Grandma turned around and looked at me in the eyes. A few seconds later, she instructed, “That’s enough! Stop making a fuss when we’ve gathered around to send Lyle off for one last time!”
“Boohoo—” Wendy unfastened her grip and collapsed to the ground, wailing at the top of her lungs.
Standing in front of Lyle’s resting ground, we were the only ones left apart from the members of the Tanner family. It started drizzling shortly after a flurry.
The bouquets in front of Lyle’s grave were all over the place due to the squall. It felt as if God was equally disheartened by Lyle’s passing.
As guilt slowly caught up to me, I couldn’t even catch my breath when we were on our way out of the cemetery.
“Yvonne!” Nathan and the rest of the Tanner family were next to the car when we were out from the cemetery. It was evident they were there for me.
I couldn’t stand against the pent-up fatigue anymore, but I pulled myself together and greeted them, “Uncle Nathan, what brings you to me today?”
Nathan asked in a hushed voice when he saw my bandaged arms, “Are you okay?”
Actually, I couldn’t even recall the last time he expressed concerns over me. Nonetheless, I assured him with a nod, “It’s nothing serious.”
“Why don’t you hurry up and get into the car? Otherwise, you’re going to catch a cold again.”
Unable to get used to the affectionate side of his, my eyes started brimming with tears. “Thank you so much, Uncle Nathan.”
Things were hectic for the Tanner family ever since my trip to Yorksland. Others wouldn’t stop talking about the financial predicament of the Tanner family as we were on the way to the cemetery.
I knew Nathan was there to acquire my aid to stop Isabelle from going after him, but he couldn’t bear to bring up his request when he found out I wasn’t in good shape. “I’m so sorry for the delay, Uncle Nathan. I’ll get Mom to stop causing you troubles as soon as possible. It’s the least I can do to repay your favor for taking care of me over the years.”
I was eighteen when I left the Tanner family. Although I had a miserable life in the first two decades of my life, things weren’t unbearable since I had a place to call home. Otherwise, I might’ve ended up in the orphanage.
“Thank you so much!” Nathan was sincere when he expressed his gratitude.
I forced a smile and assured him, “I’m just trying to return the favor.”
Christopher rushed me to the hospital once we wrapped up the conversation. He got the doctor to check on my wounds since there was a drizzle when we were at the cemetery.
I wasn’t even drenched since he was next to me, keeping me sheltered from the rain. Holding his hand, I assured him, “I’m fine!”
Christopher tucked me in and suggested, “Why don’t you go ahead and take a short nap? I’m sure things will turn out fine by the time you wake up!”
I fell asleep with him next to me. He was there to keep me company until Isabelle was here to pick me up on the day I was discharged from the hospital.
She seemed as if she had just figured out I was involved in an accident when I was there over the past few days. Her face scrunched up the moment she saw Christopher next to me.
“Mom!” I got in her way to stop them from starting another fight. I couldn’t stand them picking on one another anymore.
Isabelle resisted the urge to reprimand me and asked in a callous tone, “What’s wrong with you? Why have you been rushed to the hospital? Why were you caught up in an accident again? Can you do me a favor and stop giving me the shock of my life?”
Huh? What is she talking about? What sort of accident was it? Is it something the special force has made up to keep others in the dark? Well, apart from Grandma, no one, not including Wendy, was aware of the truth of Lyle’s demise since it was a confidential mission.
“I’m so sorry for the troubles I have caused you.” I couldn’t think of anything else to tell her as I didn’t feel comfortable opening up to her. Similarly, it felt as if she couldn’t care less about me.
I hope I’m merely overthinking things, but it feels like we’re growing apart from one another when she’s my mother.
“Shall we return home? I have asked others to get our meal ready.” She brought me out of the hospital with her without allowing me to bid farewell to Christopher.
