Freeing Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

precious package is inside. I don’t mean this as disrespect to my grandmother. She was a flawed human being, but she was human nonetheless. It’s just that creating such a beautiful package for the final resting place of any human seems like a sick joke because nothing good is coming out of that perfect box. And you can’t make death pretty—ever. God doesn’t care how you look when you die. That’s the beauty of death. He meets you exactly where you are—no matter who you are. At least that’s what I believe.
    “Are you okay?” asks Finn. He puts his hand on the small of my back, but I barely feel it, I’m so tense.
    “Yeah, I’m fine. Are you okay?” I turn around and look at him. I am keenly aware that the last funeral Finn probably attended was that of his mother who died when he was in high school. He doesn’t talk about her a lot, but I know she was special enough for him to tattoo his body in order to keep his memories of her alive.
    “I’m good. Why don’t you go pay your respects?” He points toward the casket. “It looks like your brother might like some company.
    Blake is bent over the casket while his hands wipe away fresh tears. The poor guy’s been through a lot. A hand slips into mine and pulls me in the direction of the casket. I look up into the face of my grandfather. He is focused on the back of Blake, but his hand is soft in mine—and comforting.
    At the cemetery after the service, I take a rose from a flower spray that lies atop the casket, now securely closed and ready for its permanent home at Greenwood Cemetery. Grandpa is surrounded by his friends from church, and Blake and Hannah are sitting alone under the tent that protected us from the cold wind. I guess he wants to say goodbye in private.
    “All set to leave?” Finn asks, squeezing my hand which he has not let go of since the pastor’s opening prayer. “No pressure—I mean, take as much time as you need.”
    “I’m ready. Let me say goodbye to Blake and…and Grandpa. Then we can—”
    “What’s the matter, Reese?”
    “I…it’s…look.” I point in the direction of the cars that are parked in a line along the gravel drive into the cemetery. Most of the cars have gone back to the church for a luncheon. I guess all of Grandma’s friends feel a little less sad when they’re in a kitchen.
    Finn looks in the direction I point. A man is sitting in his car. He’s wearing one of those warm winter hats with flaps that cover the ears. But I know who it is. John. “He came,” Finn says. I shake my head yes. “What are you going to do?”
    I wave at him, and he waves back but doesn’t get out of the car. “I guess he has some closure to find, too,” I say.
    “Do you need to see him again, too, for closure?”
    “Me? No, I’m good. I’m done closing doors to my past. I want to open doors to my future for a change. Is that okay with you?” I smile up at Finn, who’s smiling down at me, too.
    “As long as I can follow you through those open doors,” he says.
    “Honey, I’m counting on you building some of those doors for me. Would you do that?”
    “I’ll build the whole damn house if that’s what you want, Reese Prentice.” He kisses me on the neck, which tickles.
    Then I walk back into the tent—alone—to say goodbye to Blake. I don’t tell him about his father, only mere steps away. I’ve interfered with the trajectory of his life enough. He’ll figure it out in due time, if and when he’s ready.
    I’ve decided that it is best for Finn and me to return to the lodge after the burial at the cemetery, despite the leave of absence Ted has imposed. It’s so much less complicated there, and I don’t belong in Bridgman anymore. I’ve made my peace as much as is possible with the childhood I lived. It’s time to be a grown-up now.
    Before we get into the car to head back to Tremont Lodge, I give Grandpa a hug. I think I surprise him because it takes him a second to relax his body. “I’ll be in