One Night Burns (The Vampires of Livix, #1) by J Gordon Smith Page B

wasn’t seeming so far away now. Careers, husbands … love. Singing a song together with the radio in front of a mirror. Hushed secrets about who we yearned for. It’s so hard to say goodbye, Bethany!
    Sparrows twittered and flew out of the cedars across the lawn to land in a maple tree. From there they skipped across the street and stopped in the scroll-work of a building’s gingerbread molding.
    “I’m glad you’re here with me.” I stroked his arm with my fingers, so solid, patient, and quiet.
     
    The darkness hurried in. “Take me home.” My bottom sore from the bench and my legs too stiff.
    He drove me home and at the door to my apartment asked, “Do you want me to stay?”
    “No. I’ll probably watch an old movie and fall asleep with tissues.”
    “Give me a call and I can be over here any time. If not I’ll see you tomorrow and I’ll pick you up at eleven.”
    “Good.” I turned and grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him into mine. I kissed him hard, “Thanks for being with me today.”
    “Goodnight, Anna.”
    “Goodnight.” I closed the door. I flipped on the television in passing through to the bedroom to find a flannel nightgown and change. I settled on some random late night movie. I fell asleep on the couch before the fourth or fifth scene.
     
    The next morning I stood waiting at eleven when Garin’s car pulled up. I got in. I wore another black dress going out of style but satisfactory for now. I slipped my feet into my shiny patent leather shoes with slightly higher heels than I’m comfortable wearing,
    Garin said, “I like the shoes but they will probably sink in the sod around the grave site.”
    I shrugged, “All I have that go with this dress.”
    He wore a charcoal suit. His necktie a swirling rose pattern pinned up with a silver cross bar under the points of his shirt collar. Bits of metal poked from his outfit like his stainless steel watch and pewter cuff links. He shod his feet in laced black dress shoes. He pushed the car away from the curb like a small boat from a dock. I’m lost in thinking about Bethany again, we float along the smooth glass-like river of the road. Watching the trees at the shoreline beyond the gravel drift toward and away from us. The images of Bethany and our times together more and more vivid as we came closer to the cemetery. Garin down-shifted like the boatman dropping an oar in the water. We rounded a corner and accelerated forward.
    I said, “Hey, thanks for knowing the details on where we’re going.”
    “Took me a while to find the cemetery on the maps. It’s small and hidden.” He went back to looking at the road leaving me to my thoughts. Garin brought the car up to the gravel edge near the pavement passed the other cars and utility vehicles at the cemetery. He brought our boat to a pause before some pier-like posts outlining the extents of the parking lot. The last dock before death.
    Everyone took their usual places. A bright sunny day again. My shoes sunk into the soil and supported me like flats. I’ll spend a long hour getting the mud off the heels. The usual things were said but I didn’t pay attention. I couldn’t pay attention. Garin bumped my elbow and dodged his eyes across the cemetery.
    The cemetery rose on a little hill looking over one of the many small lakes in the area. Peaceful. Across the rows of headstones not far from the road stood a solitary figure. Unmistakable. Mr. Branoc watched the proceedings, the attendees, and the trees ringing the cemetery. They lowered Bethany and her casket into the ground. Dirt was cast. More words. And then it was done.
    I couldn’t remember getting back in the car and floating across the streets. I had become numb. “Thanks for taking me today.” I flopped into the couch after kicking off my heels. I dragged the blanket over my legs.
    Garin dropped my purse and keys on the coffee table that I’d forgotten in his car. He even fished my keys out to open the door for us. I might