Page 96 of Son of a Preacher Man
As the mourners filed past, Ada and her son appeared before them. His mother latched onto Linnea’s arm. Jeremy took hold of his. “Come with us now.”
“I made macaroni and cheese, especially for you.” Ada’s smile was just as creepy as her son’s. “Used your grandmother’s recipe.”
Off to the side, in the distance, Hazel and a policeman stepped out from behind a tree. Holding a finger to her lips, she shook her head.
“We’d like a few moments of privacy to say goodbye on own, if that’s all right.” Kodiak pried Jeremy’s fingers from his forearm. “And Linnea wants to visit with her mother. She brought her flowers.”
Ada’s face turned sour. “Every Sunday after church, Pastor came here to put pink roses on Grace’s grave. He was so besotted—”
“That’s enough, mother.” Jeremy linked his arm with hers. Turning to Kodiak, those green eyes blank, his lip curled into a smirk. “Very well then, but we’ll be waiting for you.”
They stepped up to the grave. Once he and his sister were gone, the gravedigger would come and fill it with dirt. Kodiak picked up a handful and tossed it in. Taking a rose from the bouquet, Linnea threw it on top of their father’s casket, then placed the rest on her mother’s stone.
Tears in her eyes, she looked up at him. “Can we go now?”
Nodding, his arm circled around her, and they turned away.
They’d only walked a few yards when he saw it. Beloved Son, Brother, and Friend. Jonathan Reynolds. 1988-2004.
“Wait,” his voice a hoarse whisper, Kodiak dropped to his knees.
God, I miss you. I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m so fucking sorry…
Linnea’s hand caressed his shoulder as the tears streamed down his face.
I love you, brother. Always.
Tracing his fingers over the letters, he kissed the stone.
I never got to say goodbye.
“Seth.” Gently, Linnea ran her fingers through his hair. “They’re watching.”
Kodiak glanced behind him. Jeremy and his mother sat in their silver Buick, glaring at them.
“They’re not going to let us get away so easily.”
“Fuck them.” Getting up off the ground, he grabbed her by the hand. “We’re going.”
Not bothering to look their way, Kodiak buckled Charlotte into her car seat while Linnea secured her seatbelt. Sprinting over to the driver’s side, he got behind the wheel, started the engine, and swung the truck around. Jeremy followed, but he wasn’t fast enough. Pulling away from the curb, the patrol car blocked his way.
He waved to Hazel just before clearing the gates, and instead of taking a right turn back into town, he went left toward the highway.
“What are you doing, Linnea?”
On her knees in the front seat, she was looking out the back window.
“I’m checking to make sure he’s not following us.”
Glancing in the rearview mirror, Kodiak smirked. He hadn’t seen a silver car for at least ten miles. “We’re good. Even if preacher boy tried, he’d never be able to catch up to us now.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” Smacking her backside, he grinned. “Once we get on I-55, we can stop somewhere for lunch. I feel guilty, being you missed out on Catherine’s macaroni and cheese.”
“Don’t know who Ada thought she was fooling.” Linnea huffed out a breath, turning around in her seat. “My grandmother never even made it. Not once. Cheese got her constipated.”
Slowly turning their heads toward each other, they busted out laughing.
