Trapped In His Love

7 -Simone's Caretaker

At the funeral.

"Until we meet again."

I sprinkled the handful of dirt over his grave, being careful not to wipe my hand on my slacks, but I also knew that I couldn't just walk around with a filthy hand. After some mental negotiation, I decided to take a wet wipe out of my handbag and wipe at the dirt, feeling the way that my shoulders began to slack as I acknowledged the fact that this was it.

The funeral was over.

I turned around to leave, fully intending to call a cab once I got to the entrance of the cemetery, but it seemed like fate had different plans for me today.

Austin was standing a few paces behind me, watching carefully as the ground workers started to shovel more and more dirt into the grave. When had he come? That was the singular thought that drifted through my mind as I looked at him, although, I did not believe that I would receive an answer.

He was dressed in the very same choice of attire as the rest of the funeral party was—black. Such a morbid color, and yet, it suited him so well. He was staring at his grandfathers' grave, in the very same way that I had been moments ago, and I couldn't help but wonder whether or not he wished that he had been an active participant in the burial process—but even as the thought entered my mind, so did the answer.

As much as I would like to think that he cared about his grandfather, I was doing nothing more than making a fool out of myself.

"We should go."

We?

Did I hear that correctly?

He said we? Did he mean me? Was I supposed to leave with him?

When he turned around, seeming convinced that I knew what he meant, I realized that it would be safer for me to follow him. It would be easier to be turned away, than to be left behind, deliberately.

But as we walked, and I was able to fall into step beside him, it was becoming quite obvious to me that he was mourning. He was upset, and I had to admit that I was somewhat relieved to find that he was actually feeling the weight of his grandfathers' absence.

I thought that comforting him would be a good thing to do—after all, there was no one else here to do it, and therefore, there was nothing stopping me.

"Austin, I know that you're upset that he's gone, but you should remember that he is in a better place. Everything that he spent his life working on, is being passed on to you and Colin, and I just know that he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The two of you meant the world to him..."

I allowed my voice to trail off when I realized that he was looking at me, and I felt like it was safe for me to say that it was not a kind one, either. He looked like he was ready to shove a sock down my mouth, just to keep me quiet—and that was something that I was not comfortable with.

I was a little bit overwhelmed by what was going on, but I told myself that I needed to get a grip on what was happening, especially if I had any hopes of not making a fool out of myself—since that was something that happened so easily. Austin looked absolutely furious, and after he walked away without saying a word—after giving me the look that he had given me—I couldn't help but feel surprised. After all, what reason could he possibly have not to say whatever it was that was on his mind?

Austin ended up leading me to his car, and I couldn't keep myself from looking over my shoulder at the place where I had left my driver. He would still be waiting for me by now, but to my surprise, that place was empty. Austin must have realized what I was looking at, because he started to talk—and he sounded rather impatient.