Page 68 of Someone to Remember
Christy dabs at her eyes with a tissue. “It’s been hard.”
“Very, very hard,” Joy adds.
“I hardly know them,” Roni says, “and I’ve had the worst few days in a long time—and I feel guilty for even saying that because it’s certainly not about me.”
“It’s about all of us,” Gage says. “Taylor’s loss is a stark reminder that we’re never completely out of the woods in this thing called life.”
He does such a great job of summing up what we’re all feeling.
“I’m so fucking angry at the universe,” Wynter says. “How dare she have to do this twice?”
“That’s a very good question, Wynter,” Brielle says, “and one that’s been on my mind—and I’m sure all of yours—since I first heard what happened. It’s grossly unfair.”
“How’s she doing, Iris?” Naomi asks.
“It’s a minute-by-minute thing. She’s hoping to get through the wake and funeral before the birth.”
“It’s all too much,” Joy says tearfully. “Just too damned much.”
“Do you think she’ll come back to our group?” Adrian asks.
I’ve been wondering that myself. “I don’t know. She certainly knows we’re here if she feels it’ll help at some point.”
“It’s sobering to hear of it happening to someone a second time,” Angela says.
“I agree,” Luke says.
As two of our newer members, this is the last thing either of them needed to hear. Hell, it’s the last thing any of us needed to hear. We were glad he was able to come tonight, as he’s rarely able to make our weekly meetings.
“Here’s the thing, guys,” Gage says. “As we always say, ain’t none of us getting out of here alive. Some will get more time than others, which is a simple fact of life.”
“When I first started coming to the meetings and buying what you people were selling,” Wynter says haltingly, “I had this notion that I’d eventually get over Jaden’s death and move on with my life with someone else or by myself. Either way, I’d leave the past where it belonged. It’s been hard to realize it doesn’t work like that.”
“I’ve had those same thoughts this week,” Roni says. “Derek and I have talked a lot about PTSD and how, no matter how much hard work we’ve done to cope and move on, it still shows up out of nowhere to remind us that we’re never again going to be who we were before disaster struck.”
“I hate that,” Hallie says. “I hate it for all of us—and I especially hate it for Taylor.”
“She wanted me to thank you all for the outpouring of support, the food and all the other things you guys have done. She said no one shows up for a widow like other widows.”
“We wish it could be more,” Christy said.
“She’ll need help long term,” I remind her. “There’ll be lots of opportunities to show up for her and her family. And I want to say one more thing with my whole chest this time… Those of you who don’t know Taylor and Will—and meeting them here a time or two doesn’t count as knowing them well—are under no obligation to attend the services.”
“Iris is right,” Gage says, adding, “and I’m not just saying that because I’m sleeping with her.”
That makes everyone laugh, which was no doubt his goal, and serves to break some of the unusually gloomy tension hanging over us.
“Please, guys,” Iris adds, “take care of your own mental health and don’t worry about Taylor. She’ll be very well supported by an army of friends and family.”
“Thanks for saying that, Iris,” Lexi says. “I was thinking I should go, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Don’t go. Be there for her for what’s ahead. That’ll matter most.”
“Let’s talk about some good news, shall we?” Gage says. “Starting with a huge congratulations to Lexi and Tom Terrific on their engagement. We couldn’t be happier for you guys.”
The others clap and cheer for Lexi, who takes it all in with a big smile, even if her eyes are sadder than they’ve been in a while. The news about Taylor’s loss is still new and raw for her, while the rest of us have had a few more days to wrap our heads around it.
“Thanks, guys,” Lexi says. “I can’t say enough about how much all of you contributed to me being ready for this next step. Or at least I thought I was ready until Iris called earlier.”
