by Treanna

Standing by the mound of freshly dug dirt, her tears formed little hollows in the almost smooth surface. She stood alone, but as she stood there she knew that even if anyone else had been there, she would have still felt alone. And the one who could help was so far away.

"Trix." The voice was soft as if afraid to break into her thoughts, but she heard it and a moment later was launching herself into his arms, the tears coming in earnest now.

He enfolded her in his arms, hoping his presence could help to lessen her pain.

"You’re back," she sobbed.

"I think we broke all speed records to get back, baby. I wish I could have gotten back sooner, but I only found out last night. Dad and I both turned our phones off so that we could spend the week together in silence. I wish I had left my phone on."

"You’re...here...now!" she managed to get out.

Jim looked over at the grave and sighed. Why did it have to happen while he was away? But why did it have to happen at all?

When she had stopped crying so brokenly, he handed her his handkerchief.

"What happened, Trix? I only got your message and it didn’t tell me much. Dad rang the house, but only Celia was home and she was upset and didn’t say much."

"It was a hit and run," she told him and he gasped. "Moms asked me to go down to the letter box to look for the mail and I heard the bang. I ran down the drive and--"

"It’s okay, Trix. We can talk later if it is too hard."

"I need to talk to you, Jim."

He nodded as he held her even closer.

"I saw him lying on the road. From what we could gather, he had been running across the road from the Lynches and a car speeding around the corner hit him. And, Jim, they didn’t even stop to see if he was all right. I ran over and saw the blood. I luckily had my mobile on me and I rang Moms. But by the time she got down he had died... in...my...arms."

And again he held her as she cried.

"What did the police say, Trix?" he asked minutes later.

"They came out, but because it rained just afterward and there was no sign of anything, not even tyre tracks. I have been down there time after time and looked, but I can’t find anything either. How could anyone hit someone and then just leave? If I ever find out who did it, I will..." She stopped and he knew what she was thinking.

"What did Doctor Matthews say?"

"He had severe brain damage, two broken legs, numerous broken ribs, and severe internal bleeding. He told us that he wouldn’t have felt anything. I woke up this morning and waited for him to come tearing into my room and bounce onto my bed. But he didn’t. The house is so quiet."

"Where is everyone today?"

"Dad has taken Moms for a drive, hoping she will feel a little better. The boys and Honey are up at the Lynches'."

"Why didn’t you go there?"

"I just couldn’t. I came here because--"

"Because what, Trix?"

"Because I haven’t been able to say goodbye, yet. Everyone else has, but I can’t."

"Why?"

"I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I found him. Maybe if I had been a little earlier, I could have forseen it and maybe prevented it from happening."

Jim lifted Trixie’s face up to his. "There is nothing you could have done to prevent this. And I am sure he knew you were with him when he died. That would have meant a lot to him. You have to now concentrate on the good memories you have of him."

"Moms was talking last night," Trixie told Jim. "When he was born, we put a birth notice in the paper. About two weeks later Moms received a letter in the mail from one of the large banks in New York. Inside was a credit card application made out for Master R. Belden."

"You’re joking. What did she do?"

"She sent it back with a rather ‘descriptive letter’-- that’s how she put it-- and she never heard from them again. She made a copy, though, and put it in his photo album."

"You have so many memories of him, Trix. I am sure that soon you will feel better. And I will be here with you until you do. Okay?"

She smiled for the first time in days. "Thank you, Jim."

"You're welcome, baby. Now, how about we go up to the Lynches and see the other Bob-Whites?"

She nodded. "But I have something I need to do first."

She turned again and looked down at the grave. "Thank you for being part of my life. But now I have to get on with mine. But I will never forget you. You will always be in my heart. And no one could ever replace you."

Jim’s arm slid around her waist.

"Goodbye, dear Reddy. I love you."

A  light rain began to fall as the young couple walked quietly away.