Natalie's POV
Joshua met me in front of the cemetary. He was dressed in a plain black suit that didn't suit him. "Where's Lilly?" he asked.
"Dunno," I said, not wanting to reveal where she really was - with Carson. It still made me angry. She'd left my house, and I'd forced myself to put on the skirt.
"Well, she better get here soon," Joshua said, leading me into the cemetary. It gave me chills, knowing that Sara and Michael were buried under the ground.
"Oh! Joshua! Natalie!" Sara's mom, Ms. Hastings, ran over to us. She was holding back tears. "Thank God you're here. I was afraid that..." she broke off and looked at me with large round eyes. She was a tiny woman, shorter than I was. "Look. I know the police think it's one of you, but I believe you fully. Both of you. You meant so much to Sara...I would never disbelieve in you."
"Thank you," I said, breathlessly.
Ms. Hastings managed a smile and teetered off to greet another visitor.
"Shall we?" Joshua asked, smiling grimly, and stepping through the gate. I followed him, reluctantly, at a distance. There were people mingling around the gravesite, and a pastor was talking to Mr. Hastings. I picked up a bouquet of roses, holding it close to me. Suddenly, Joshua's hand tightened around my wrist.
I looked up, biting my lip.
"Look," Joshua hissed, trying not to point. I looked over and saw Lilly and Carson making their way through the other side of the cemetary. Lilly was - I gasped - smiling, and laughing.
It wasn't that I was against her doing that, I just felt that it was impossible to be happy with Sara and Michael dead. How could she smile and joke like that? How did she not feel the weight of the world on her shoulders?
Lilly looked over instinctively and saw us. She said something to Carson and then made her way over to us. "Hi," she said somberly.
"What are you doing with him?" Joshua asked harshly, "You know who he is!"
"He's Sara's step-brother," Lilly retorted, "And he's the closest person to her. He deserves to know, too. You don't believe he killed her..."
"I can believe whatever I want," Joshua said, narrowing his eyes at Lilly, and taking a step backwards, "You can, too."
"You sure don't act like it," Lilly smiled humorlessly.
"You don't know anything about him," Joshua hissed, shaking his head, "Look at him, Lil. Sara hated him. He was such a jerk to her."
"Just because Sara hated him doesn't mean we have to," Lilly replied, "Is that the only reason you hate him?"
"Yes," Joshua said, "And it's reason enough."
