After All This Time ⚢ ✓

Chapter 5

"SHERLENE took me in when I was eight." Axelle began with. "I, much like Gideon and Geneva, had lost my parents shortly before then. Sharlene and I had... an interesting relationship, to say the least. Most people would call it aggressive. I guess I'm old enough now to admit I was one stubborn bastard back then. I hope you're listening Sherlene cause I'll only admit this once."

A few more chuckles reigned through the crowed, giving Axelle the much needed motivation to continue.

"I uh- I ended up leaving for a while. At the time, I thought it was the best decision to make. I uh- I thought it was something I needed to do." The stinging sensation had returned, but Axelle swallowed the bubbling pain threatening to breach the surface.

Geneva could hear it in Axelle's voice though. She heard it the second Axelle starting speaking. Axelle was being vague, even now, and it was starting to irritate Geneva. She needed to- she deserved to know why this woman left the way she did.

"I never fully lost touch with Sherlene. At first, it was against my request to be left alone. Sherlene hired someone to keep tabs on me, who'd update her on my whereabouts. I kept changing numbers, only for her to get ahold of the next one. Eventually, I just gave her one number that she could call when she needed me, really needed me. This wasn't even a few months ago. To think the first call to that line was-" Axelle's voice refused to continue, as she glanced back over at Sherlene.

That information was new to Jackie. It helped her connect some dots... but she didn't understand why Sherlene would keep that a secret from her.

Before Axelle could continue, she was interrupted by someone. Geneva had abruptly stood to he feet. She wasn't even aware of what she was doing, until she was half way to the door.

All she knew was that she couldn't do this.

She couldn't sit here and listen to Axelle talk about who needed who.

Axelle moved almost instinctively to go after her, but Jackie was the one who stopped her. She had her hand gently but firmly placed on Axelle's shoulder. "Not here, sweetheart. Not now." Jackie's voice was low for just their ears. "You get through your speech, and I'll go check on her."

All Axelle could do was nod. It wasn't her place to chase Geneva out like this. She deserved to feel every emotion she did.

So Axelle did as told. She finished the eulogy, daring to be even more vague than she already was, but it seemed to go over well with the the attendees. What they knew about the situation to begin with, was the very definition of vague.

Gideon stepped up to speak next. His speech was longer, and very heartfelt. It only made sense, considering Gideon had spent the most time with Sherlene out of the three. He was the first child who came to her home, and he was the last one to leave. He spoke about the abundance of love and patience she had shown him when he adjusted to life in Shoreville. Gideon had come from a busy city life, and this country living was a polar opposite.

It was like he was meant for this place, though. The open roads. The clear air. Even when he had the option to, he didn't move far.

Jackie and Geneva had returned right as Gideon was finishing his speech, but the cold shoulder Geneva gave Axelle made it known that they were about to exchange even less pleasantries. Axelle wasn't sure what part of the speech pissed her off, but she was willing to wager that it was the thing as a whole.

The fact that Axelle got up there.

The fact that Axelle came here to begin with.

Geneva didn't speak at the funeral. Instead, a few of Sherlene's friends said some words, then the funeral director read the car list for the burial, and everyone started the walk to their designated vehicles.