Nodding, I turned to find everyone there. “Is everyone up for a drink?” I asked, knowing it was just the thing we probably all needed. Everyone nodded. “Where shall we go?”
“How about The Three Horseshoes Pub back in Fulham?” Callum suggested. “It’s as good a pub as any. Unfortunately, Hamish, Paul, and I can’t go, but we can say goodbye from there.”
I suddenly felt a stab of pain. I was returning to the pub where Stephen and I had our first drink together.
“Are you okay?” Simeon asked as we walked back to the car. “You look pale. Is your shoulder hurting you?”
Shaking my head, I smiled. “No, I’m fine. Just a little sad, that’s all.” Stopping at the door of the car, I turned to him. “Actually, Simeon, do you mind waiting in the car for me a few moments? There’s something I need to do.”
Simeon looked confused for a moment, but smiled. “Do you need me to come with you?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. This is something I need to take care of on my own.”
With a nod, Simeon opened the car door. “Okay, no problem. I’ll be waiting.” I watched him as he took a seat in the car.
Looking around, I sought out the grave I wanted to visit. I knew it was here because I visited it many years ago.
I finally came to a halt. In front of me was a grave, a fresh bunch of flowers sitting neatly on it. They couldn’t have been older than a day or two. I could make out his name through the flowers, though. Terrance Bradley.
Kneeling next to the grave, I placed a hand on the gravestone. “Hello, Terrance. It’s been a while. As you can tell, I’m all grown up now, but I have never stopped thinking about you. How could I when you were the one who came to me that awful night nineteen years ago? I would never forget it. You were kind to me and I will always thank you for that.” I sighed, closing my eyes and feeling the pain of it grip me again. “There is one other thing I need to say, and I’ve been meaning to say it for years. I’m sorry, Terrance. I’m so sorry I never saved you.” I rubbed the top of his gravestone tenderly, pulling a couple of weeds from the ground.
“I never thought to do that.”
The voice startled me. Looking up, Simon was staring down at me with a tender smile. “You thought I’d forgotten you.” I nodded, then looked away, feeling a little shame at my admission. “He was a good man…my uncle.”
I smiled. “I know he was.”
“He didn’t deserve what happened to him that night. It was the same night—the night your parents died.”
I nodded. “I know. I remember him reaching out to touch my hand, but I flinched away from him. Now I wished I hadn’t.”
Smiling, he shook his head. “You couldn’t know, Cassie. You were so little at the time. I never forgot you, though. I never forgot what you said. You didn’t even touch my hand to know that I would be a ‘big’ policeman one day.” He smiled cheekily, but I could see the question in his eyes.
“I just get a sense for people, I think. I was a child, but I could see it in you…even then.”
Simon smiled and touched my shoulder. “You were such a sweet child, Cassie. In a sense, you reminded me of my sister.” He frowned. I could tell the memory of that night was as fresh for him as it was for me.
“Were you with him when it happened?”
He shook his head. “No. It was considered too dangerous. The men robbing the bank were armed, so he made arrangements for another officer to take me home. Little did I realise that would be the last time I would see him alive.”
I smiled gently at him. Briefly staring back at Terrance’s grave, I wondered what his life would have been like now if our hands had touched. I know I would have foreseen him get shot that night, and I would have done anything in my power to prevent it.
I suddenly wondered something. “When did you remember?” I gazed upon his face and saw a hint of guilt spread across him.
“To be honest, it was at the hospital when I saw your uncle. I knew I recognised him from somewhere and it bugged me all day. I started doing some digging and I found out about your mum and dad. I’m so sorry I didn’t realise. I tried telling you, but there never seemed to be the right moment. I have something for you, though. I brought it with me today.”
I stood up and watched as Simon walked towards his car. I followed behind him, wondering what it could be.
He opened the door with one swift tug and quickly rummaged in the back. He suddenly pulled out a teddy bear.
“Mr. Wigglesby!” I cried as I raced towards a smiling Simon and grabbed the teddy bear.