I reached over and gently took her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “I want to.” I studied her light green eyes, noticing the small flecks of gold that dotted their depths. “I promise.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

I released Bell’s hand, immediately missing the comfort and warmth. I reached into the backseat for a blanket that was always back there and hopped out of my SUV. My heart took another stutter-step as I took in the headstones, that guilt eating at me a little more. I kept my feet moving as Bell and I crossed the street and headed into the graveyard. But I wasn’t sure how I would be able to handle witnessing Bell’s grief up close and personal. I didn’t think I’d be able to not assume that blame.

A familiar pressure seized my chest, but I refused to abandon Bell again. I wasn’t going to leave her alone in this, even if it hurt worse than anything I could imagine. I followed Bell as she wove through the headstones, each step cranking the vise around my rib cage a little tighter.

We came to a stop at the now-familiar marker. As I laid out the blanket, Bell bent and pressed her lips to the top of the headstone. “Hey, sissy. Guess what? The trio of terror is reunited.” The action was so like Bell, not caring in the slightest that someone might think her odd for kissing her sister’s gravestone. But it was her tone that nearly knocked me over. It was happy, so damn joyful.

Bell had always surprised me, so I should’ve planned on her shocking me now too, but I hadn’t. She wasn’t angry or bitter that her sister had been taken from her far too soon. And she didn’t blame me for the accident. She was simply happy to have the three of us together in the only way we could be.

Bell set the bag down on the blanket and immediately began tidying the potted flowers. She cleared away fallen leaves, popped off blooms that had passed their prime, and then pulled a water bottle from the bag and began to water the pots.

I settled onto the blanket and watched her work, marveling at the focus, the tenderness. “You did all of this, didn’t you?”

Bell finished pouring the last bit of water into a pot. “I did.” She surveyed the greenery and the blooms around her. “I like making it beautiful for her.”

I sensed that was true, but also that she was holding something back. I didn’t blame her. I hadn’t proven myself to be a worthy holder of her secrets yet. But I would, eventually. “It’s the prettiest one here.”

Bell settled onto the blanket and started pulling things out of the bag. “I always was damn competitive.”