Bushfire Bride

CHAPTER TEN

ASHES to ashes. Dust to dust.

The wind blew gently across the mountain graveyard. Rachel stood silent as the coffin was lowered into the waiting ground. Lewis and Dottie stood on either side of her, holding her, united in a grief that had been agonised and raw eight years ago but was now muted-a soft and wondrous goodbye. These three who still loved Craig. Who would always love Craig.

In the end, it was good. This tiny graveyard… It was near to the place where Craig had been born-a tiny country cemetery where the wind keened around the mountains and a man could see for miles.

Where spirits could at last be free.

This was a good place for Craig to come to rest. His grandparents, his great-grandparents, a babe who would have been Craig’s brother if he’d been born at term…they were all here.

His body was where it belonged and Craig lived on in those who loved him.

Rachel hugged those holding her-this man and this woman who’d been by her side for so long.

‘It’s OK,’ she whispered, and Dottie smiled through her tears.

‘It surely is.’ Dottie blinked back tears and looked across at her husband-and Lewis released Rachel and came around to take his wife in his arms.

‘Well done, lass,’ Lewis said. He was a big gruff man who’d loved his son with an intensity that was even greater than his passion for the football he’d once played. He hugged his wife but he looked over her head at Rachel. ‘And now it’s time for you, girl, to move on.’

‘Move on…’

‘Your young man.’ Lewis kissed his wife gently on the top of her head and then Dottie and Lewis both turned and smiled at her. ‘Your Hugo.’

‘My Hugo?’

‘He’s here,’ Lewis said, and motioned out to the road where the track led down the mountain to the tiny township below. And there was Hugo. He was standing by his car. He didn’t approach the mourners. He simply stood. Waiting.

‘He’s here,’ Lewis said simply. ‘It’s time you went to him.’

Rachel closed her eyes, and when she opened them they were smiling at her. Dottie. And Lewis.

And Hugo.

There was nothing left to do here. Nothing at all. She gave her in-laws one last hug-one last smile-and then she crossed the graveyard and walked into the arms of her love.