Ready For Love (Drama/Romance)

♱🗡 Chapter 9 🗡💋

  Simon helped me with the suitcases, and I smiled, tiredly, at him. He smiled back, but didn't say anything. I walked over to the lobby with luggages in tow, and the receptionist asked, "Where are you going? Shouldn't you be managing the hotel?"

"Um... I am going to stay with my friend, and if anyone asks, it's a business trip... Okay?" I told her, and she nodded, seemingly sad to see me go.

I leaned my head against the window, as we drove, and closed my eyes. The scream and sheer horror of that still rang clear through my head. I shuddered and swallowed.

What if 'Simon' gets killed? What if it was all for nothing? I can't think like that... not when I have to make things right.

"You know Sylvia's case, right?" Simon asks, out of nowhere.

"The one where they deemed it as an 'Accident'."

"They reopened the file and it's in a full-blown investigation."

Huh, I wonder why. Why bring it up now? Why reopen another wound that closed and was over?

"Why?" I asked him. He took a deep breath and said, "They....uh..."

Once we landed in Cedar City, and had our luggages checked, we hailed a taxi and headed straight to his home. The sun had already set, and his home is an hour from the airport, so I let my head rest on his shoulders.

"Hey, Spade... we are here," he said, while poking me.

I looked out and saw that he informed his parents. Oh. They look really pissed. We get out of the taxi, and Simon retrieves my luggages. As we walk up the steps toward the house, he whispered something in my ear, "My parents think I'm cheating on Myra with you... Just say we are... I don't know... uh, close friends"

The moment we reached the house, Mrs. Waverly said, "Where the hell were you? You just up and left. No note, and you didn't call.."

Mr. Waverly tried to put his hand on her shoulder, but she pushed it off. Yikes. I bet no one wants to get on her bad side. "Can I?"

Mr Waverly was near me when he asked. So I replied with, "Yeah, sure."

"Is his mom always this way?"

"Not always. We didn't see him leave and she.... Had a panic attack."

Ah. That definitely explains that scene.

The room that he showed me to was cozy, to say the least. A small nightstand stood off to the right side of the bed, with a picture frame on top. The bed had one pillow and a sheet. I looked at the closet, which was even smaller. What was this room used for?

Putting away my luggage, I kicked off my shoes before climbing in bed. Laying there, I gazed at the ceiling.

I was able to sleep for a little bit before a knock on the door startled me awake. "Breakfast is ready."

Swinging my legs out of bed, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a random long-sleeve shirt I found in my bag, and went to the kitchen. There he was sitting with his mom and dad, eating a bowl of cereal.

"Good morning, honey. Come sit, eat with us," Mrs Waverly said, her tone more cheery than I'd ever heard it.  

Grabbing the seat next to Simon and I got a bowl of cereal. I swirled the spoon in the milk and took a bite, licking the spoon clean before setting it down.

Mrs. Waverly sat in front of us, with eggs, bacon, and toast in front of her.

With a coffee cup in his hand, Mr. Waverly sat across from us. He also had a plate of eggs and bacon. But no toast.

"Mr. Waverly?" I asked, looking at him. "You're not eating toast?"

"Lashay? You are a very observant child. My husband is not much of a toast fan, right honey?" Mrs. Waverly replied.   

We all ate in silence and went our separate ways to get ready for the day. I dug through my purple suitcase and found a dress that Sylvia bought me for my birthday. It was light blue with a white lace overlay, and it fit me perfectly.

I run my fingers across the lace, smiling to myself. After I put it on, I pulled my hair into a messy bun and put the shoes on. I grabbed my phone and ran out of the room, and came short of the door.

Simon had been waiting for me, straightening his clothes. He grinned at me, and I smiled back, not being able to help myself. I didn't know why, but whenever I saw Simon, it's like a sort of bubbly feeling inside of me. He was that feel-good warmth... A sunshine.

"You ready?" he asked, holding out his hand.

"Yeah, I am," I replied, and took his hand in mine and we walked out of the house. 

  In the car, Simon drove, this time of course. Sitting in the passenger seat, I watched the scenery go by. I glanced over at Simon, who was driving, and I inquired, "Where are we going, anyway?"

"Uh.... It's a surprise."

Then it was pure silence for the rest of the ride. 

I stared out the window, taking in the sights of the streets, as they blurred past. Hmm. That is weird. Why has pulled into a cemetery?

"Simon?"

He opens the door for me and I get out, and he closes it behind me. Why are we in a cemetery?

"Simon, why'd you bring me here?"

"To give you a proper goodbye chance," he said, and then pecked my cheek. "Come on"

The trek up the small hill burned my legs, but I couldn't complain. He gave me a chance to say goodbye to Sylvia... Properly. And I don't want to blow it. I really don't.

I didn't have the chance because my dad made me go back to Italy soon after her death. We never had a proper goodbye. We stop at a stone with her name on it. Sylvia Jones. I skipped the date of the death, since it elicited some memories that I didn't want to relive.

"Sylvia, thanks for being a friend when no one else was."