As we dodged the headstones, I remembered that horrible appointment when Ryker and I had to pick out his headstone and his epitaph. After Ryker brought up our first international tour and how desperate Gio had been to see Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris despite our tight timeline, I knew there was only one thing we could put on it—only we tweaked for Gio’s Italian heritage.
It’ll read:Fedele al suo demone interiore.
True to his own demon. A fitting epitaph for the way Gio lived and died.
Only that kind of thing took time apparently. Carving stone wasn’t exactly quick.
But it wasn’t the basic placard provided by the cemetery that held my attention.
It was the gleaming casket sitting on metal rails and surrounded by fake turf to conceal the huge hole he’d be interred inside today.
Fuck.
I thought I’d confronted the reality of this moment when I had to claim his body at the coroner’s. But even though his casket was closed, I knew it was him inside there. I felt the loss more keenly now than ever before.
I would’ve gone down on my knees but for Saylor next to me.
I staggered for a second and she swooped under my arm to hold me up, bracing a hand against my chest.
And I let her.
She didn’t say a word. She just held me.
And later when we stood around Gio’s closed casket, and I wept, she continued to hold me.
Breaking News from the Babbler
Malcolm Holt’s New Bride Holds Him Up at Funeral
New Wife Is His Support System, Literally
Exclusive Details
As seen only on the Babbler,Malcolm Holt’s new bride,Saylor Tatewas by side his at the funeral of his best friend and bandmateGio Barone. They met the other members of the Long Licks and a few friends of Barone. Tate wore a classy black A-line dress with a collared neckline, perfect for the occasion and matching her husband who wore head to toe black.
*photos of Mal and Saylor at the cemetery*
But when it came time for the service, the Long Licks’ guitarist stumbled, and Tate swooped in and helped him stay up. She stayed at his side the entire service. Was he overcome withemotion, or has Holt’s infamous sobriety also stumbled? You be the judge in the pictures below…
*more photos of Mal and Saylor at the funeral*
Barone died in LA a week ago. Barone’s rep, Danny Conlan, attributed his death to an “unfortunate drug overdose,” though a specific cause of death has yet to be filed by the LA coroner.
Gio Barone was 45.
RIP
Chapter 21
Saylor
I sighed in relief as the door closed. I knew it didn’t mean we were leaving Mal’s grief behind, but at least the circus of paps, drones, and annoying managers were on the other side. Even Mal’s mom had returned to her house, murmuring to me that Mal and I needed some time alone to heal and bond.
Mal retreated to his office/music room and soon the electric wail of his guitar echoed in the empty house.
I didn’t know what to do. Mal and I barely knew each other. I wanted to help him through his grief. But I’d never been through anything like this. Even my dad’s death was a dim, distant memory. Really, the only thing I remembered was sitting under the kitchen table and staring at people’s legs and feeling so confused and just…lost.
And no, I didn’t miss the parallel here.
