15
ASHTON
Rhett’s father had already set plans in place prior to our arrival at their home midmorning.
A cremation had already been ordered—no services would be held.
Nothing public for friends to show their respects and offer condolences. While that choice hurt my heart, Rhett breathed easier. No wake or funeral meant a lack of people in his face, looking to soothe his grief. It meant no vulnerability, no need for indifference that I wondered about.
But Rhett didn’t appear or seem broken over the death of his mother. They hadn’t ever been close like me and my mom, and not for the first time, I wanted to pull him into my arms and give him all the love and affection he’d missed out on as a child.
The same I felt sure Skylar would offer ours. While she hadn’t been super handsy with me,
