We said our goodbyes and I watched as she walked back up the hill, my stomach tightening as another person appeared at the top of the path. Dave. Shit. I watched for signs of them knowing each other, let out a sigh of relief when there weren’t any, but as I was about to walk on ahead, I saw Fiona turn. I raised my hand in a wave, but she was staring at Dave. I had no choice but to press on, stuffing my hand in my pockets, my fingers closing over the money I owed him for the benzos. I was supposed to have dropped it graveside already, tucked the neatly folded bills inside the crack on the left and gone for a walk—a long one because Dave was typically late—and pick up the goods on my way back. His one rule was money never exchanged hands directly, and I hoped I hadn’t blown it and he’d leave.

With a quick glance I made sure Fiona had really gone and nobody else was around. I deftly slipped the cash inside the broken headstone and walked away without a sideways glance. Five minutes later the exchange was done, and I headed back to my car, a little baggie of pills shoved inside my pocket.

When I got back to the house I sat in my car, examining the meds one by one to make sure they were all the same and Dave hadn’t slipped something else in there just to fuck with me. He’d given me fewer tablets than we’d agreed—again, typical Dave—and I decided, moving forward, I’d look for a reliable dealer, an oxymoron if I’d ever heard one.

I headed inside. Ash was still in the kitchen, and when I heard him whistling softly, I recognized the familiar tune of the Portsmouth Football Club chant immediately. Brad had been an avid supporter and had passed the love of his hometown soccer club down to Ash. “Play Up Pompey” was something the two of them sang on a regular basis if the team did well, and even when it didn’t, and they often watched games together, wearing matching shirts, something Mom and I shook our heads at. “It’s in the genes.” Brad had winked at Ash. “Isn’t it, mush?”

Ash looked up at me now, stopping midwhistle, and then he actually sang the entire chant. “I remembered my dad’s favorite soccer team.”