Trying to Survive (The Kiser #1) Read Free

Graysen’s
grave.   “Hi sweetheart.   A lot has happened that I wanted to tell you
about.   Austin is in his senior year and
misses you like crazy.   He just turned
eighteen and has a date tonight.   I
haven’t met any of the girls yet so maybe that means he isn’t serious about
one. I still can’t help embarrassing him.”   I laughed a little just thinking about it.   “You would be so proud of him Graysen.   He reminds me of you at that age, your looks
and your mannerisms.”   Sighing, I laid
down on the ground beside him.   “I miss
you so much sweetheart.   I can’t believe
you’ve been gone for two years.”   I wiped
the tears from my eyes.   “They sentenced
the guy that hit you that night, but I don’t know exactly what happened.   Mom said he got five years but I didn’t
attend the hearing.   I hope you
understand.   The only way I can be a good
mom is not to dwell on the drunk driver.   Austin needs me, but without him, I would have joined you.   Life is so unfair.”   I just laid next to his grave, next to my
soul mate.   I missed him so much every
day that sometimes it was almost unbearable.   I would never let Austin know that though.  
         Two hours later, I knew I needed to get up.   The wind was nipping at me and the last thing
I needed was to be sick…again.   With Thanksgiving
just around the corner, I didn’t want to be in the hospital.   The one thing I always told myself to make me
feel better was that no matter how bad I felt there was always someone out
there that felt worse.
         Pushing up from the ground, I rubbed his headstone.   “I need to go home sweetheart.   I love you and miss you every…single…day!   I’ll see you soon.”   I got to my feet and headed toward my
car.   It wasn’t fancy, just a Subaru
Outback.   He bought it for me before he
passed because the winters could be hard.   I lived on a dirt road in Southwest Virginia with trees surrounding our
three-bedroom ranch house.   We had bees
to make honey because he read it was really good for my immune system.   Graysen always tried anything he could to
make sure I was healthy and it only made me love him more.
         Driving home, I needed to get my mind in a better place before Austin
arrived.   I didn’t want him to think that
the first time he left me alone for a date that I fell apart.   He needed to go to college, just live and
make something out of himself.   He was
very smart, always making straight A’s.   He was also musically talented like his dad and had been taking guitar
lessons for four years.   The last thing I
wanted to do was hold him back.
         Arriving home, I poured myself a glass of wine and curled up on the
couch with a blanket and a book.   I loved
reading so I would use that to pass the time until Austin came home.   Even though he’s eighteen, I stilled worried
about him.   A drunk driver killed Graysen
and I just needed to know that he was home safely before I could rest.
         A little after midnight I heard the front door.   Austin quietly let himself in and after
hanging the keys up; he walked in to the living room.   “Hey mom I’m home.”   He came over and took a seat on the other end
of our cream-colored leather couch.   Looking at him sitting there, I couldn’t help but be proud.   He was six-feet-two and weighed around
200lbs.   He had started working out last
year and it showed.
         “Did you have a good time?”   I
asked, putting my book down.
         “I did.”   He grinned.
         Laughing, I said, “I can tell by the look on your face that I don’t want
any details.”   He laughed aloud.   “I think I’m going to go to bed.   I’m glad your home honey.”   Standing, I kissed his forehead and headed to
my bedroom.
         “Goodnight mom.   See ya in the morning.”   He called out.
         The next morning Austin found me in the kitchen sitting at the bar
sipping