Her Two Bosses (NaNoWriMo '23)

Missing Angel

If you did not see the warning of Part 14, this chapter contain two rape scenes. Please, do not read if you are uncomfortable with the context.

Several days later...

Evangeline took the afternoon off. Rake and Leo insisted that she take Howard with her to keep her safe. Howard was a kindly, grandfatherly man, but make no mistake. He could be a vicious as necessary to protect his charge.

The first stop was the florist to pick up a bouquet was white and pink lilies. After that, she asked Howard to drive her to the cemetery. He stopped along the lane where Evangeline told him to park. He got out and opened her door. Howard held the flowers for her as she straightened her black knee length skirt and white blouse.

"I know that you are my bodyguard, Howard, but I would like to be alone to talk to them." Evangeline said, looking at him as they two started to walk on the stone path.

He nodded. "I will keep you in sight." They continued to go along the path where people were on their enteral rest. He lagged behind when she asked him to. She walked a bit more, looking over her shoulder to see that Howard was in sight and respecting her wishes.

Just in the shade line on the old Oak, Evangeline entered the small family section of the cemetery with the name Farrelly listed above the stone entrance. She moved along the older graves in the front to the back where her grandparents were buried. She was virtually alone in the space, spare Howard and a weathered groundkeeper raking fallen leaves from the graves.

Evangeline pulled the old, drooping flowers out of the vase that was set with the double stone. One the left side was her grandfather, Sheamus Farrelly and on the right was her grandmother Evelynne O'Hara Farrelly. Kneeling down, she brushed a few leaves off the top. She placed the flowers in the vase. She bowed her head in prayer.

Evangeline felt a presence just behind her. Turning her head, she saw that it was the groundskeeper leaning on the old rake. His grey newsboy cap was low on his wrinkled face. He was a tall, thin man who was dressed in dark slacks and blue buttoned-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms. He was sporting a grey vest with a silver chain attached to a button, leading to a pocket. The vest was an older style, still with the buttonhole to place a flower stem in. There was a white rose.

"My twin brother worked with Sheamus in construction for over forty years. Who you be to them?" He asked, with a slight Irish accent.

Evangeline rise her eyes to the man but did not stand up. "Their granddaughter, Evangeline. I am Marina's daughter."

A smile broke across the man's face. "Sheamus's shadow is what my brother called you. Always there with Sheamus. Do you remember a Darrell Mallory?" He asked, sitting on his hunches.

"I do. He always snuck me sweets that his wife would make for his lunch. He used to call me Evie." Evangeline smiled at the man. "After he died, I did not allow anyone to call me that again. Not even my grandparents. From anyone else, it just was not the same. You are... Dylan Mallory. I remember him talking about you from time to time."

"Yes, I am." He beamed. "I was always traveling from here back to Dublin. Never resting then. Now, I am taking it easy. How is your life? All well?" He watched her eyes go sad and shake her head no. "Not to threat, lass. You are in the hands of the shepherd." Dylan told her as her took her hand gently. He pulled the rose from the buttonhole and place it in her hands. He leaned over, kissing her forehead. Evangeline smiled at him, tears from her eyes. Together they stood up from the stone and Dylan led her back to Howard. Evangeline kissed Dylan's cheek and thanked him.

"Who was he, Evangeline?" Howards asked as they walked back to the car.

"Old family friend's brother." Evangeline gave Howards a small smile as she slid into the seat. Howard nodded and went to the driver's door. Evangeline asked Howards to run her by the butcher's shop and corner market so she could buy the ingredients to make a special dinner tonight.