Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 70

Scene: The Cemetery, Early Afternoon

After the mass, the quiet procession of mourners made their way outside to the cemetery. The wind had picked up slightly, carrying with it the soft scent of the flowers that surrounded the grave. The air felt cooler now, the warmth of the earlier part of the day fading as the sun dipped behind a blanket of clouds. There was a solemnity to the atmosphere, a shared grief that hung over the gathering as they moved slowly toward the freshly dug grave.

The cemetery was peaceful, with tall oak trees standing like silent sentinels around them. The rustling of the leaves in the breeze added to the melancholy, and the distant sound of birdsong only served to heighten the quiet sadness of the moment. Eddie’s steps felt heavy as he walked beside Buck, his mind consumed with memories of his Abuela. Every step felt like a reminder of the finality of this moment, of the last goodbye he was about to say.

The priest stood by the grave, his voice soft and steady as he said a few final words. The group of mourners gathered around, their heads bowed, some clutching tissues or handkerchiefs as they tried to contain their tears. Eddie could feel his own grief welling up inside him again, like a wave he’d been trying to hold back all day. But here, in this quiet, sacred space, it was impossible to keep it at bay.

As the priest finished speaking, the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground, the soft creak of the ropes a haunting sound in the otherwise still air. Eddie’s heart clenched as he watched, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was it—the last time he would ever see his Abuela’s physical form, the last tangible connection he had to her.

One by one, family members stepped forward, each holding a white rose to place on the coffin as it disappeared into the earth. It was a symbolic gesture, a final act of love and farewell. Eddie watched in silence as his parents went first, their faces etched with grief. Helena’s hand trembled as she placed her rose on the casket, and Ramon stood stoically beside her, his jaw tight with emotion.

When it was Eddie and Buck’s turn, they stepped forward together. Eddie held both a white rose and a single red one—the white one for himself, and the red one for Christopher, who couldn’t be there. The red rose stood out starkly against the sea of white, a small but powerful reminder of the life and love that still existed in their family, even in the midst of this loss.

Eddie knelt beside the grave, his knees sinking slightly into the soft earth. He carefully placed the white rose on top of the coffin, his hand lingering on the smooth wood as if he could still feel his Abuela’s presence through it. His fingers traced the edge of the rose, the petals soft under his touch, and for a moment, it felt like she was there with him, like she hadn’t really left.

He closed his eyes and whispered a few quiet words, his voice too low for anyone else to hear.

Eddie: “Te quiero, Abuela. Gracias por todo. Me aseguraré de que Christopher te recuerde. Yo nunca te olvidaré." (Translation : I love you Abuela. Thank you for everything. I’ll make sure Christopher remembers you. I’ll never forget.)

His hand trembled as he placed the red rose beside the white one, a tear slipping down his cheek as he thought of his son. Christopher had adored his Abuela, and Eddie knew how much she had meant to him. The red rose was his way of honoring that bond, of including Christopher in this moment even though he couldn’t be there.

For a long moment, Eddie stayed there, kneeling by the grave, his heart heavy with the weight of his grief. He could feel the eyes of his family on him, but he didn’t care. This was his time, his final goodbye, and he wasn’t ready to leave just yet.

When he finally stood up, Buck was there, standing close by, his presence a quiet, unwavering source of support. Buck rested his hand gently on Eddie’s shoulder, grounding him, reminding him that he wasn’t alone in this. Eddie leaned into the touch, drawing comfort from it, and for a moment, they stayed like that—two souls bound together in shared grief.