A Single Flower (A Flower Series)

chapter twenty three

STARLA'S POV

Kaden had a necklace for each member of the Monroe family made. They were hand crafted with each of them in mind with Miranda's ashes inside of them. The rest of her remains were inside of a beautiful urn made of rose gold color marble. The words God holds you in his arm, but I still hold you in my heart engraved on the front. The ceremony was beautifully done. Jason sat up front with Moria, I didn't see Sebastian but heard that he was there in the back somewhere and left earlier. At the end of the service, I went with Kaden to give my condolences.

"Are you going to stay around?" Jason asked

"There's something I need to get from Grandpa's before we leave," I tell him

"I'm sorry, Starla," he says. "I'm sorry I fealed you. I never meant for it to get all out of hand. "

I nod. "Do you wish to see Asher?"

He nods. "I'll come by tomorrow and see him. How is he holding up?"

"He's staying strong," Kaden says

"He's a Gregory. He'll pull through," Jason says

"Someone said they saw Sebastian," Moira says

"I don't wanna see him," Jason says

"I'm sure he didn't want this, Jason," I tell him

"No, he was trying to kill you and Kaden, that's enough." He says,"I'm too old for all this fighting. "

"Let's get past today, we'll worry about this whole miss another time," Kaden says

"I'm ready to head back to Asher," I tell Kaden he nods "Moria" I say, hugging her neck

"You should have gotten a necklace too she was like a mother to you as well," Moria says

"I'm fine, I loved Aunt Miranda so much," I tell her

"She loved you too,"

After saying our goodbyes, we head back to the hospital. I sit quietly watching the trees go by like a movie playing.

"You alright?" Kaden asked

"I feel like everything I touch is slowly dying," I tell him. "Grandpa, Aunt Miranda, even my parents"

"Baby, this wasn't your fault." He says,"None of this was, you're parents accident, Grandpa's untimely death, nore Miranda's murder, " he says."It's all sad but not your fault at all. You didn't know a drunk was going to be driving the night your parents died. You didn't expect your Grandpa to pass while we were just down visiting. And no one knew someone was going to try to kill us the day of Grandpa's funeral while you just so happen to be talking to Miranda, " he tells me

"One big coincidence"

"I know that's not what you want here, but yeah. That's what it is, " he tells me. Reaching over, he grabs my hand

I knew he was right. It wasn't my fault. But deep down, I can't help but feel that if they didn't know me, maybe things would have truned out better for them.

We released the nurse who had been watching Asher when we returned. It was so hard watching him breathe through a tube.

It would be a full five month stay in the hospital before we get to take Asher home. He had to be eating and breathing on his own before we could leave. Meanwhile, we watched him grow and develop. Jason had come by to see him the day after Miranda's funeral. He didn't say much. Just look on at little Asher. The day we left the hospital, Jason called to ask if we were going by Grandpa's. We had planned to stop by to pick up some things before going to the house and heading out.