Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my momma and daddy noddin’ for me to continue.
“Aunt Bailey was one of a kind. She was beautiful, graceful, smart. Her smile lit up a room, her laugh was contagious, and she always smelled like fresh sunflowers. She was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. Her love and devotion for her family, her friends, her husband and kids were inspirin’. She was a second mom to us all, it’s just who she was.” I shrugged. “One of the best memories I have with her was when I spent the night at her house cuz Momma was havin’ my baby brother Owen at the hospital. The nightlight I brought with me from my room broke,” I half told the truth.
Jackson broke it, but I didn’t think it was the right time to remind everyone how much he sucked.
“The guest bedroom I was sleepin’ in was super dark, and I swear I could hear voices. After findin’ the courage to run outta the room, I ran straight to Aunt Bailey’s bedroom. Knockin’ so hard on the door, I’m surprised it didn’t fall off the hinges. You see, I hate the dark. Even to this day, I’m terrified of dark rooms. I don’t go in them, I don’t sleep in them, to me they don’t exist.”
Jackson knew that. Why? Cuz Jackson knew everythin’ about me. He made it a point, so he could torture me.
“When Aunt Bailey opened the door, I jumped into her arms. Wrappin’ them so hard around her, I don’t think she could breathe.” I chuckled, rememberin’ how she instantly hugged me back.
Jackson’s eyes still hadn’t left my face, as if he was relivin’ that time with me.
“I had a meltdown, blabberin’ all sorts of things about monsters and Freddy Krueger, and the dude that lives under the bed who’s always tryin’ to get me.”
Everyone laughed, and I smiled rememberin’ the night like it happened yesterday and not years ago.
“Aunt Bailey didn’t make me feel like I was a sissy or a scaredy cat. She told me she was afraid of the dark too. We walked back to my room together, and she stayed with me the whole night, rubbin’ my back and my hair. When I woke up the next mornin’, not only was she still with me, Jackson and Jagger were in the bed as well.”
I think I saw Jackson’s eyes water, but as quickly as the tears appeared, he blinked them away. Makin’ me think I imagined it.
“That was the power of Aunt Bailey’s love,” I went on. “It brought people together, naturally gravitatin’ to her. Even if they hated each other.”
Everyone was cryin’, while I was strugglin’ to hold back the tears, bowin’ my head to keep them from comin’ out.
“That’s just the kind of woman she was. And I’m gonna miss her very much. She will forever live in my heart, and I know she would be happy we’re celebratin’ her life today and not mournin’ her death.” I steadied my composure before I looked back up.
Lockin’ eyes with Jackson again.
His stare never left my face as I made my way over to his father. I wrapped my arms around him, wantin’ him to feel my sadness for them.
Uncle Aiden kissed the top of my head, whisperin’, “Bailey always said she wanted a baby girl just like you. Journey has big shoes to fill, Harley.”
I hugged him tighter, and Jagger joined in. Jackson didn’t move from the place he was sittin’.
Mouthin’, “I still hate you.”
I paid him no mind, goin’ back to my seat instead. Daddy pulled me into his strong embrace, kissin’ the top of my head too.
He drawled, “Proud of you, baby.”
I smiled up at him, and then we continued listenin’ as several people shared a lovin’ memory of Aunt Bailey. Uncle Aiden, Uncle Noah, Aunt Skyler, Jagger...
While Jackson still didn’t say a word.
For the rest of the memorial, he just sat there, no expression on his face, no sentiment in his eyes, no emotion whatsoever. Almost like he wasn’t even there.
“Is Jackson going to be okay?” I asked, walkin’ into the Pierces’ kitchen later that evenin’.
We’d spent the rest of the day at their home, surrounded by family. Tryin’ to be there for them anyway we could.
Although, from the second Jackson stepped foot in his house, he went straight to his bedroom and didn’t come out. Even when Uncle Noah went in there to check on him. He was also havin’ a hard time with Bailey’s death, seein’ as she was like a second mother to him.
This wasn’t easy on anyone.
She was a pivotal person to so many people.
The expression on Momma’s face didn’t reassure me in the least.
“He will be, baby, with time.”
“The funeral was beautiful today. I think Aunt Bailey would have loved it. Especially all the sunflowers we laid her to rest with at the cemetery.”