Anna's Courage (Rose Island Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

songs.
    I’d worn a long-sleeved, black dress but had no idea where it’d come from. One of Marcus’s sisters must have bought it for me, or maybe my own mother had found it.
    Regardless, the one thing that stood out from that horrible day was seeing all the cars pull to the side of the road as the procession accompanied the hearse to the cemetery. The considerate gesture moved me so deeply I’d never forgotten it.
    “This song is awesome,” Travis said, oblivious to my pain. He turned up the radio and sang along, pounding out a loud rhythm on the dashboard.
    I smiled, grateful for his happiness. Without it, today would be unbearable.
    At the cemetery, I parked the car but kept the motor running. Travis unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the passenger-side door while I remained seated.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked.
    I stared at the above-ground tombstones, typical of many Gulf Coast cemeteries. Chairs and a canopy had been set up for the burial. Declining fall temperatures had turned the grass brown, but a white crepe myrtle bloomed as if holding out its arms and lifting its face in defiance of death.
    Nick walked across the brittle grass holding Gabby, while Hailey clung to the hem of his uniform. His father followed several steps behind, keeping his eyes on the ground. I’d never seen Jack Peterson without his phone, and it was an odd sight. My heart ached for the entire family, but as much as I wanted to stay and show my support, I didn’t know if I could make it through the burial. The funeral had been arduous, and I feared the beginning of a migraine.
    “Mom?” Travis sat on the edge of the passenger seat, one hand on the opened door and one foot on the ground.
    I rubbed at a rock hard knot on the back of my neck. “I’m not feeling well. Would you mind if we just went home?”
    He pushed up his glasses and studied me carefully. “Is it because you’re thinking about Dad?”
    I nodded and held back the tears threatening to stream forth.
    “I’ve been thinking about him a lot, too. Do I look like him? Aunt Jillian says I could be his twin, but Aunt Bianca disagrees. Aunt Vicki says I have his eyes, but I don’t know. What do you think?”
    I smiled sadly. Marcus had three older sisters, all of them with distinct personalities and opinions. Jillian was the oldest, followed by Bianca and then Vicki.
    “If you compare your picture with your father’s, it’s difficult to see the resemblance. But your personalities are so much alike. I think that’s what Aunt Jillian means when she says you could be his twin.”
    “Really?”
    I nodded and brushed back his hair. “Your father had the same joyful optimism you have. He always saw the good in people, even when they disappointed him. And like you, your father was a good friend. Not just to me, but to everyone he came in contact with.”
    Travis beamed as he closed the car door and put his seatbelt back on. “Okay, Mom. Let’s go home.”
    I gave a sad smile in spite of my heavy heart. A knock at the driver’s side window startled me, and I looked up to see Marcus’s middle sister standing next to the car. Bianca owned The Last Tangle—the hair salon where I worked—and she’d been uncharacteristically reserved this morning. Her eyes were now red-rimmed, and her mascara smudged. She offered a weak smile as I rolled down the window.
    “Are you coming?” she asked, motioning toward the canopy.
    I glanced at Travis. As much as I wanted to go home and crawl into bed, now was the time to be strong and brave. Turning back to my sister-in-law, I nodded. “We’re coming. Just give us a minute okay?”
    “Sure.”
    I rolled up the window and watched her walk across the grass to embrace Vicki, the youngest Morgan sister. The two women were exact opposites. Vicki was petite and blond while Bianca was a larger woman with auburn hair.
    “So we’re staying?” Travis asked.
    “I think we should, don’t you?”
    He nodded. “I want to stay for