CHAPTER 68

TWO WEEKS LATER...

       Dylan parked the car at the cemetery's entrance. She switched off the engine and leaned back in her seat. Carly observed her, pretty much what she had been doing the whole time along the drive there. They had only made one stop at the florist to purchase some flowers. She could tell that she was still nervous about the whole thing. When Dylan had told her that she never went to visit her mother's gravesite after she was buried, she had been surprised. She however understood how hard it must have been for her to go back there alone and especially since she blamed herself for the death of her mother. There were so many things to make her feel afraid but above all, she knew it was the pain of standing there again and knowing for sure that she was never going to see her again. She took her hand if only to reassure her and to show her that she wasn't alone. Dylan turned to her.

                 "Are you ready for this? Because you don't have to go now if you aren't."

                  "I have abandoned her for too long. Staying away any longer just makes me feel like the worst person ever. I need to do this. It's the only way I can manage to move forward."

  She nodded then proceeded outside. She waited for her at the entrance then took her hand as the headed there. She could feel her nervousness judging by how tight she clung to her hand. She squeezed her once in a while until they got there. Dylan's face twisted multiple times as she looked at the headstone. She swallowed a large amount of saliva then took the flowers from her hands. Her hands were shaking as if she had they been dipped inside a jar of ice cold water. She helped her place them down because it seemed too likely that she would drop them before they reached the concrete slab. Her legs unable to hold her body anymore, Dylan went down on her knees as huge drops of tears fell on the slap. She wept and for a while,Carly didn't interrupt her. She knew she needed this. She had finally found who had done this and the remaining thing now was to make peace with her mother. It was what she needed.

               "I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you. You raised me alone and brought me up to be the strongest woman for both of us but I failed. I tried to live up to the potential of dad, what you always told me,to bring back his legacy back to life but that failed too. I finally found out who did this to you and even though your death is avenged,it will never be just. I'm so sorry and I hope wherever you are you are not angry with me," she paused to sniffle. She wiped some of the tears. "I should have listened to you. You were always right about everything." She chuckled lightly, "About Carly. When you told me that she would one day come back,you were so sure and I didn't get it.  I didn't believe it either but guess what,you were right." She produced a tiny laugh,"She is right here with me." Carly smiled warmly and joined her on the ground. She took her hand again but didn't speak. She didn't need to. "Now I know why you always tried to teach me  the power of positivity. We are gonna get it right and you are going to be proud ma." She kissed her fingers and placed them on the slab. "I promise." She then sighed heavily and knelt there for a moment. Carly gave her a little more time then helped her up.

                  "Are you good?" 

                    "Much better. I feel like a burden has finally been lifted off my back. Making my peace with her must have been the only thing standing between being stuck in one place and moving past it. I feel much better now. Thank you for coming with me."

   Carly nodded,"Always." She then kissed her lightly on the forehead.

  They had been in too deep in their own world that they didn't see the old lady who had come after them and was sitting in front of a gravesite just behind them. They were surprised when they found her looking at them. Thinking that she would curse them for being inappropriate or maybe accuse them of being disrespectful to the dead,they were surprised by what she said.

                   "Are you two married?" They looked at each other and both shook their heads. "Engaged?"  This time, Dylan answered.

                   "Not really," she then looked at Carly,"But I'm hoping we will be soon." Carly smiled.

                  "Oh, looking at you I could only guess the two options. You don't seem anything less than that speaking honestly. How long have you been together?"

                  "Not long actually," Carly said. "We dated in highschool then broke up which was my fault. This big hearted woman was really gracious to give me a second chance which I plan to grab by all it's horns and hold on forever." This she said looking at Dylan and anyone looking at them didn't need to be told that they were completely and crazily in love. Crazily cute too which made even the old woman blush as she observed them.

                 "Well, I'd say you are on the right track. Also it doesn't matter how long you have been together to determine whether you are in love," she looked down at the headstone before her and smiled. "Camille will always be the greatest love I ever had. We met on a vacation which lasted for a week but by the time it ended,we were crazily in love with each other. We were both single,a few days later after the vacation, she looked for me and we got married unofficially. Crazy I know but I know love when I see it. Unfortunately I didn't get to experience much of it because death as the with the envy it is took my love away too soon. It has been an year since. I drive here every week for two hours to visit her. That's how I feel closer to her."

                    "How old are you?"

                      "Seventy five and counting," she replied proudly. Now that surprised them. Even if they had thought she was old,they hadn't guessed that  old. To them, being fifty years of age was old and that's what they had guessed. But seventy five? It didn't look ideal.

                     "You definitely look very young for your age. Maybe late fifties."

The woman laughed,"My Camille looked even younger. You wouldn't have believed she was older than me." They looked at her in disbelief. "You want to know a trick? Stay in love,be happy, learn to talk things out before acting out and trust me,old age will always run away from you. It's how you make your mother proud. I'm sure she is looking over you wherever she is. Sorry I overheard you talking."

                     "It's okay,"Dylan replied. "Thank you."

                    "You are welcome. I'm always here on Wednesdays around the same time. If you ever need to talk,you know how to find me."

                   "Okay, have a nice day and sorry for your loss."

                  "Goodbye children."

                          ★★★

    Their next stop was Dylan's former house where she had lived with her mother years ago. Ever since her death, Dylan had not returned to the place because of the demons that laid there. She was afraid that the memory of the moment she had found her mother's lifeless body would haunt her. Now she was ready to move forward and everyone in her life had chipped in to help her. First there was Carly who she loved with every fiber of her being. Then there was Teddy,her adorable son who treated her much like his family. Almost if not equal to how he treated his mother. Two weeks after his surgery which had gone perfectly and now he was on his journey to full recovery. Carly's parents,her brother and his daughter Ravenna who by permission from the court had been placed under his custody,of course after making sure she would be surrounded by people who loved her and would help her move  past the trauma she had been through. Then there was Emily and her kids who had become a big part of the family through friendship. And there was Kenny who through pulling some strings had been made her partner in homicide department where she had been made detective. She was above him but he was the best partner she could ever ask for. 

   Now they were all in the back porch of her former house where they had all gathered to celebrate their union. She had offered to host them and that was the best way to chase the gloomy air around the house. With time, she knew she would be able to return there fully and live there, maybe ask Carly to move in with her.

      As the day sped by, Dylan looked around and observed each of the people present. Everyone she cared for and everyone who cared about her. There was no greater blessing than this. If this moment was a sneak peek of what her life would be hence forth,then she knew she would have the happiest moments ever. They would do her good after spending several years of an unhappy life. Much later towards evening when everyone was scattered around,Carly walked behind her and placed her hands on her shoulders. She had recovered except for a slight pain whenever she pressed the wound too hard but at least the arm functioned quite well.

                 "Should we escape from the crowd, have a little moment to ourselves detective?" she whispered into her ear.

  Dylan grinned,"What took you so long?"