Read Acceptance, The for Free Online

and think he would be someone to show Mom and Dad. She had to know from her gut. And that was why she’d asked him to be there, right? In her gut she thought he was a good guy?
    He on the other hand, had his sight. He could see how glorious the yellow dress made her look. How it made her shine. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and she wore a very dainty necklace around her delicate throat.
    Tyler looked down at his clasped hands. It was a funeral. It was her brother’s funeral. Thoughts of how beautiful the sister of the deceased looked were not acceptable.
    When he looked back up her face was aimed his way. When he smiled, she smiled. How could she know that beyond a grave and sixty other people in front of him, he was looking at her? But she seemed to know.
    Was that a power? A spiritual gift?
    The minister asked everyone to bow their heads and he prayed for Fitz Field the Marine that Tyler would never know, but he’d mourn him. And in his own time, he’d thank him for the moment his death brought clarity to Tyler’s own life. Perhaps he could do something with Fitz’s memory to make his own journey worthwhile for others. That would be a thought. He could talk to his grandmother about that. She was the philanthropist sort. Something good had to come from this family’s loss.
    And as he raised his head he thought maybe it would be good for Courtney too. Then they could work together on it—get to know each other—feel this spark out.
    As the service concluded the mourners again paid their respects, so he moved toward the family. Mr. Field had gone to the Marines who had been there. He spoke to them and they were stiff and attentive. Mrs. Field smiled as he moved to them and Courtney’s head lifted.
    “Hi,” he said as if he couldn’t have thought of something better.
    “Hi.” Courtney smiled at him. “Will you come to the house?”
    “If that’s okay?” He looked to her mother who nodded.
    “We’d be happy to have you,” Mary Field offered.
    “I can just follow you there.”
    “Oh, I’ll go with you,” Courtney said quickly. “I’ll show you how to get there.” She moved toward him and turned back to her mother. “Tell him I’m fine. I’ll be there when you get there.”
    Instead of taking Tyler’s arm she reached for his hand and interlocked their fingers. Her mother moved in and kissed her on the cheek.
    “I’ll let him know.” Then she looked up at Tyler. “Thank you for coming. We will see you at the house.”
    Tyler gave her a smile as she turned and walked away.
    “Okay, let’s hurry to your car,” Courtney was already walking at a quickened pace.
    Tyler enjoyed the feel of her hand in his, perhaps too much. That spark he’d been thinking about was erupting into a brush fire.
    “I parked a long way down the road.”
    “Good. I haven’t had a decent run in a few weeks.”
    “We’re not running are we?” He asked thinking of the very uncomfortable shoes he had on.
    She laughed and gave their hands a swing. “No, just keep walking and don’t turn around.”
    Tyler did what she said. “Your father, is he going to be upset with me taking you home?”
    “Yes.” She let out a sigh. “Not because you’re a man. Or because I like you. But because he’s not in control and he thinks I need protection.”
    He didn’t stop, that would be equivalent to turning around, but he did give her hand a squeeze. “I know you don’t know me, but I’d never hurt you or anyone else.”
    “I know,” she said very matter-of-fact. “That’s why I’m going to get in your car and show you to my house. That’s why I’m holding your hand. Tyler, I might have only met you, but I have a keen sense of who you are.”
    It was a good thing, he thought, because somewhere he’d lost sense of who he was.
     
    Tyler had helped her into the SUV and shut the door. Usually she’d have wanted to do it herself, another one of those things to prove to people that she could do it.