Chapter 12 - THE PROMISE I MADE AT THE CEMETERY
I visited Claire's grave on the anniversary of her death.
Sophie came with me.
She carried yellow tulips.
Claire's favorite.
We stood beneath a gray sky.
Sophie placed the flowers carefully.
“Hi, Mommy.”
My throat tightened.
She told Claire about school.
Her science fair.
Her friends.
The volcano.
Then she looked at me.
“Daddy, can I ask something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you think Mommy would like Olivia?”
I froze.
Sophie looked worried.
“I mean, she's nice.”
I knelt beside her.
“Why do you ask?”
She shrugged.
“Because you smile more when she's around.”
I swallowed.
Sophie continued.
“And I like when you smile.”
I pulled her close.
“Sweetheart, loving someone new doesn't mean we stop loving Mommy.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
I looked toward Claire's headstone.
For three years, I'd believed that happiness was something I had forfeited when she died.
But Sophie was teaching me otherwise.
We stayed a little longer.
Then I whispered:
“I miss you, Claire.”
The wind moved through the trees.
“I always will.”
I looked at Sophie.
Then added:
“But I'm going to keep living.”
May you like
It was the hardest promise I'd made since the day I told Claire I'd take care of our daughter.
And somehow, it felt like the right one.
