Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 273

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Before Ellie’s eyes, a sea of mourners dressed in black surrounded her. Some were weeping, some were lamenting, and some were offering comfort.

“Ellie, your dad’s ashes are here. You need to greet him,” urged a distant relative. But she felt as if her feet were stuck to the ground, unable to move or cry.

With her eyes stinging and swollen, she looked into the distance, seeing the relatives crying around her dad’s urn. Their cries cut through the air, bringing shared sorrow even to the ones who weren’t related.

Aaron came near, holding Harold’s urn, and said, “Dad, we’re home.” Each step he took toward Ellie made her heart shudder and her breath catch.

Lacey and Diana stood beside Ellie, quietly supporting her. In just two days, grief had deeply etched itself into Aaron’s face, making him look almost unrecognizable. He stopped in front of Ellie.

don’t wait. Bring your dad inside,” the officiant urged. But Aaron didn’t move.

a hoarse whisper, Ellie pleaded, “Aaron, can I hold him for a moment?” Her voice quivered, filled with

up the ceremony; we have a lot to do.” the officiant

eyes locked on Aaron. “Aaron,

freed one arm and gently wrapped it around his sister, who clung tightly

she imagined him standing in the wheat field, smiling and beckoning her, saying, “Little Ellie, come here. Let Daddy hold

farmer lifted his young daughter onto his shoulders, filling the air with their happy laughter.

hurt his leg, no one had lifted

each time she visited, Harold would lean on his crutch by the door, looking for her. On the day she left, he would walk her to the

crutch, would stand there, his eyes showing he didn’t want to let go. From now on, her dad could no longer walk her to the station

a leaf in the wind, and declared, “Maybe this is

pull Ellie away, but she held on tightly to Harold’s ashes, her head buried in Aaron’s shoulder, refusing to let go.

asked for

Ellie lifted her head. Joanna stood a little way off, looking older than her years to the events of the past few

due