bChapter /bb211 /b

Chapter b7/bb: /bbThe /bmemorialb. /b

:

b75 /b

As Josie grew closer to the end of the estate, she could see a navy blue SUV parked on the right side

of the street.

i“/iiThat /iimust /ibe iMarlon/ii!/ii‘ /i

Josie could feel her heart pound with joy. She had missed her cousin so much thesest four years.

As soon as Marlon turned around, he saw Josie running up. His was filled with joy until she got

closer. It wouldn’t be something you’d notice unless you knew her. Luckily for Josie, she was naturally beautiful, it took a lot to damage her appearance. But if you knew her, you would recognize the differences. Marlon could see the sullen bruises on her arms and her shoulder. He imagined there

was more on her back. Whoever did this made sure to bruise her in areas not usually seenb. /b

Josie smiled brightly for the first time in over four years as she reached her arms out to hug Marlon.

Slightly lifting her off her feet as he embraced her, the tears began to stroll down her face.

“iWhat /iiare you crying /iifor /iibig /iihead/ii./ii” /i

Marlon used to always call her big head when they were children. It felt good hearing that name

again. Josie wiped the tears from her eyes.

i“/iiI’m /iijust /iiso /iihappy /iito /iisee /iiyou dummy/ii./i”

Marlon smiled warmly as he took her bag and opened her door.

bi“/i/biCome /ion…ilet’s /iigo /iisee /iinana/i.

”

They arrived at the hospital 30 minutester. The receptionist directed them to the memorial department. Marlon pulled out a paper.

“iWe’re /ihere to icollect /iour igrandmother’s /iashesi./ib” /b

The clerk took the paper and smiled with relief.

“After ithat /igirl, iI /iwas starting to think no one would iever /ie to im her. One moment please,”

The clerk went into the back. Josie looked up at Marlon with the same confused expression. iAfter /i

b10:38 /bbSun/bb, /bbSep /bb21 /b

A 173

75

iwhat /iigirl/ii? /iWhen the clerk came backb; /bshe had a smile on her face as she handed Marlon the box.

“iHere /iiyou /iiboth /igo. iShe /iiwaited /iia /ilong time to ibe /iireunited/ii./ii” /i

As we both grabbed the box, I looked back up at the clerk.

i‘/iiMa’am/i…iyou /iistated /iia /iigirl /iicame /ito ivisit/ii?/ib” /b

The clerk’s face harden as if she were remembering something unpleasant.

bi“/i/biYes/ii, /iia /iiday /iiafter /iMs. iBowen /iipassed/ibi, /i/bia /iiyoung /iiwoman /iicame /iiin /iiiming /ito ibe /iiher /iigranddaughter/i. She

iwanted /iito /icollect iher /iiremains/i. iWhen /iiwe /iiasked /iiwhat /iiher /iiname /iiwas/ii, /iiwe /iirealized /iishe /iwasn’t who iMs. /iiBowen /iihad /iilisted /ias iher /iinext /iof ikin/ii./i” fn4032 This content belongs to Find_Novel(./fn4032

“iWe /iiinformed /iithe /iiyoung /iiwoman /iiwe /iicould /iionly /iigive /iMs. iBowen’s /iiremains /iito /iitwo /iipeople/ii. /iiBoth /iiyou /iiand /iiMr. /iiBowen/ii. /iiThe /iigirl /iismiled /iipolitely /iiand /iithen /iishe /iisaid /iithe /iistrangest /iithing/i.”

“She said ishe /iididn’t /iiwant /iithe /iiold /iihag /iias /ishe ididn’t /iimean /iianything /iito /iiher /iianyway/ii…/ishe ijust /iiwanted /iito /i

ihave her /iithrown /iiaway/ii. /iiShe /isaid ishe /iiwas /iiher /iibiological /iigranddaughter /iiand /iishould /iibe /iiallowed /iito /iimake /i

ithat /idecisioni./ii” /i

i“/iiAfter /iiwe /iiinformed /iiher /iiof /iMs. iBowen’s /iiwill/ii, /iishe /iibecame /iibelligerent/ii. /iiI /iimean /iiwe /iiliterally /iihad /iito /iicall /iisecurity/i. iAn /iiolder /iigentleman /iiended /iiing /iito /iiget her/i, iI /iibelieve /iia /iibig /iibrother /ior isomething/ii. /iiAnyway/ii, /iipeople /iiare /iso icrazy /iithese /iidays /iithey /iithink /iiof /iithe /iiweirdest /iiways /iito /iiget /iitheir /iirocks /ioff.”

Josie could feel her entire body heating up! Both she and Marlon knew EXACTLY who that woman

was. Fucking Vanessa Taylor!! Josie stormed off quickly as they made their way to the memorial hall.

“iThat /iifucking /iibitch/i!!! I biswear /i/bito /iigod/ii!! /iiIf /iiit’s /iithe /iist /iithing /iiI /iido/i…ishe /iiwill /iipay/ii!!/i”

Marlon grabbed Josie’s hand in an attempt to calm her down.

i“/iiCome /ion iJojo/ii…/iilet’s /iigo /iihonor /iiour /iinana/ii./i”

Josie looked up at Marlon with tears in her eyes; nodding in agreement; they made their way to the

hall.

After the service, Marlon took Josie to her favorite restaurant.

“Oh imy /igod!! It’s been so long since I had steak!”

(75)

Josie sat smiling as she dug into her food. Marlon was happy she had an appetite. He had been worried about herck of eating. As they ate dinner, Josie told him about what the Taylors had been doing since her arrival.

i“/iiAnd then/i…ithe /iibitch /iitried /ito iget /iime /ito ieat /iiseafood/ii!/ii” /i