Page 2 of Liam

It slowed to a stop, and he helped Gail and Natai into the car behind the hearse and climbed in after them. Her family would follow and so would Ambrose’s mother and father, his sisters, and their families.

He stared out of the window lost in his thoughts over the next few minutes as they drove to the church where a majority of SAS soldiers found their final resting place. He alighted the vehicle and helped Gail out, keeping his hand on her back for support.

He saw his friends from Fortis, his colleagues from Eidolon—Jack, Lopez, Reid, Blake, Waggs, Mitch, Alex, and finally Decker. They stood with their heads bowed solemnly as they waited for Gail to go inside with Natai and her family.

He approached them then, and no words were needed as his friends squeezed his shoulder to offer their silent support or placed a hand on his back. Zack Cunningham offered his hand to shake, as did Dane, Daniel, Lucy, Nate.

He then stepped back and watched as the undertakers pulled the coffin from the back of the car.

Jack stepped close to him. “Are you ready?”

“No,” Liam answered honestly.

The weight of Jack’s hand on his shoulder was an anchor he needed. “I know, brother, but let’s give him the send-off he deserves. He lived a hero. He died a hero, and he’ll remain a hero, always.”

Liam nodded, not trusting his voice to speak.

They began to get in position, Liam and Jack at the front, Dane and Daniel in the middle, and Zack and Mitch at the back. The others would follow behind and take their seats.

As they hoisted their friend on to their shoulders and carried him inside to begin the service that would end with him committed into the ground, Liam struggled to catch his breath and knew he’d never breathe easy again.

The next hour was a blur as he kept his eyes on the mahogany coffin, not wanting to look away, knowing this was the last time his friend would be on this earth. He didn’t feel the tears that fell silently down his face until Gail handed him a tissue.

With Ambrose committed into the ground, they made the short drive back to Gail’s home where she was holding the wake. Liam grabbed a beer and moved to the back garden wanting some time to get his thoughts together.

He sat on the step, and a kaleidoscope of memories moved through his mind of time spent in this very place. Ambrose laughing and playing Nerf with his son, Ambrose getting pelted by snowballs as Gail and Natai hid behind the shed and ambushed him last winter. Ambrose and him as they built the swing set that now sat still.

He drank and remembered. He had no idea how long he sat there before a presence behind him had him turn, tipping his head back to see Mitch ambling towards him, his relaxed gait tensed for once.

“Mind if I sit?”

Liam lifted his chin in ascent.

The two men sat in silence for a while, and then Mitch spoke. “When I was sixteen, I lost my best friend to gang violence.”

Liam twisted his head in surprise at the words. Mitch turned his almost coal-black eyes to Liam, and he saw the pain was still fresh.

“He was so smart, so alive, and we got caught up in a world we thought we could control. It was fun, we were clever, had money and standing in the community, and then we didn’t. A rival gang wanted our turf, and it stopped being fun and clever. In one night, I lost my best friend and learned lessons no boy of sixteen should ever have to learn. My ma moved us away, and I knuckled down and worked hard to live a life worthy of him. To live for us both and do it in a way where he’d be proud of what I’d achieved. I pray every day that I’m doing that by saving others and giving back.”

Mitch placed the empty bottle on the floor between his bent legs and glanced at him. “The pain never goes, it will always be a part of you. It will either bury you or it will make you strive to be the man he knew you were.” Mitch stood then and put a hand on Liam’s back. “I hope you choose the second one, my friend.”

Liam didn’t answer but he hoped so too, he just didn’t know if he had it in him.

An hour later he heard a commotion and stood to see what was going on. He found Gail in the kitchen; she was with her sister and best friend, who looked at him with bewilderment as Gail cried and started throwing mugs.

“Get Natai upstairs,” he commanded her sister who moved to do just that, leaving him and Gail alone as she continued to rant.

“Don’t you take my son anywhere.”

Liam moved to steady her as she swayed, and he realised she had been drinking.

“Take your fucking hands off me.” The hate and venom had him pulling back as she glared at him with hatred in her face.

“Sweetheart, I’m not the enemy here,” he said slowly, his heart beating fast.

“Yes, you are,” she snarled. “If you had been there, he would be alive. Ambrose’s death is your fault. You killed him.”

Liam blanched at her words, almost an echo of his thoughts from that morning.