Back To You (38 page)

E
pilogue

46 years later

“You ready old man?”

Jack turned to smile at Chris.  “As ready as I will ever be I guess.”

Chris grabbed Jack and hugged him tight.  “You know she is here, with us all.”

Jack hugged him back, squeezing him tight.  “Yes, I know.  It’s just that I miss her so much.”

Chris opened the door and headed down the hallway.  Jack held back an extra second, took a deep breath, picked up the rose and headed out of the room.

When he reached the ballroom, he could not believe his eyes.  It was like walking into a bright sea of lavender.  Sterling ro
ses were everywhere, bringing her memory to life.  He bit his lip as he held back a soft sob but couldn’t stop the tear that fell.

Everyone stood when they saw Jack walk toward the front of the room.  Everyone held a single sterling rose, similar to the one he held in his own hand.  No thorns, soft, heavenly scent, and the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. 

When he reached the podium, he motioned for everyone to sit.

“Thank you so much for being here.  I don’t know if you know exactly how much each of you meant to Suzy.  I won’t say that we shouldn’t be sad to say goodbye to one of the most beautiful pe
ople this earth has ever known, but with each tear, she asked that you have a memory that makes you smile.  That our tears are not in vain as we remember how she touched each of our lives.”

The lights dimmed as Jack took his seat.  The silence was broken with the beginning notes of “Smile.”  The screen above him began showing images of Suzy as she lived her life,
smiling, bringing joy to others with even the smallest acts of kindness.  He watched as images of her face filled his mind.

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it’s breaking

When there are clouds in the sky you’ll get by...

As the memorial went on, Jack joined others in laughter and tears.  One by one, they came up to him.  Friends, family, fans, they were there by the hundreds.  He spent the day basking in the love that others had for Suzy, keeping her alive in the hearts of them all.

Chris and Rose
said goodbye to everyone as they left the memorial service and saw that everything was cleaned up.

It was over.  That fast.  Over forty
six years of sleeping next to her every single night, holding her hand through the painful moments and still finding reasons to giggle even on their last day together.  A lifetime of love, loss and missed moments, but also of the miracles that come to those who know what they have to lose.

Jack overheard Chris ask Rose if the
rosebushes had been sent and if she knew if they arrived at the destinations.

“Carrie said that it arrived right before she headed here for the service.  They are having a special ceremony at Wesleyan when it gets planted.  Jaxon, Megan’s son, said it had gotten there on Tuesday.  It is a shame Megan passed away.  She would have loved seeing her best friend honored like this.  Dad is
going to fly out there in a few days to see it planted in the park in Hammond.  John said he got the confirmation that it was delivered to our house in Nashville.  Yours is here, so I think that is all of them.”

“I think Mom would be pleased to know that there will be a part of her in the places she loved the most.  That was a good idea having her ashes mixed with the soil for the sterling rose bushes.”

Jack stepped outside to the edge of the cliff and felt the warm California sun and the crisp ocean breeze on his face.  He kissed the rose he still held in his hand and tossed it into the waves below.  And he knew that no matter where or when or how many obstacles stood in the way, he would always find his way back to her.

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