Dating the Dead • lrh

34. graveyard

The hospital visit was quick but it was beautiful. Molly was conscious when we arrived. And she was more than delighted to see us.

I had brought my guitar along to play some music. Shelby even sang. I was too focused on making Molly happy to admire Shelby's voice. Or the fact that Harper was with us taking photos.

My favorite part would have to be when Molly and Shelby posed for a picture. Molly was wearing her wig. And they could pass for a mother and daughter.

I think Shelby would have adopted the kid if she could. Her memory, though. I don't think she'd want Molly to be around for that part when she'd black out.

We left after taking a few more photos with Molly. She got so tired quickly. And we got a wedding to attend.

Shelby laughed once we arrived at the venue. It was the same orchard we went to. She pointed at a wood board.

PISS OFF

"I love this pun," she said, doubling over. "They nailed it after someone urinated on the tree."

Ha ha, very punny.

The blood drained from my face. It was me. I was that 'someone' and she knew it. I laughed with her at my own expense.

"For all I know, you made that sign," I chuckled, "let's go, we still need to prepare." I dragged her by the hand.

What a pathetic excuse.

"I did not. Why didn't I think of that?" She laughed as she let me lead the way. "Where are we going?"

I looked around us and all I could see were trees. No farmhouse in the vicinity. "I thought this was the way to the wedding venue."

"No. It's on the other side," she pointed to the way we came, "we're headed to the old graveyard."

The what?

I started to walk but she stayed rooted to the ground. My body retracted. A grin plastered on her face.

"You know it's not that far," she smiled widely. I shook my head. "Come on, it's only eleven. The ceremony won't start until two."

I gave the vast area of apple trees a once over. "But-"

"We'll just play for a few minutes," she bargained, shaking my hand.

Play?

It took us five minutes to get to a small hill. It overlooked the orchard and just behind it, a big house stood. The wedding venue.

The graveyard was on the other side of the hill. We carefully walked down the steep grass. I held tightly on Shelby's hand.

"What are we going to do here again?" I asked her as we stood in front of a crumbling archway and wrought-iron gate.

She gave me a look, then stared through the rusting bars. "We go around and look for our names or birthdays."

"Why?" I really didn't want to go. It's not that I'm scared or anything but it didn't feel right.

The weathered tombstones didn't look very inviting. And I think I saw some movement. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Was that a ghost?

"'Cause it's fun," she shrugged, dropping my hand. I frowned. As she took a step towards the gate, her phone rang. "Happy!" She greeted the other line. Her face lit up as if she hadn't seen Harper in years.