited anyone interested to follow them to the gravesite for the burial.
“Are we going?”Sage whispered.
“We planned to,” Ashlyn whispered back.
“Me, too,” Zuri said.
Sage nodded.“Sounds good.I wore flats just in case.Are you guys going to the reception?”
Zuri, Ashlyn, and I all nodded.
“Okay, perfect.”
We followed along with everyone else in town, walking the abandoned streets to the cemetery.We hung back to allow Coach’s players and close friends and family to have closer seats.I took a few more pictures of Josh with his friends, loving the way the three of them smiled at each other with so much love and care in their eyes.I wondered if the three of them knew how lucky they were to have each other, but I guessed they did.
After the burial, Sage, Zuri, Ashlyn, and I walked with the rest of the crowd to Elle’s Place.I took pictures of the people in town as they walked the streets.Young and old alike were there to celebrate the same man.It showed me what community looked like in Amethyst Bay.Everyone together to honor a person who touched all their lives.
I was sad to have never met the man, but I was honored to witness the love he left behind.He would be missed, but he would never be forgotten, I knew that for sure.
Twenty
Josh
I checkedin with Christy for the millionth time.She was doing better than I expected, and that had me worried.I didn’t know why, but it seemed like she was pretending to be fine but was going to fall apart at any moment.
Who could blame her?She had every right to fall apart.I was surprised she hadn’t already.The day was long and busy and full of people who wanted to speak to her.Oscar and I did our best to run interference and give her a few moments alone when she seemed to be fading, but she was a trooper.More than I was when my parents died.
“Are you staying with her tonight?”Oscar asked from next to me.
I nodded.“I was planning to.”
“I might join you guys.Unless she kicks us out.”
I snorted, not at all surprised Oscar was seeing the same thing I was.“I wouldn’t put it past her.”
He smiled wryly.“I saw Reegan here with Ashlyn.Was she pissed that you weren’t with her all day?”
I shook my head.“She said she wasn’t.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I’m too fucking old for games, man.If she’s saying that to manipulate me, I can’t stop it, but I really don’t think she was.”
Oscar’s eyebrows shot high.“That’s a nice change for you.”
