First Forever: The Island Book 1 by Declan Rhodes

Author:Declan Rhodes [Rhodes, Declan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

I knew one more thing that I needed to do before heading back to the motel to pack and sleep. One more visit with Gayle was important. When I turned the corner toward the cemetery, I remembered how she was always the calm at the eye of every storm. Very few things ever rattled her. She was a born leader in crisis situations.

It was already past lunchtime, and my stomach rumbled. I could have crossed the island to eat and then driven back to the cemetery, but that didn’t make sense to me. I’d have to wait until after a conversation with Gayle.

As I stepped out of the car, I sighed. It was still difficult to be in the world without her. The grounds of the cemetery were turning lush and beautiful with the arrival of spring. The caretaker had done an excellent job keeping up the grounds, clearing out the winter debris, and it showed in every blade of grass and every wildflower blossom.

I walked across the lawn until I reached Gayle’s grave. Without hesitation, I knelt and touched the headstone and traced my finger over her name. A ray of sunlight shone through a break in the trees directly onto her grave—almost as if she were there smiling down on me.

The tulips I’d left were just starting to wilt, but someone else added fresh flowers to the small vase by the stone. It must have been either Ellen or Gretchen.

On my first visit—just a couple of days ago—I couldn’t come up with words to say. Somehow, since then, I’d found my voice. I started talking to her and told her about my life since she left us nine months earlier.

I rambled on and talked about the good times we shared when she was alive. I revisited moments of laughter and sadness as well as friends we made and lost along the way.

I also talked about what she’d missed recently. I even told her about Lucas and my attraction to him. I confessed that we couldn't be together because of my job in Mt. Ezra, but I knew that sometime soon, I would feel more desire to be with a man.

Finally, I talked specifically about myself, and that I knew that I’d grown a lot in just the past few days. I wished that she was around to see it. Casting my eyes up toward the clouds, I thought perhaps she was.

A fond smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I spoke out loud.

“You were always so accepting of me,” I said softly. "Your acceptance meant more than anything in the world. You hugged me and smiled that same bright smile that lit up every room you entered—like a beacon of love and affirmation.”

I began to tear up, thinking about all the ways she had inspired me to be a better person. I didn’t think I was bad on my own, but Gayle made me want to be my best.

“In your memory," I made a vow as

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