Free Christmas for One: No Greater Love by Amanda Prowse Page B

know.’ Edd nodded.
    ‘Did he just die or was it in an accident?’ She was curious.
    Edward took a deep breath. ‘Oh, there was nothing accidental about it. He was killed while he was working.’
    ‘Oh, Edd!’ Megan placed her hand over her mouth, the horror of his statement only magnified by the events of the day.
    He started to walk and Megan kept pace.
    ‘I have every second of that day imprinted in my brain, what we wore, where we sat, everything. I can picture every detail of that cop’s face as he looked my mom in the eye and told her. And I just watched as she fell apart. It was as if time stood still. Even now, it’s like it’s not real. Then something will happen that makes me realise it is true and it shocks me all over again. Sometimes, regularly in fact, I think, oh, I haven’t spoken to Pop in a few days, and I reach for my cell to call him.’ He kicked his toe against the path. ‘It sounds stupid.’
    ‘Actually it doesn’t.’ She looked at him. ‘My fiancé died too. He had a car accident. It didn’t feel real for years. The police gave me the news over the phone. I often think it would have been easier coming from someone that knew me, that knew us…’ She let this hang, trying to think of who that person might have been.
    ‘Jesus. I don’t know what to say to you, Megan.’ Edd sighed and it was a little while before he spoke, as if he were feeling the weight of their combined story. ‘My dad was missing for some time, and that was possibly the worst part for me.’ Edd drew a sharp breath as a jogger ran past at speed. Meg got the impression that this admission was rare. ‘I just wanted to know either way, so I could either get on with grieving and looking after my mom, or I could set about welcoming him home and organising a big celebration. The biggest celebration ever.’ His voice wavered with emotion. He coughed to clear his throat. ‘When they confirmed he was dead, I felt very guilty because I had prayed for the news. I figured living with the uncertainty was worse, but it wasn’t. As soon as I knew he had passed on, I prayed that there might have been a mistake and that there was still a possibility he might be found alive and well. That hope was like an energy and I missed it. I had the best safety net in the world: two parents that loved me so much and made home a place I couldn’t wait to get back to. My dad used to say, “The real world is what is behind our front door, everything on the other side ain’t important.”’
    Meg felt a familiar stab of raw pain. ‘I envy people that haven’t been through it. It’s the worst thing,’ she whispered.
    ‘Do you? I don’t envy them.’ Edd stopped on the path and paused. ‘I think that because the worst thing has happened to me, I’m equipped to deal with whatever comes my way. If anything, losing someone you love puts everything into perspective. Makes you understand what’s important, reminds you not to sweat the small stuff.’
    Meg looked up at him. ‘I hadn’t thought of it like that.’
    ‘It’s true though, right? You hear someone going nutso because a train is late or their phone has no signal and I think, half your luck, pal, if that’s all you’ve got to worry about.’
    Meg gave a small laugh; this was very, very true. ‘I guess I’m used to dealing with crap. I didn’t have a mum that gave me a safety net or a dad that I looked up to. I grew up without a dad or stability or a bed that was all mine.’ She looked into his face, trying to gauge his expression.
    ‘That doesn’t sound like much fun.’
    ‘It wasn’t.’
    ‘Are things better between you now?’ he asked.
    Meg shook her head. ‘I haven’t seen her for nearly a decade.’
    Edd gave a small whistle. ‘Wow! I can’t imagine that.’ He looked sad.
    ‘It’s just how it is for me. When I was little, what I wanted more than anything in the world was someone to look after me. And I found them! The day I met Pru is one I will never