BK 5 - Chapter 52 - Final Goodbye
Laurie stared at the man by the door. She had no idea who he was, but every instinct in her body said he was her mate. She needed to touch him to confirm it, but first, she had to leave the podium. She slowly walked down the steps. Everyone around her was crying. As she wiped her tears away, she walked down the aisle to the man at the back of the room. He was tall and muscular, with dark brown hair and amber eyes.
Brian watched the young woman with the voice of an angel walk toward him. He had been walking by the funeral parlor when he heard her singing. Her voice was so sad yet beautiful, but that wasn't what made him crash the funeral. His bear told him whoever the owner of the voice was, they were their mate. When their eyes met, he knew Sly was right. She had the most gorgeous blue eyes he'd ever seen when she stopped in front of him.
"Hi, I'm Laurie. Did you come for the funeral?" She held her hand out to him, and Brian shook his head. He glanced behind her and realized there were many eyes on them.
"I'm Brian. I'm sorry I shouldn't have come in here." He turned to leave, but Laurie stopped him before he could go out the door.
"So you just decided to come in here, see that I was your mate, and leave? Does that mean you're going to reject me? Am I not good enough for you?" When he heard the hurt in her voice, he spun around and took a few steps toward her.
"No, I'm not going to reject you, and I'm not leaving. I was just going to go outside and wait for you. Honestly, I think you're too good for me." When she thought he was leaving, Lauire's heart had broken. She realized it was probably a little awkward coming into the funeral of someone he didn't know and having her family watching them. Even with her back to the others, she could feel their eyes.
"Do you promise to wait outside?" She wanted to finish saying goodbye to Grandma Valerie, but at the same time, she didn't want him to leave.
"Trust me, I'm not going anywhere," Brian said with a small smile. Laurie reached out and touched his hand. When they felt the sparks, they both smiled.
"I just had to be sure." She said releasing him. Brian walked outside, looking at Laurie before the door shut. When she turned around, her entire family was watching her, making her face turn red. She slowly returned to the front and sat next to Marcy.
"Congratulations." Her cousin whispered as the preacher began speaking again. Laurie smiled and tried to focus. She was glad her singing came after all the goodbyes because she didn't think her heart could take anymore. When the service was over, everyone went outside to get into their cars to drive to the graveyard. Grandma Valerie would be buried next to Grandpa Roger underneath the large tree. It was a spot they had picked out together many years ago. Laurie saw Brian waiting for her when she stepped out of the door.
"I have to go to the graveyard. I know this is a lot to ask, but will you go with me? This isn't exactly how I imagined meeting my mate." She said. Brian could tell how distraught she was, and the last thing he wanted to do was add to it. The least he could do was be there while she mourned.
"Yes, I'll go with you." He said, taking her hand. Marcy watched them and figured Laurie probably didn't want to ride with her parents and brothers.
"Do you want to go with me?" She asked them. Laurie looked at her gratefully just as her parents walked over.
"Are you going to introduce us?" Randy asked, looking the young man up and down.
"Mom, Dad, this is my mate Brian," Laurie said. She wanted to get him in the car and out of there before they embarrassed her. They shook Brian's hand.
"Do you make a habit of crashing funerals?" Randy asked. Laurie rolled her eyes and groaned, but Brian just smiled and squeezed her hand.
"No, never, but when I heard the angelic voice coming from inside, I knew I had to see her." Avery smiled and saw the look on her daughter's face. Today was one of the saddest days of their lives, but at least something good came from it.
"It's nice to meet you, Brian. We'll talk more later." Laurie smiled gratefully at her mom as she took her dad's hand, pulling him away.
"I'm sorry about that." She said as they got into the backseat of Marcy's car.
"Don't be. It's clear they care about you. Some of us don't have family." Brian held her hand between both of his. They hadn't even had a chance to talk, but he knew he wanted her. He just hoped Laurie felt the same way and wasn't just using the mate bond to comfort her through a difficult time but planned to reject him later. However, with how she looked at him, he didn't believe that was the case.
"I'm sorry you don't have any family. This funeral is for my Grandma Valerie. She was human and died on her one-hundredth birthday. What type of shifter are you?" Laurie moved over so she was against Brian, and he put his arm around her. Marcy looked at them through the mirror and smiled. They were a cute couple.
"I'm a black bear. What about you?" Laurie looked into his eyes.
"I'm a lion. So I know now is not the time to ask this, but are you okay mating with a lion?" She asked quietly as the car pulled into the graveyard. Brian kissed her forehead and sent sparks shooting through her body.
"Yes. Are you okay mating with a bear?" Laurie rubbed her hand on his cheek.
"Yes. As you'll see, my family has many different animals. Thank you for coming with me. I'm eighteen; how old are you?" She asked.
"Twnenty-two," Brian replied, opening his door and pulling her out. Laurie saw some of her family watching them, and she ignored them. She needed her mate even if they'd only known each other for less than an hour. Having him stand beside her was enough to help her get through this. She was supposed to sing another song at the graveside. It was one that Grandma Valerie often listened to when she was missing Grandpa Roger. When Laurie agreed to sing, she never thought the time would come so quickly.
Grandpa Trey stepped forward to say the final words after the casket was put into place. He was doing his best to hold himself together even as his tears fell. Grandma Cat held on to him as they both cried.
"As we think of our continuing journey in this life, we promise never to forget you. We will honor your memory by living our lives as you would want us to, and we will take the joy and pleasure you had in life and share it freely with others." He couldn't continue as he began sobbing. Laurie looked at Brian.
"I'm supposed to sing again. Will you hold my hand?" He had never been to a funeral, but even he had tears in his eyes at the love this family shared for their grandmother.
"Yes." He replied as they stepped forward. When Laurie began singing acapella, the song they had all heard so many times, the sobs could be heard throughout the graveyard.
*I'll be seeing you*
*In all the old familiar places*
*That this heart of mine embraces*
*All day through*
*In that small cafe*
*The park across the way*
*The children's carousel*
*The chestnut trees*
*The wishing well*
*I'll be seeing you*
*In every lovely summer's day*
*In everything that's light and gay*
*I'll always think of you that way*
*I'll find you in the morning sun*
*And when the night is new*
*I'll be looking at the moon*
*But I'll be seeing you*
*I'll be seeing you*
*In every lovely summer's day*
*In everything that's light and gay*
*I'll always think of you that way*
*I'll find you in the morning sun*
*And when the night is new*
*I'll be looking at the moon*
*But I'll be seeing you*
