Hank and Jess had something in their marriage most couples cannot claim, an unbelievable connection and fierce love for each other. While on a mission trip to Haiti, Jess is murdered. The shock of loss overwhelms Hank and his journey to reconcile he...
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Mom seemed to have the rhythm of my pulse down as she squeezed my hand every second or so. It was a thankful distraction to the overwhelming finality that you will never see your loved one on this side of the grave again. The weather was seasonably warm today. It felt more like late August and that made the suit itch even worse. Sweat pooled on my forehead. That was a combination of heat and nerves. I felt like a rat in a cage being forced to face by death. Everywhere I looked, the numerous gravestones stared back.
"Jess is going to be buried among the ancients," I whispered more to myself than anyone else but mom saw it as being to her, "What do you mean, dear? Ancients?" Mom had been worried about my mental state ever since I had called and told her Jess had been pregnant. Every time I had a twitch or talked under my breath she came on high alert. Mom had always been a little over-protective.
"The tombstones, mom. The slate ones are all dated in the 1800's and Jess is right here amongst them. I would have assumed all their burial plots available would have been around there." I gestured behind me to the granite headstones that were neatly arrayed and covered most of the graves in Heather Heights.
"I think they recently opened this area up by the looks of it, son. Didn't this used to be called Memorial Park?" They had changed the name when a young local teenager lost her life when she saved her brother and sister's life in a house fire. She instantly became a town legend and her grave was positioned on the hill in the center of the site as if she were looking over all the other graves.
"Mom, you remember Heather Reynolds, when she saved her siblings in that fire, and they honored her in town? They recently changed the name of this place honor of her as well."
"Yes, of course. I knew her grandmother, Martha well. She came from good stock. I used..." Mom trailed off as the pallbearers made their way from the hearse to place Jess' casket over the hole in the ground. The last pallbearer, Dr Headley, carried a small box. In that box was the pregnancy test, a blanket my mom bought, and a note from me to my unborn child:
Though I never knew you on this earth I loved you. I will never forget you and pray that one day we will meet and talk. You would have been a joy to my life. I love you, your daddy. Kiss your momma in heaven for me.
As he brought the box I looked straight ahead. I felt its presence more than saw it, as I couldn't bear to look at it. The box would be placed in a small holder attached to Jess' casket and buried with her.
I heard sniffles behind me as the box was placed. I had requested the graveside be only family and a few very close friends. Dean, my best friend, had his hand on my shoulder now. He didn't speak as what words could possibly help in this moment. He was just present, which is all I could ask for. I squeezed mom's hand tight. If it hurt her she didn't wince. She took the pain for me. I looked towards the entry road into the graveyard.
"Why won't they leave us alone? Even here they pursue us!" There were two vans on the road only a few hundred yards away with what were assuredly reporters and cameramen filming us. Since the news had broke about Jess being pregnant, the press had been almost hostile in trying to get a statement from me. I had refused.
