Free Grave Secrets by Linda Trout Page A

Reporters are probably following you everywhere.”
    Ah. So he’d seen the paper, too. Unable to hold his gaze any longer, she turned and continued walking. Clouds floated across the sky, and a lawn mower was running somewhere off in the distance. She caught a whiff of the fresh cut grass drifting on the soft breeze. And Morgan’s aftershave. To the casual observer, it was just another normal spring day. For Sara, there was no such thing as normal, only the constant hum of uncertainty and loneliness.
    Morgan was right, of course, but she didn’t want to admit it to him. She’d forgotten about the picture and hadn’t thought of the possibility of being followed. It had just been so automatic to gravitate toward where she’d always gone to talk out her troubles. And she would be in a better mood, more able to handle the burdens she’d inherited after she’d sat and talked to the headstone a while. Funny how she could talk to Jason’s grave when, for months before his death, they hadn’t had many conversations that didn’t revolve around the baby. It did give her a small degree of comfort, though.
    Her habits may be strange to some, but to her, Kaycee, and to a smaller degree, Jason, were still her world. And that she couldn’t, wouldn’t let go for anyone.
    She turned to face Morgan. “What would you have me do? Go into hiding with my tail between my legs?” The thought of running revolted her. Suddenly, the adrenaline surge wore off and she wanted to sit back down in the dirt. Instead, she headed to her car again, and for the first time, noticed his vehicle parked at an odd angle in front of hers. She hadn’t heard him drive up or seen him approach, she’d been too terrified.
    Then a thought hit her. “Wait. How’d you know where I was, or that I needed help?” He always appeared out of nowhere whenever things were happening to her. Which didn’t start until after they’d exhumed Jason’s body.
    “I followed you.”
    Her jaw dropped at his open admission. “You what? From where?”
    “From the restaurant.”
    “And did you follow me there, too?” This was too much. Would she never have any peace again? She’d only met him twenty-fours ago, yet everywhere she turned, there he was.
    “No. I happened to be eating at the burger joint across the street and saw you leave the parking lot. Decided to see where you went, but you got away from me in traffic.”
    “Oh, you did.” She didn’t try to hide her displeasure.
    He shrugged. “Yeah. Good thing.”
    The ire drained out of her. “Well, it could have been worse.”
    “How?”
    “The grounds crew could’ve covered the grave and I wouldn’t have had a way to get the drunk away from me.” She inwardly shuddered as she chose not to think of what might have happened.
    “Yeah. I’m pretty sure their boss will have a word with them about that little oversight.” He paused, then asked, “Why’d you come out here?”
    Focusing on anything but him, she evaded the question. “Does it matter?”
    “Maybe.”
    She blew out a weary sigh. What difference did it make if he knew? He wasn’t going to relent until she told him something. “I feel connected to Jason here. I talk to him and when I leave, I feel as if he’s given me strength to go on for another day. That’s all I need, usually. Just to be able to endure one more day in a world without my baby and husband.” When she paused, she realized that wasn’t what she’d intended to tell him. She’d intended to be vague—tell him basically what she thought he’d want to hear. But the truth just slipped out. Let him believe it or not.
    “Besides, I wanted to pray for the dead baby found there. I’m sure it didn’t have a decent burial and someone needed to say a prayer for it.”
    “So you visit the grave fairly often.” He didn’t pose the statement as a question.
    “Yes,” she said simply, not looking at him.
    They were almost to the car, and she was more than ready to leave. This