Chapter Ten
Saturday dawned a warm, sunny, early summer day. It was the kind of day that should be spent with family and friends; picnicking, playing, or simply lazing around in the backyard. It was not a day to bury a friend.
Bobby Manning stared into his closet. His hair still dripping from his shower. Today they would be saying goodbye to Stanley. He reached into the closet and pulled out a pair of black pants and a dark red shirt. The colors matched his depressed and angry mood.
Bobby had offered to drive Tara to the memorial service, but she had already asked Myles. He didn't know why he was surprised. Stanley and Myles had been best friends, after all. It made sense that Tara would want to be with Myles today. And Myles would need someone.
But it only reminded him of how completely alone he was. Jack would be with Sue. D would have his family. And Lucy would be flitting around trying to mother them all. Leaving him, Special Agent Robert Manning, utterly alone.
If only Darcy were here. Bobby closed his eyes at the painful thought. His mind conjured up her presence. The smell of her perfume. The soft silkiness of her hair. The gentleness of her kiss. Bobby grit his teeth and let out a low curse at the selfishness of wanting her standing beside him today, instead of being in LA following her dream. "I'm sorry, Darce."
The ringing of the doorbell caught Bobby's attention as he finished tying his tie. He pulled open the door and stared in surprise at Jack, Sue, and Lucy.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Bobby's brow furrowed in confusion.
"We came to get you for the service." Jack shrugged.
"Yeah," Lucy spoke up. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind escorting me. We wanted to all go together, but…" Her gaze dropped down to Levi. "I didn't want to arrive at the church covered in dog hair."
Levi whined and hung his head.
One side of Bobby's mouth lifted slightly. "Yeah, you, me, and Wonder Dog in the back of Jack's car would be a tad bit cramped. But I thought Joseph was going to offer to escort you?"
"He did." Lucy's eyes dropped back to the ground and she shrugged one slender shoulder. "But he didn't even know Stanley and I…" Her voice faltered and she rolled her lips together to stem the tears that had threatened all morning.
Bobby's face softened. He stepped out of the apartment and slid an arm around Lucy's shoulders. "It's alright, Luce. Ole' Bobby'd be proud to be your escort."
As they exited the apartment building, Bobby stopped again in surprise when he saw D and Myles' cars parked in front of Jack's.
Sue laid a gentle hand on his arm. "We're family, Bobby. We stick together. You are not alone." Standing on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek before slipping into the passenger seat of Jack's car.
The drive to the church was silent. Bobby glanced out the window at the people they passed on the sidewalks. Laughing together and enjoying the beautiful day, not knowing that in the desert sand of Afghanistan lay the abandoned body of a young man who had given all for their freedom.