His Shortcake

Chapter 37

(Mehh. I'm not sure about this chapter but enjoy! )

Tamara Ramirez

Alec woke me up as soon as he parked the car outside Mom's family mausoleum. It was a generic-looking building, identical to the others around it. White walls, metal gates, and the same architectural design. The only distinguishing feature was the last name written in huge gold letters on each mausoleum.

Alec made his way to unlock the gate. As expected, the inside was spotless—likely cleaned recently by the caretaker, as always. The name "Ramirez" was written in bold gold letters on the gate, and within, rested both Mom and Grandpa—her father.

Alec placed the basket on the pristine white-tiled floor in front of their graves. He pulled out a red blanket from the basket, spreading it neatly on the floor before sitting down. He glanced at me with a gentle smile. "Come on," he said, patting the empty space beside him.

Taking a deep breath, I sat down beside him. I watched as Alec went through his usual routine. He pulled out candles from the basket, lighting each one and placing them carefully in front of the headstones.

"You forgot the flowers," I murmured, frowning as I noticed the empty space where the flowers should have been.

"He didn't," came Dy's familiar voice from behind me.

I whipped around, startled to see him there. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a white shirt, Dy stood holding Mom's favorite flower in one hand. He crouched down and gently placed it in front of her grave.

"Here you go, May," he said softly, smiling at the picture of Mom neatly displayed on top of the grave. "Looking beautiful as always, May."

"What a charmer," Alec remarked sarcastically as he wiped an invisible speck of dust from Mom's picture. "He's being nice because he's scared you won't approve, Mom," Alec added with a snicker, shooting a glance at Dy.

It felt strange, almost surreal, the way they spoke to her as if she were still alive, as if she could still hear them. Like, at any moment, they expected her to answer back. They talked to her as naturally as if she were standing beside us. I wish I could do that too, but every time I try, there's this nagging feeling that no matter how much I talk, I'll never really know her—not the way these two did.

She might have been my mother, but to me, she's just a memory. A beautiful memory of a woman who raised the two most important men in my life. A woman who, through them, gave me the best childhood anyone could ask for. Yes, she's a memory, but I still felt her love growing up—through Alec and Dustyn.

"Isn't that right, Mara?" Alec's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked at him, confused. "What?"

Alec frowned, setting down the Tupperware of food he'd just pulled from the picnic basket. "Are you okay? You've been awfully quiet."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Alec smirked, turning to Dustyn as he sat beside me. "Guess she's second-guessing getting engaged to you now, Dy."

"That's not happening anytime soon, right, shortcake?" Dustyn said confidently, placing his hand over mine.

I glanced at Alec, reading the teasing look on his face, and knew what to say. "Maybe," I replied with a playful smile.

Dustyn feigned shock, placing his hand dramatically over his chest as Alec burst into laughter, pointing at the exaggerated expression on Dy's face.

"See, Mom? I'm surrounded by two children," I said, snickering as both of their jaws dropped in unison. "I don't know what I'm going to do with them," I continued with a dramatic sigh.