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It wasn’t often that John found the time to visit his brother’s grave but there was one day he never missed. His brother’s birthday. There were always fresh flowers when he came but he had no idea if his mother had placed them or paid someone else to do it. He didn’t really care and he certainly wasn’t going to ask. He always brought his own flowers regardless.
He was lost in thought as he crossed the cemetery in long strides. His eyes found the angel standing in the center of his family’s section of the grounds. Bobby rested just to the left. As he drew closer, his steps slowed as he realized someone else was already there. God, he so did not want to see his mother today.
It only took another moment for him to realize that it wasn’t his mother at all. It was you. He slowed to a stop, gaze running over you. He’d seen you for the first time in years at a gala Gamma had insisted he attend several months ago. Then you’d disappeared before he had the chance to speak to you.
The two of you had grown up together, your parents part of the same snobby circle that you both hated. You’d also been one of his few friends that was allowed around Bobby after he got sick. Your father was a physician and toward the end spent almost as much time at the Carter’s home as he did your own. Most of the time he brought you with him to keep John company.
Then Bobby was gone and his mother blamed your father for no other reason than he was there and John was forbidden from speaking to the girl that had become his closest friend. By the time he’d turned old enough to seek you out, you’d left the state for school.
Shaking off the nostalgia, he closed the distance between you, calling your name once he was close enough. You turned in surprise, eyes wide, a smile crossing your features when you realized it was him. “John Carter. Look at you.” You immediately moved forward to embrace him.
He hesitated only a moment before wrapping his arms around you and letting himself sink into your hold. God, he’d missed you.
When you separated, you stared at him a moment before scratching lightly at his beard. You laughed. “I bet Gamma hates that.”
He ran a hand over it self consciously. “She does actually.”
Your sweet smile had him running his gaze over you, trying to memorize everything about you. “Well, I like it.”
The flowers in his hand suddenly felt like they weighed a ton. “I, uh…I need a minute but I’d like to catch up if you have the time.”
“Lunch?”
John smiled and nodded in answer, his gaze trailing you as you stepped away. He shoved down the nervous anticipation that was building in his belly. His eyes moved back to Bobby’s headstone, seeing a bouquet of tea roses that you’d obviously left. After laying his own flowers beside them, he rested his hand on the stone, just taking a moment to remember. Part of him thought maybe he should feel bad for focusing on you when he was here to pay his respects. But another part knew that he thought about his brother every day. That today was just another day in that cycle of grief that seemed never ending.
Except today had brought you back into his life and he intended to keep you there this time. When he turned, he found you leaning against the base of the angel statue while it towered over you. He spared it barely a glance before he held a hand out in your direction. A smile crossed his face when you didn’t hesitate to lace your fingers with his.