Page 126 of The Fighter who Needed Me
He knew it would be soon enough and he loved seeing the changes come over Persephone.
She was happy here, full of life and full of purpose.
She helped whoever needed it and never complained.
She just loved being needed. And she never had any issues with walking. Not for a long time.
Neither had Rhia. She still limped and that would always be the case, but she never fell and always was strong in her steps.
He was proud of Rhia and her hard work. As was everyone.
He sent up a prayer of gratitude one last time to his mother and thanked her for her advice and love.
He had taken it to heart and here he was, finally at peace and in the place he was meant to be.
He could not have asked for better than that.
* * *
Brooks had asked Persephone if she wanted to go along with him when he saw where his family was from.
He had found out from his mother’s journal the name of the town where she and his father had lived and asked Persephone if she would travel with him to see it.
He had always wanted to know about his father and now he had the chance.
She had agreed and they decided to take a few weeks to find out what they could about his past.
He was so curious to know now that she had found her mother and he hoped to find anything he could about his father.
So they had traveled for three days to the town of Southend-On-Sea and when they arrived it was to a small town that was quaint and peaceful.
There were a few boats in the water and some small ones docked at the docks.
There were houses strewn about and they looked idyllic.
He helped Persephone down from the carriage and they walked through the town arm in arm until they found the small cemetery.
It was surrounded by a gate and he looked at his wife, who nodded.
He opened the gate and led her in the small cemetery, and he saw the many graves that were there.
They walked down each small row until they found the name they were looking for.
John Parker. It gave his date of birth and the date that he died on it and underneath it said, Beloved Husband, and Son. And the grave had some flowers there, that had wilted only days ago.
Brooks knelt in front of his father’s grave and put a hand out to touch the gravestone.
Persephone put her hand on his shoulder, and he bowed his head, and silently thanked his father for showing his mother what it meant to be loved.
He heard a sound behind them, and he stood, putting Persephone behind him.
He came face to face with a much older woman that was staring at him with wide eyes.
“John? Is it you?”
Brooks looked around and then back at the woman, “I beg your pardon? Who are you looking for?”
The woman blinked and then shook her head, “Of course you aren’t John. Forgive me. You look just like him.”
