Sixty-Six

Gia

“It’s the prettiest grave in the cemetery,” I mentioned, not knowing what else to say. “Did you plant all these flowers? It looks beautiful.”

“Nah, her granddaughters, Elora and Camari, did it,” he replied, speaking fondly of the girls. “I just gave them some cash, and they designed it themselves. You’ll meet them soon. They are eighteen and twenty now. Time flies . . .” His voice trailed off, the sound fading as the words died on his lips.

Then Kian exhaled a wistful breath. “You’ll meet them soon enough. They come to all my fights with their dad, Charlie. I know they’ll be dying to meet you.”

“Is it weird that I’m nervous?” I chuckled. “I want them to like me.”

Kian bounced his gaze to me and rolled his eyes. “What’s not to love about you?” he muttered under his breath. He removed some withered flowers from a water urn and set the moldy stems to one side. “Now, take this vase to the tap over there and fill it with water,” he instructed, pointing to where he meant.

I set down the