Will and Testament // Sequel to the Rosie Grey series

Chapter Thirty-Five

Three weeks later, we returned to the churchyard.

Despite no reports of Grandfather's body being recovered from the suspect sinking site, Uncle Zachariah had arranged for a headstone to be placed in his family plot so we had our own, private place to go when we mourned him. The headstone had been made out of marble with a very simple inscription carved into the stone. Father said that Grandfather had always wanted something small.

I stood beside Father, reading over the inscription and wondering whether Grandfather would like it. Grandmother hadn't been mentioned, not even in a fleeting passing, but since they hadn't spoken in so long, I doubted that he would have minded. Uncle Zachariah had made sure that the inscription included a brief comment about his patients and all the people whose lives he had saved during his time as a Doctor.

Grandfather helped far too many people for them not to at least be mentioned. He took such pride in his work and what he did, a legacy Father hoped to continue.

"I think he would like it," I said, breaking the silence that had settled over us. "The tree gives plenty of shade and Grandfather always said he preferred the shade."

"I agree, Izzy. The spot is perfect." Father placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "He would think it a perfect place to read a book on a hot summer's day."

"Do you think he's with Mother?" Florence asked. She turned around and looked at Uncle Zachariah who readjusted his grip on Hannah and tried not to let his face falter.

"Yes, I believe so."

"Good. I don't want them to be lonely."

"I don't think they're lonely, Florence," I said.

I crouched down beside Florence and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her against me and balancing my chin on her head. She giggled but didn't try and wrestle her way out of my grip instead she leaned into me and wrapped her small fingers around my wrists. We both stared at the gravestone, my eyes roaming over the words engraved on the stone and hoping Grandfather would have liked it.

The grave had been put in the family plot, alongside his parents and Aunt Emily. All four stones sat together, a child reunited with his parents and a mother waiting to be reunited with her family. I liked the idea Florence had of all of them being together again, it gave me hope that one day I would be able to see Grandfather again and we could all be together. That wouldn't be for a while yet, I wanted to make him proud.

The debate at school had been the first step in trying to make him proud of me and I intended to do a lot more than that over the coming years. Grandfather used to tell me that I could do anything if I believed I would be able to, and I firmly believed that to be the case. If he thought I could do it, even if he wasn't there to witness it, I had to at least try.

"Are you alright?" Father asked as we walked through the churchyard and towards the car. Anna and John ran further ahead, weaving in and out of the gravestones as they went.

"I'm fine, just thinking."

"That's dangerous.

I smacked him lightly on the arm. "Don't be rude."

"Alright, alright. You have a painful slap, Missie," Father rubbed his arm. "What are you thinking about?"

"Whether or not Grandfather would be proud of me."

"He would be. After your performance in the debate, the way you decided for yourself that you wanted to get up and deliver the speech. That took a lot of determination and he would be so proud of you for doing it."