Love Me: Oakville Series:Book 5 by Kathy-Jo Reinhart Page B

final wish is for both my boys to be happy. Not to forget me, but not to waste away feeling sad and lost because I’m gone. Chase may need a nudge at some point also. When you think he needs it, then give him this. He’ll be the easy one to convince. Marcus is going to be a lot tougher.” I hand him both letters. “You’ll know when to give these to them.”
    “How do you know that? What if I don’t know when?” he asks, his voice wavering. His eyes are looking everywhere but at me. I grip his hand waiting for his eyes to meet mine. When they do I give him a small smile.
    “You always sit back quietly observing everyone, noticing things no one else
    does. You also have the ability to be caring and understanding, but tough and firm if need be. Angel, you’re the only one in our group who can do this for me,” I tell him. His eyes are apprehensive. I know this is a lot to ask of him, but I also know my husband, and this is going to destroy him. He’ll see moving on and being happy as a betrayal to me, that he has no right to be happy, but he needs to see all I want is for him to be happy when I’m gone. I want him to move on. Angel gives me a sad smile before tucking the envelopes into his back pocket. “I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they are okay.” His voice trembles and he looks to the ceiling. “Who’s going to make sure the rest of us are okay?” he questions, and my heart aches. I’ve been so worried about Marcus and Chase, I haven’t thought about how everyone else will take this.
    Over the last few years, the bond we’ve formed is like close siblings. I’ve seen the guys risk their own lives to help the others without a second thought. My throat goes dry and I have to swallow several times before I’m able to speak. “You will all hold each other together, I have no doubt about that.” A tear slips down his cheek and the sight breaks my heart. Seeing this big, strong man shedding tears over me is almost too much to take. “I love you, Angel. Now, get out of here and let me rest,” I say with a weak smile. It’s all I can muster.
    He rises from the bed and wipes at his eyes. Leaning down, he places a kiss on my forehead. “I love you too, T,” he whispers before walking from the room. I roll onto my side and allow the tears to flow. Saying goodbye to all the people I love is going to be harder than I thought.

 
    C hase and I are in the kitchen making sandwiches for a picnic at the lake. After making turkey and cheddar cheese on white bread with no crust—Chase’s favorite—I work on my roast beef sandwich and watch as Chase takes special care in making a peanut butter and banana sandwich for his mom. I hope she’ll have enough of an appetite to eat it. Our little man will be awfully disappointed if she can’t. He’s concentrating so hard as he spreads the peanut butter on the bread. The way his nose crinkles up as he gently bites down on his bottom lip reminds me so much of Taryn. He looks over at me and smiles. One day, that smile will be making girls swoon. Placing the slices of banana evenly on top of the peanut butter and adding the top slice of bread, he glances down at the sandwich then back at me.
    “How’d I do, Daddy? Will Mommy like it?” he questions, his tone hopeful. He’s so excited about today. Taryn has had a couple good days—the calm before the storm as she calls it. She said she wanted one more family picnic by the lake because she knows that’s one of Chase’s favorite things to do. What my baby wants, my baby will get. Chase insisted on making a sandwich for his mommy all by himself. He’s been so helpful over the last few months, always checking on Taryn, asking her if she needs or wants anything and getting it for her if she does. She tries hard to hide from Chase when she’s really sick, but he sees more than she thinks he does. He’s been a real trooper, though. He’s only had one major breakdown.
    “She’s gonna love it,