Pretty Brown Eyes

Chapter 39

"Yes," I said. "A graveyard."

"Is this why you always had an excuse?" he asked as we got out.

I lead him to their spots. I saw their familiar tombstones along with a bouquet of flowers on my mom's grave that must've been at least a week old. My aunt probably came by. As we walked up to them, I stopped right in front.

"I know you're going to have a lot of questions," I started, "and I'm ready for them all. Anything you want to ask, please do."

"I won't ask too much," he smiled out of sympathy, i'm sure.

I read the names aloud, "Maxwell Dean Williams and Margaret Denise Williams."

"Lots of Ms," he joked.

I smiled. He always made the bad situations not so bad.

"How did they die?" he asked.

"It's a bit of a story," I said.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay, and I understand," he said.

"No, it's fine," I said.

I breathed in, remembering every detail I was told the minute I found out. "They were on a very well needed vacation, and on their way back, a woman was texting and driving on the wrong side of the road. My parents didn't have much of an option. It was either turn right and miss her but crash into a ditch, turn right and crash into another oncoming car, and run straight into her. They ran straight into her. My dad died instantly, and my mom died twenty minutes later at the hospital."

I told him absolutely everything I knew about the incident. I looked up at this face, trying to read the emotions. He looks sad and angry, yet sympathetic and apologizing. He hugged me, whispering, "I'm so sorry," and I appreciated it, but sorry wasn't going to bring my parents back to life, and he didn't do anything wrong.

"I bet the woman feels terrible that she's the reason all three of them are dead," he said.

"I bet," I agreed, "expect that she didn't die. She's still alive and was recently released from prison, I think."

Now Aaron looked a little more mad than anything.

"She's still alive?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered.

"Good," he said.

I was confused, "Why good?"

"That's the worst punishment."

"What? Living?"

"Yes," he crossed his arms, "knowing she's the reason a child doesn't have parents. I hope she feels guilty for the rest of her days."

"Me too," I agreed with him.

Aaron looked at their graves again, "Can I talk to them?"

I smiled, "Please."

He smiled back and knelt down, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Williams. I'm Aaron Carpenter. I just wanted to say that you have an amazing, beautiful, smart, kind, caring, and overall lovely daughter. She's truly the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love her more than I love myself. I wish I could've met you before the accident, and I wish I could've been there for Kenna all the years that I wasn't because, well, I didn't know her. But now I do, and I am so grateful that I do. It was wonderful meeting you. I'm sure I'll talk soon."

I smiled. Aaron stood up and held my hands.

"I meant every word," he said, looking in my eyes.

"You love me again," I half asked, half stated.

"Who said I ever stopped?"

There it was. That feeling in my stomach that Aaron always gave to me when he talked sweetly to me.. Butterflies and blushing cheeks.