Cursed (The Brookehaven Vampires #4) by Sowles Joann I. Martin

Author:Sowles, Joann I. Martin [Sowles, Joann I. Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brookehaven Publishing
Published: 2013-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Christmas Trees and Dead People

Early Saturday morning, Oliver and I went to Professor McBaldy Bald’s service at the cemetery. It was overcast and cold outside. Rather gloomy, actually. The weather seemed fitting for the day.

We did not get dressed up, and Oliver and I stood at a distance from the others at the service.

Oliver held my hand while we listened to a man, who was holding a bible, speak. His words were sad, humbling even. “Life is precious, and it can so easily be ripped from us.” Oliver and I knew this all too well. I wanted to be done learning this lesson.

While the man spoke, I tried to distract myself from his depressing words. I searched the crowd, scanning the faces of each person there to pay their respects. I needed to be distracted, meaning: I was trying not to cry over a man I didn’t know.

I was still emotional over Felicia’s death and the fact her baby would never know her mom. But, being at the cemetery, at McBaldy’s funeral, my focus was more directed on him—on a man who Oliver or I could have easily been in the place of. A man who had been out in the night to reprimand Oliver and me all because we hadn’t shown ourselves in his class for several days. Guilt, is what I felt. I knew there was nothing I could have done to stop what had happened to my English professor, but as images of him being attacked by a werewolf played through my mind, guilt continued to consume me because I was grateful it was him, and not one of us.

With a gentle squeeze to my hand, Oliver brought my attention to him.

Standing beside him, I looked over at my boyfriend. His glasses were in place even though the sun was hidden behind a layer of gloom. The sad attempt of a smile showed I was not alone in my guilt.

I stepped closer and he wrapped his arm around me as I leaned against his side. Sometimes, the fact he could feel my emotions was a relief. I wouldn’t have to express how I felt, because he already knew.

Scanning the guests who were seated in metal folding chairs around the casket, I recognized some of their faces. There were several other professors from the college, and Gladys, the cat lady/vampire slayer, was there. Her eyes caught mine and she smiled ever so slightly at me. The last time I’d seen her, Oliver had been out of his mind, and I had taken shelter with her and her cats.

I slipped my arms around Oliver’s waist, thankful Gladys had been wrong about him that night. Thankful Oliver had come back to me.

The service was sad, but nobody wept or stayed around when it was over. He had no family or close friends to truly mourn him. That was probably more heart aching than the actual service itself.

As we were leaving, I caught sight of Amber. She was under the shade of the trees with an umbrella held open over her.

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