My Lovely Jerk {Completed}

Chapter - 21

I don’t think I’ve ever heard such sad music. Yet, as I walked into the church a melancholy song was playing as people walked around and talked with one another. Children ran around with smiles on their faces as they played, obviously unaware of the somber occasion. As for the adults of this gloomy event, they were either teared faced or looked as if they had built up a wall to not feel the pain of Kat’s death.

Three feet into the sanctuary, all eyes turned and looked at me. Conversations ceased and everyone had shocked expressions on their faces.

“Breathe,” a smooth voice told me as a few strands of my blonde hair around my ear whisked from the voice speaking in my ear.

It was then that I noticed I had been holding my breath. Inhaling through my nose, I resumed my steps inside until a man that looked like Santa Claus, but dressed in a police uniform came forth and engulfed me in a hug. “Oh, Elle, dear you are one hell of a miracle,” the man spoke in a gruffly manner.

I grunted from the tightness of his embrace. The second he let go of me, I found myself backing up into Bryson. I didn’t apologize for bumping into Bryson, because it was my intention to back into him due to the fact that I felt insecure around these people and being around or next to Bryson always made me feel safer.

The man who reminded me of Santa turned the smile on his face upside down. “How are you?”

The room was so Silent, even the music had stopped, as everyone awaited my reply. Clearing my throat I tried to form a response ... “Fine ... I’m fine,” I spoke, hoping they all would believe me.

Santa Man gave me a nod and then forced a smile back unto his face. Patting the side of my right arm he nodded. “Well, good!”

His voice was loud and it frightened me because I didn’t know him, or shall I say, I didn’t remember him.

“That is Sheriff Ford, Randall’s uncle.” Bryson whispered in my ear for only me to hear.

Suddenly my eyes widened, because the man before me wasn’t someone I didn’t know, he was someone I did know but from years back. My headed tilted to the side as I started to recognize him. In five years he really changed. Sheriff Ford had gained a good fifty pounds and grown a snow white beard with the addition of a few wrinkles to his round face. However, even still with all the changes I wanted to smack myself for not recognizing him. I mean, how could I ever forget those deep brown eyes that always brought a smile to my face growing up?

“Uncle Ford?” The two words that spilled out of my mouth weren’t meant to come out as a question, but they had...

Uncle Ford’s lips twitched up even more, “Elle.”

I took two large steps and returned the bone crushing hug, he gave me earlier, back to him. “I’m sorry, I didn't know ... I didn’t realize it was you...” I blurted out as tears rushed down my face.

As I released Uncle Ford, he gave a deep chuckle. “It is quite alright, dear child.”

Without much thought I stepped back into Bryson and then remained planted in spot.

Studying me for a second, Uncle Ford gave a sigh. “I hope you know that we are trying to find who did it,” he spoke in a low tone of voice that held a lot of strain and pain.

I furrowed my eyebrows, unsure of what he meant. “Find who?”

“We’re trying to find the person, or persons, who caused the wreck. We are under the impression that the accident was no mere accident. It doesn’t help whoevers case that they fled the scene ... but the point is we are trying to find whoever hit the car you, Peter, Kat and ... Randall ... where in.” Uncle Ford’s eyes casted down on the tan brick floor in shame. I knew he was feeling guilt for not being able to find the person, but he would. There was no doubt in my mind...