CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The day of the funeral started off grey and damp with misty rain.
Sky cursed the weather, wishing it would give them a break.
She planned to turn up at the church a half hour early, hoping to catch Rory before the service. The tube station was a few minutes walk from the church. She followed the route on her smart phone, but once she caught sight of the spire, she put her phone away. It was a pretty church. Old fashioned, and looked like it should be in a country village not in the midst of the sprawling city of London. A grey stone wall surrounded it. Once she found the entrance and passed under the lych-gate, she saw Rory standing by the large arched doorway to the chapel.
Her breath caught in her lungs at the sight of him.
Just a couple of days, but it was too long. I love him.
In that moment, she understood. This wretched, bereft feeling was because she loved him and he hadn’t been close by. She walked faster.
He wore a suit and looked incredibly handsome, despite his overcast expression. His hair was tidy and he’d shaved. The efforts he’d gone to made her feel oddly proud. Then he turned her way and looked over at the people entering the church grounds. His eyes lit and he lifted his hand in acknowledgement.
Sky walked faster still.
As she closed on him, he put out his hands for hers.
Relief swamped her.
“Thank you for coming.”
Sky stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
Passers by nodded at him as they went into the church and she stood by his side until they’d gone in. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been worried.”
“At George’s house. He has pets, a dog and three cats. I had to take care of them, they couldn’t fend for themselves.”
Why hadn’t he just replied to her messages and told her that? “Of course not. I’m sorry. I missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
“Really?” She knew she sounded needy, but she couldn’t help it.
He put his hand around her waist and moved close against her. “I want nothing more than to be with you right now, believe me.”
Her heart tripped, both relief and happiness creating a heady rush inside her.
“I owe this to George. I need to get it right.” He rested a kiss against her forehead.
“I want to help you.”
“You are helping me, knowing you’re there waiting for me, my girl, is everything.”
Her eyelids fluttered down as she savored his words, his touch, his proximity.
“Be patient. Let me get this sorted.”
“I understand, really I do. You won’t forget me?”
One corner of his mouth quirked. He took her hand in his, drew it to his mouth and kissed her palm “I promise.”
A shiver ran through her entire body. “I promise too.”
She took his other hand, drew his palm to her mouth and kissed it.
He stared deep into her eyes, and she felt close to him, the closest ever. They were being frank, open and honest, and the mutual pull was heavy with longing and potential. Something between them shifted in that moment. Silently, a mutual bond had been forged. Understanding. Trust.
He looked her in the eye. “If it hadn’t been for George, I never would’ve understood this thing between us. I never would’ve let it happen.”
Sky’s hand went to her mouth. Tears gathered and she didn’t want to cry right then. She wanted to be strong for him.
“I needed some time to think. It made sense to take care of his pets.”
Sky swallowed down her emotions. “Will you have to find them new homes?”
“I guess so.” He glanced away.
The frown on his forehead worried her. “Are you okay?”
“Just concerned about Kate, George’s daughter. I hope her flight wasn’t delayed. She was due to land a couple of hours ago. She’s coming straight here from Heathrow airport.” He stood silently for a moment. “Never thought I’d be organizing a funeral,” he added.
“It’s been tough on you.”
He nodded. “I only knew him a year, but he was more of a dad to me than…”
She reached out, clutched his upper arm through his suit jacket.
He nodded. “George left instructions for a big wake afterwards. He’d banked the funds for a do upstairs in his local pub. Will you come?”
“I can’t I’ve got to turn up for my shift. They gave me this morning but I’ve had too much time off. I’m really sorry, Rory.”
“Don’t be. I don’t want to go, to be honest with you. I’ll turn up for half an hour or so, make sure Kate is okay, and then head home.”
“Do you want me to come over after my shift?”
He studied her closely for a moment then looked away. “There’s a lot of legal stuff Kate has to deal with in the next few days, I said I’d be there for her, help her find her way with it all. I’m going to be busy for a while yet.”
“Okay.”
While they waited outside the church she held onto his hand and she tried to comfort him. He kept hold of her until he left her side her to greet George’s daughter.
Sky watched as they shook hands and spoke. Rory seemed to be reassuring her, arrangements perhaps. The woman dabbed her eyes with a tissue and nodded gratefully. Rory stayed with her. Sky looked over at him. He was her lover, this handsome man in his smart dark suit, who looked so capable, so steadfast.
The crowd of attendees grew larger by the moment. A group from George’s old biker club had turned up in force, and the car park at the side of the chapel was full of impressive bikes and classic cars. Many of them knew Rory or informed him they’d heard good things about him. There were neighbors and people who ran local businesses as well as loyal customers who’d been coming to his workshop for years. Sky listened avidly, intrigued by what was being said as they waited for the car to arrive carrying the coffin.
Eventually the hearse pulled into view.
Rory squeezed her hand and stepped away.
At first she didn’t understand why, then she realized he was one of the pallbearers. The coffin was carried out of the church by five of George’s biker friends, and Rory. Rory looked grief stricken taking on the task, but he stood up straight and did the job well.
During the service he kept his head down. She knew he did it so people couldn’t see how upset he was. When she reached out to him, it seemed to make it worse. It made her heart ache.
As they passed out of the church, the clouds finally lifted.
“Call me as soon as you can,” she whispered, as they parted.
He kissed her and left, heading to one of the funeral cars.
I feel his hurt. I hurt so much. I hurt for him.