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Chapter Twenty Six : A big step forward and another backward

                                      DENVER.

I don't know why I'm afraid today yet I personally invited Sia to come with me to visit mom's grave.

That is a really huge step so I don't know what Sia might think after that. Will she find me weird for talking to mom's grave as if she will reply? Won't she ditch plans after getting better things to do with her time? Ugh. Okay deep breaths, I'm going to be fine. It's now noon, the time we agreed to meet and I'm more than prepared. All I have to do is pick flowers from the florist's shop before we drive to the graveyard. This is going to be the first time I'm going to visit mom with someone. My jean-clad leg keeps bouncing in anxiety and when I receive a call grom Sia, I jump like I just saw a snake. Fucking shit. Why am I so scared?

I pick up her call and she informs me that she's in the lobby. This is it. Fucking calm down Denver. After locking my room, I get into the elevator and I'm on the ground floor within a minute. I spot Sia seated in one of the lobby chairs with her hair down, looking as beautiful as ever. I push my worries away as I rush toward her and wrapping my arms around her from behind. She jumps a little until she notices who it is.

"Hey beautiful." I greet.

"Hey handsome." She replies with a cheeky smile and I peck her cheek making her blush.

"Shall we?" I ask extending my hand and she puts her tiny hand in mine.  "Yes we shall." She replies and I chuckle.

We move out of the hotel and I lead us to the car I hired for the time being before I go back to California.  "When did you get this?" Sia asks as she eyes the car.

"Yesterday. I hired it and I'm going to be using it until it's time to go back to California." I reply.

"Sweet ride," She comments and I thank her as she goes to open the passenger door but I stop her.

"May I?" I ask with an exaggerated bow and she laughs. She moves aside as I open the car door and she slips in. I close the door and saunter to the driver's side, getting in. "O-kay let's go." I say a little less enthusiastic and as if Sia can tell, she touches my arm comfortingly and I toss her a smile before starting the car. We drive down the street in comfortable silence as she looks outside at passing features as I concentrate infront on the road. I park the car when we reach the florist shop and understanding is on Sia's face so I don't have to answer any questions about why I stopped.  "I'll be quick." I say to Sia who nods before I jog into the shop.

"Hello Mrs. Martin." I greet with a smile. I've known her for some time now since I usually buy flower bouquets to take to my mother's grave from here.

"Hey son. How are you doing? How much you've changed!" She exaggerates and I chuckle.

"That's not true. It's not been that long, has it?"

"Oh yes indeed it has, sweetie. Heading to visit your mom?" She asks with a sad smile and I nod wordlessly. "Same order?" I nod again but she understands I don't feel like talking. She goes into the back of the shop and comes back with a bouquet of white and red roses mixed together. Those were mom's favourite flowers. I pay and she hands me the bouquet.

"Have a nice day Mrs. Martin." I say as I begin to walk backward to leave.

"Bye son." She has always treated me like a son from the time I came brooding to buy flowers from her shop for the first time.

I get back in the car putting the flowers in the back before we continue our journey until we reach the graveyard. It is still the same as it was all those months ago. The old grey gate is still the same, the grass around the graves is well trimmed as always and the path to my mother's grave is still comforting as it always was.