29. John

CHAPTER 29

JOHN

I hated funerals. As the leader of a SEAL Team, I attended a lot of them. The worst were the ones when we buried a teammate. And watching my husband bury his father was going to be excruciating.

Brent put up a good front, but under all the outlandish behavior beat the heart of a tender soul. A child who had been weighted down with blame that didn't fit the size of his shoulders. Once we were out of here, we weren't coming back.

After shaving, I put on some shorts and gave Winston one last walk outside before we had to leave for the visitation.

Greer and Austin were upstairs getting ready, and Brent was in the shower. I wanted to give him some private time to release some emotions before I smothered him with love.

When I walked back in with Winston, Dare was coming down the stairs. Freshly shaved and wearing his dress whites, he looked like he was still in service.

"Looking sharp. Any tight buttons?

He chuckled and ran his hand down his uniform. "I was worried, especially after the honeymoon. We ate more than we should have, but the food in Costa Rica was so damn good."

I smiled, a bit worried about my own. "I can't thank you enough for coming and bringing the uniforms. He needed you."

"Like I told him, I wouldn't let him go through this without me. But I'm fucking happy he has you."

I was the lucky one. "Well, I'm keeping him."

Brent came walking out, beard neatly trimmed and shaved. His dress whites fit perfectly and all the medals decorating his chest made me proud as fuck that he was mine.

He bit his lip and smirked as he looked me over in my athletic shorts. "Time to get dressed, babe."

I nodded and kissed him lightly on the way to our room. "I'll be back."

When I returned ten minutes later, all three men were waiting for me. I entered the room with quite a few more medals than he wore, and by the look on his face, he appreciated my attire as much as I appreciated his.

"My god," Greer said. "It's like Top Gun meets An Officer and a Gentleman all over again. You might have to wear that more, sweetheart."

Dare beamed at his new husband's appraisal. "Whenever you want, babe."

I looked at my own husband and smiled. "You look fucking fantastic. I've got to get a ring on that finger or I'll be fighting the women off."

"No penis tattoo?" he teased.

I shivered at the thought. "Still a hard no."

He laughed and looked at his watch. His good mood deteriorated the closer we got to the visitation. Brent had declined to go by the funeral home to see him prior to today, and I was worried this was going to be more difficult than he thought. But he was a grown man, not a child, and could make his own decisions.

"I guess we need to go."

He squatted down in front of Winston and told him to be a good boy while we were gone. I looked over at Dare who nodded at me.

We opted to take one car in hopes of avoiding his mother's house after the burial. As I drove through town toward the funeral home, I reached over and took Brent's hand. Dare and Greer talked quietly about buying a mountain house, leaving Brent to his thoughts. I wasn't sure that was a good idea, but I knew he was mentally preparing himself to deal with his mother on top of the hurt about his father.

When I pulled into the parking lot, only a few cars were in the lot. An attendant motioned for me to park in line for the procession to the cemetery.

I looked at Dare over my shoulder. He placed his hand on Brent's shoulder. "You got this. We're with you."

He nodded and patted Dare's hand, then took a deep breath. "Yeah, let's go."

We got out of the car and smoothed down our uniforms. I placed my hat on my head, as did Brent and Austin. I looked Brent over and gave him a smile. He took my hand and walked toward the entrance.

When we walked in the door, we were directed to the room where the family would receive visitors. As we stepped in, Mrs. Trainor's eyes went wide. I saw a momentary flicker of pride cross her face before it slipped away to the bitter frown she wore.

He leaned down and kissed her cheek out of unwavering respect.

"We're to stand here until it's time to go to the chapel. You can take your place beside Pete."

He nodded and motioned toward Dare. "Mom, this is my best friend, Lieutenant Austin Wentworth, and his husband Greer Rowan. Guys this is my mother, Rebecca Trainor, and my Uncle Pete and Aunt Jean."

While they exchanged condolences, I looked around. The casket was not in the room, and I needed to find it in order to give him a moment alone with his father before the casket was closed. So I approached one of the staff members and told him what I needed.

"The casket is in the chapel, sir. You may go in through the side door."

"Thank you," I said, then pulled Dare aside to let him know where we'd be.

I took Brent by the hand and whispered to him. "Come with me. You can have some time with your dad if we go now."

He nodded once, then followed me to the chapel.

I pulled the side door open and followed him in. The room was filled with flower arrangements that surrounded the silver casket by the altar.

As he approached, silent tears began to fall. And when he saw his father, he finally broke.

"I'm sorry, Dad," he whispered through tears. "If I'd known that was the last time I'd see you, I would have stayed."

I wrapped my arm around his shoulders to reassure him he wasn't alone. As I went to step back, he grabbed my hand. Words weren't necessary as I stood by my husband while he wept for his father.