Color of Deception Read Free Page A

sympathy.
    “I will leave. But for your own good Mr. Holmes, you can’t continue on with bitterness, I don’t think your wife would want that –”
    “How the HELL would you know what my wife would want?” Pete was livid that she would suggest that she knew anything about his dead wife. He walked toward the counter, picked up the vase with the flowers and slammed it on the floor. “That’s what I think about your pathetic flowers and your idiot of a dead husband.”  He marched back to his office unfazed by what he had just done. He felt justified in his anger and was sickened at the notion that Mrs. Bevins thought it right to visit him, especially on this day.
    Carlisha, who was now off the phone, and Mrs. Bevins watched as Pete walked away. They were both completely dumbfounded by his actions.
    “I’m so, so sorry Mrs. Bevins,” Carlisha said out of respect for the older woman and because despite the fact that her and Pete’s personal relationship was now nonexistent, she still saw him as a father figure and felt the need to apologize for his actions. “But you must understand today is a really difficult day for him.”
    “It’s alright dear. Grief does crazy things to some people. I just wanted him to know that he’s in my prayers. I will continue to pray for him. God bless you sweetheart!” Mrs. Bevins turned and walked out of the store.
    “What the heck just happened, I heard a crash?” James said after he ran to the front of the store.
    “A vase fell,” Carlisha answered, still watching Mrs. Bevin through the clear glass window as the older woman walked to her car.
    “Was someone arguing over a bill or something too? We thought we heard Mr. Holmes raising his voice.” James walked over to see the broken vase and flowers splattered all over the floor.
    “I guess you could say that. Today is one year since Mrs. Holmes death, so he’s not in his best mood,” Carlisha told him.
    “Aww man, it’s been a year? Wow!”
    Carlisha picked up a waste basket and started to clean up the mess of flowers, broken glass and water.
    **KC**
    Pete knelt down on the grass. The area was slightly shaded from the hot sun by a small cherry blossom tree. He knew Moriah would love that. She didn’t like being in the sun for too long because she got sunburnt easily, plus she loved cherry blossom trees. She had dragged him out to the Cherry Blossom Festival every spring in DC since they started dating and they’d went every year together since.
    Pete placed three dozen red, yellow and pink roses by the tombstone that read:
    Beloved Wife
    Moriah Sabrina Holmes
    1970 - 2012
    Tears streamed down Pete’s face to where he was almost blinded by them. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” He screamed, and then he placed both of his hands to his face. He didn’t care if any other mourners at the cemetery heard him. If they feel as terrible as I do they would be screaming too. “Baby, I miss you so much!” He removed his hands from his face. “It’s been a year to date and I still haven’t gotten over losing you, I don’t think I ever will. I close my eyes sometimes hoping, wishing and praying that when I open them back up, that the notion of you dead and gone would only be a dream. But I open my eyes back to this constant nightmare. I don’t even know how I’m living each day. Everything without you here irritates me. I hate this world! I hate my life without you!” He sobbed and brought his arm to his face and wiped his wet cheeks and nose with his sleeve. “I love you Moriah. We were robbed of our wonderful future together. I miss you!” Pete adjusted himself and sat on the grass with his knees up. He wasn’t concerned about getting his jeans dirty. He picked up a book he had brought with him. “I brought that book you didn’t get a chance to finish reading, I thought I’ll continue where you left off and read a couple pages for you.” He flipped the pages to where Moriah had marked where she had stopped reading.