After much convincing, I agreed to attend Janet's funeral. Salem offered to escort me to the event and hide out in my car until it was finished. I was anxious, distraught, and a whole mix of other emotions that I couldn't even think straight. I was hesitant to leave Salem when we drove up to the church, but he insisted I would feel better after some closure.

I wore a simple black dress and the only heels I had-which were white and clashed with the dress, but I didn't care. Who was going to notice my shoes anyway? I spotted Paul sitting in the back row of pews and pretended not to recognize him. Jason and Karen were there, too, sitting in the middle row with a few other friends of mine that had been acquainted with my mom. Karen looked like she was about to spring up from her seat when she saw me, but Jason held her down. I waved at them with a frown before scouring the funeral home for other familiar faces. I saw a few relatives that I had not seen in years, that I suppose technically were not my relatives at all. What shocked me the most was finding Desmond and Melissa sitting in the front row.

I stopped in my tracks, gazing at the tan-skinned man I had not seen in twelve years, but there was no mistaking who he was. His hair was curled and nestled against the back of his neck in a short ponytail. I scowled at his girlfriend; she didn't deserve to be here. It seemed disrespectful to bring her to the funeral of the man's ex-wife. She was perhaps in her late-twenties and had long, wavy, blonde hair that curled in fantastic loops at the ends. It took me a moment to realize Desmond was calling me over to him, and despite not wanting to, I went to him.

He draped his arms around me, which felt awkward. The last time I saw him he was much less affectionate. I felt a pang of guilt as I thought through the hateful, painful memories I had of him leaving Janet. Being a kid at the time, I could only think that he didn't love me, didn't love her, and ever since that day I couldn't find it in myself to love him anymore. Yet, had I been mistaken? He appeared so happy, so healthy, with her. Was I wrong to have hated her, too? Though if he had not left mom…Janet…then there wouldn’t even be a funeral, because there never would have been Mark. I shook the thoughts from my mind as I barely returned the gesture.

“How are you faring, Alex?” Desmond asked sincerely.

I shrugged my shoulders as he released me from his arms. “I’ve been better.”

“Understandable,” he said with a frown. “You look well.”

“Thanks...so do you.” It was hard to talk to him. I didn't feel like I even knew him anymore.

“Melissa and I would like to take you out to eat after this, if you would be interested,” he offered casually, returning to the pew beside his girlfriend.

I sat a few inches away from them, eying them skeptically. “I'm not sure...maybe,” I said quietly, thinking that food and conversation were among the last things I’d want after this. “I'll let you know when it’s over.”

The room had fallen silent as a man approached the podium before us. I had intended to listen to his words, but my mind had completely numbed as it occurred to me how real this was. The woman who had raised me, that I had known as my mother for my whole life until recently, was gone–completely–and nothing I could do or say could change that fact. The man’s gentle voice faded from my ears, and I began to feel like I was watching a muted TV show, barely able to comprehend what I was seeing. Desmond tapped me on the shoulder after what had felt like mere seconds.

“Alex, dear?” He sounded concerned.

“What?” I blinked. The man was no longer up there. Everyone was lining up beside the open casket at the front of the room. I swallowed the bile that was rising in my throat. I wasn't ready for this.

“You don't look well,” he commented. “You don't have to go up there, you know.”

“I-I know...” I muttered. “I don't think I can. I'm going to go get some air.”

“Okay.” He frowned, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “This isn't easy for me, either. I hope you know that.”

“I know,” I said, turning to leave. “I'll take you up on that offer, by the way.”

His expression softened into a smile. “Great. Mel and I will meet you outside in a few.”

“Okay. My car is the silver Alero; you should be able to find it,” I paused, then said, “Tell mom...tell her I love her.” I started to sob uncontrollably and ran outside. I struggled to find my car through the blurring of the water in my eyes. Fumbling with the handle proved useless as I attempted to get the key in the hole, but it didn't matter anymore. Salem was at my side immediately, holding me tight against his cold chest. I didn't hold back; I let the tears fall relentlessly.

His hand soothingly caressed my back, and I realized how right he was. This wasn't something I should have passed up. I may not have been able to bear seeing her, lying still and lifeless in her coffin, but I would have forever regretted not being present at the funeral at all. She may not have given birth to me, but as far as I was concerned Janet Hobbs was my mother. Salem tried to pull away from me, and I attempted to stop him, but it was useless. My strength was nothing compared to his.

“Someone is coming,” he whispered and disappeared from sight.

I looked up through the haze and saw Desmond approaching; Melissa linked onto his arm. I groaned. Maybe agreeing to go out with them wasn't the brightest idea.

“I am sorry for your loss, Alex,” Melissa said quietly, pulling me into her arms. “Truly.” This was far more awkward than the hug I shared with Desmond.

“Thanks...” I said, grateful that the hug didn't last long.

“Your friends–Jason and Karen–said they were sorry, too, and that they would stop by to see you later,” Desmond said. Did I notice a hint of tears behind his glossy brown eyes? “I told them I would pass that along to you.”

I nodded slowly. “Thanks,” I repeated.

“Speaking of friends,” Melissa said with a sly grin. “Who was that handsome young man comforting you just a minute ago?”

My eyes widened. She'd seen Salem. How lovely. “He's a friend,” I lied. He was more than that now. In fact, despite my reservations and the little time I had known him, I was beginning to believe his soul-mate notion.

“It's too bad he ran off; we would have taken him along with us,” Desmond said with a gentle smile.

“That's okay...he'll-” My voice was broken off when I saw Salem appear from nowhere. I eyed him frantically.

“I would be happy to join you,” he said, walking to my side. “I'm sorry I disappeared so suddenly, I was saying my farewells to Mrs. Hobbs.”

Desmond stared at him curiously, and then smiled. “Great.”

We agreed to take separate vehicles and meet up at the restaurant. It was an Italian place, which made me sicker than I anticipated. I remembered vaguely the man on the plane to Denver reminiscing about some Italian restaurant he had been to–it reminded me too much of what I had seen and endured in Denver, which had led to all of this.

We reached the restaurant shortly after Desmond and Melissa pulled into the parking lot. Salem grasped my hand tightly in his as we entered the building. The smell of fresh cooked bread was almost overwhelming. My stomach reacted immediately, growling ferociously as we followed my ‘father’ and his girlfriend. Our waiter led us to a table in the center of a full room. Fortunately, I didn't feel over-dressed as I scanned the surrounding tables. Women were clad in dresses, men in button-up shirts and some even tuxes. I had forgotten that Desmond could now afford to dine at these fancier places, unlike when I was growing up.

I scooted into my chair, Salem sitting in the one adjacent to mine. Desmond and Melissa sat on the opposite side of the table. My throat felt like it was going to swell when I noticed the shining rock on her finger. She appeared to notice my gaze and grinned.

“Don't you worry, Alex,” she replied in a gentle tone. “Des and I aren't to that stage just yet.”

I exhaled and smiled. “That's good to know. Well, it isn't...that's not what I meant,” I rambled and Salem gripped my hand underneath the table. The cold of his touch was somehow soothing.

“So, are you going to introduce us?” Desmond's eyes swept across the two of us.

“This is Salem,” I said quietly. “I met him in music class.”

“That's lovely,” Melissa smiled. “Are you two, y'know...together?”

“Something like that,” Salem replied with a smile as he peered at me from the corner of his eye.

Our waiter took our drink orders—Salem requested a glass of ice water, which I knew he would either seldom drink or not touch at all. I got a soda; Melissa followed Salem's order, and Desmond requested the finest wine they had.

“You aren't originally from around here, are you, Salem?” my adoptive father asked, obviously hearing the accent in his voice.

“I was born in Wales, actually,” he replied with a polite smile.

“Speaking of places outside the country, where have you been off to?” I asked, eying Desmond.

He frowned somewhat, possibly hoping I hadn't noticed. “We flew in from Egypt when we heard the news,” he said casually, flipping through the extravagant menu.

“Egypt is a very interesting place,” Salem said, and I glanced at him fiercely. He gripped my hand tightly—reassuringly. “My parents and I took a vacation there a few years back,” he added, and I relaxed. “It’s much closer to Europe than it is to America though,” he added, laughing slightly.

“Are they travelers, too?” Desmond asked.

“Were,” Salem corrected forlornly.

“What shall we be having this evening, ladies and gentlemen?” the waiter asked, interrupting our conversation and setting our beverages down. I took a chance to look up at him; he had tanned skin and a curved mustache above his thin lips.

Salem passed on food despite Desmond’s insistence, stating he had no appetite. I wanted to say the same, but forced myself to request the lasagna. I didn't listen to the other two's orders—the dish’s names were far too complicated to understand, anyway. The waiter walked off, and I watched Salem wink at me as he took a small sip of water. I wanted to giggle, but I fought the urge.

“You two seem happy together,” Desmond mused, watching us closely. “That’s good.”

“We are, sir,” Salem said with a smile and turned to kiss me lightly on the cheek. I felt warmth rising where his mouth had touched, despite the cold of his lips.

“Good. Maybe I will have to make a trip back here in a few years for the wedding.” He grinned.

I gasped as I took a sip of my soda, nearly choking. My lips moved to talk, but I couldn't make the words come out. Salem smiled back at Desmond.

“You never know,” he replied, his smile ceasing to fade.

I wanted to cover my head in my hands. Fortunately, the food didn't take much longer to arrive, and our table was filled with silence as we dug into our meal. Salem simply sat and watched, sipping his ice water every now and then. I had to admit, I was glad I had opted to eat. The food was amazing! Salem and I barely spoke, just nodding and muttering the occasional “Wow's” every once in a while between the stories Desmond and Melissa told us about their adventures around the globe. I could tell that Salem was somewhat eager to further discuss travel with them, but perhaps felt it would be a dangerous topic to delve too deeply into.

“How have you been, Alex?” Desmond said suddenly after recounting a long, tiring description of a trip they had taken once to New Zealand. He must have forgotten he already asked me at the funeral. That didn’t entirely surprise me, though. There had been a lot going on in that moment.

I put down my fork and looked up at him. “I've been all right, considering...” I replied. “I know Paul is my real father now, and school is going...not so great.”

“Oh. I had no idea your moth…Janet had told you. I must confess that is one of the reasons I brought you out to eat. That and to catch up, of course.” He smiled. “And that’s no good about school, Alex. You need a good education if you want to get by in this world.”

“That’s not always true; Mom said you dropped out of school.”

“There are exceptions to almost every rule, Alex. And despite being well off now I still regret dropping out to this day. I was lucky enough to get into a teaching career, despite my poor choices as a teenager.”

“Well, maybe I will be lucky, too.”

“Are you trying to tell me you are dropping out of school, Alex? Your mother and I raised you better than that.”

Salem must have sensed the fire starting to burn under my skin and thankfully changed the conversation before I could retaliate against Desmond’s remark. “Thanks for taking us out, Mr. Hobbs,” Salem said, feigning a yawn as Desmond finally stopped staring at me, and dabbed a napkin to his lips.

“It was my pleasure. I hoped it would lighten the mood, make things a bit easier for all of us, considering,” Desmond replied, looking slightly perturbed—whether it was from Salem changing the subject or the matter of me possibly leaving school. Maybe it was both.

“It was definitely good,” I murmured as I chewed on a piece of bread, still angry at his comment. What kind of nerve did he have to try to say he had any true part in raising me?

The waiter returned moments later with the check and a handful of mints. We each took one and stood up from our chairs. Desmond and Melissa walked us to the car, and I received yet another embrace and condolences from each of them. Desmond shook Salem's hand, and I wondered if he noticed how cold his skin was, but he didn't seem to react.

“Alexis, if you ever need anything…anything at all,” Desmond handed me a business card with a number written messily onto the back, “you call me, okay?”

“Yeah, Da…Desmond,” I said as he smiled at me.

I relaxed some as I watched them wander off to their own vehicle. Salem and I climbed into the Alero and headed back to his place. All I wanted now was to curl up in bed and cry myself to sleep—I knew it was inevitable. After all the stress I had endured and emotions I had tried to hold back, it was time to let it out.