Forget Me Never by Sable Hunter (books successful people read txt) 📗

of dogs who were allowo come say goodbye to their soldier Masters at their funeral, so she knew what to expect.  But as much as the dog loved Patrick, she made no sign.  This confused Savannah.

“Would you like to sit down?”  Revel asked, noting how pale she was.

“No, I want to stay close.”  Realizing that she needed privacy, Patrick’s three friends left to mingle with the few others that had come to pay their respects.  She released her hold on the leash and Ciara moved to the side of the room and sat down, facing the door.  How odd.  It was as if she were watching for the one person that was missing.  Patrick.  “I know how you feel, Girl.”

Savannah moved two steps closer to the coffin and laid her head down on the flag.  It might not be respectful, but right now patriotism wasn’t her focus.  “I love you,” she whispered.  “I will never, ever forget you.  You are the only person in this world who ever loved me.  Thank you for showing me how perfect life could be.”  She started to just sink down by the casket and huddle close to him, but she didn’t want to embarrass his friends.  So, she made her way to the nearest couch and curled up in the corner.  And there she sat, because there was no where else in the world for her. Everything she possessed was here.

*****

Hawke and Jayco sipped coffee.  “Should we say anything?” Jayco asked.

“Hell, no.  We don’t know anything.  All we have are suspicions.  I don’t want to even say anything to Revel.  There’s no use getting their hopes up if we’re wrong.”

“We can’t just drop it.  What if we’re right?”

Hawke glared at his friend.  “I don’t have any intentions of dropping it.  But we don’t want to end up like Patrick.  Let me do some digging.  I just wish I knew where he stashed that evidence he was talking about.”

“What if we can’t find it?”

“I’m not giving up, Jayco.  Congressman Jeffers is a former Marine.  I’m going to take my theory to him and see what he can do about it.”

*****

The hour grew late.  Revel had brought Savannah a sandwich and taken Ciara for a walk and fed her.  “Are you sure you don’t want to go home?”

“No, I want to stay here.”

Revel didn’t argue with her.  Instead he walked to the hall and pulled a twin size blow up mattresspulled a he room.  Savannah almost cried.  “Come on, Sweetie.  You are tired.  Come lay next to Patrick.”  The honor guard had switched out several times, only she had remained steadfast.

Again, he went out in the hall and this time he returned with a pillow and a blanket.  “Thank you, Revel.  You are a good friend.”  She went to him and hugged his neck.  “I’ll be very comfortable here by him.  I couldn’t have stood leaving him and going home.  It just wouldn’t have been right.”

“In the morning, I’ll come after you bright and early so you can shower and change for the service.  But for tonight, you stay here with him.  These officers will watch over you while you sleep.”

“I don’t think I can sleep,” she murmured as she lay down.  Ciara was reclining, also.  But her eyes were still on the door.

“Try, Patrick would have wanted you to rest.”

“But this is my last few hours with him; I don’t want to miss a second of it.”

Revel marveled at the love Savannah had for his best friend.  How wonderful it must be to have a woman feel that way about you.  Harper’s face was never far from his memory.  What he wouldn’t give to be able to hold her.  Death hadn’t separated them, but the chasm that existed was almost as wide and deep.  But he’d never love another woman – Harper was it for him.  And that was sad, because she wouldn’t see him and she wouldn’t take his calls.  He had lost her and he had lost his heart at the same time.

And so he left Patrick’s beloved lying on the floor next to the flag covered casket that held all of her hopes and dreams.

Savannah spent the next few hours in the quiet, in the near dark, being watched over by men who had done this same thing far too many times.  But this was the first time they watched over both the Marine and the one he had left behind.

*****

“Thank you for coming, today.  Patrick would be so pleased.  My name is Savannah Doucet and I am Patrick’s fiancé.”  She held up her hand to show the ring as if it vindicated her right to speak.

“Patrick Heath O’Rourke was born on May 14th 1980.  He was the only child of Amanda and Stephen O’Rourke.  He is survived by his grandfather Patrick Seamus O’Rourke.  There are others that loved him.”  She nodded toward Revel, Hawke and Jayco.  “His best friend, Revel.  The brave men he served with.  Even the dog whose life he saved.  And me.”

“Patrick was raised by his grandfather after losing his parents at a young age.  He graduated from Tulane University with honors.  And he entered the Marines Officers Program and rose to the rank of Captain.  I have here in my hand a letter that details the many acts of valor and heroism that Patrick performed for his country and those who were in need of being saved.”

Swallowing hard, Savannah sought to fight back tears.  “I was one of those people who needed saving.  Patrick came to me like an answer to a prayer.  For years I have hidden my past, but today – in honor of Patrick, I want to tell you who I am.”

Because of Patrick’s rank and the way he died, the media had come to the funeral.  What a change.  What once she would have hidden, now she openly confessed.  And it was because what she valued had changed.  No longer did she really care what people thought.  The person