A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1509

On the anniversary of Liana's passing, it was soon Caleb's, and the couple, along with their children, set off for Greenwood Cemetery.

No sooner had their black Lincoln pulled to a stop than Damian caught sight of a fawn darting out from the woods.

Whether it was the thrill of the chase or a bid to wriggle free from Bernard's watchful eye, the young boy pushed open the car door and bolted into the forest the moment the adults were distracted.

Eleanor, seeing her son's sudden dash, hurriedly exited the car and gave chase, while Bernard, seated inside, simply waved his hand. Aidyn and Scott immediately got out and followed Eleanor and Damian.

Bernard gazed toward the distant graveyard, lost in a silent reverie, before stepping out of the car. He opened the trunk, retrieved a bouquet of chrysanthemums, and made his way to Caleb's gravestone, where he bent down to place the flowers.

"Caleb, I've brought the kids to see you again."

The same opening words every year, followed by standing solemnly at the gravestone, staring at the now-yellowing photograph of Caleb, and imagining. Imagining if Caleb were still alive, would he dote on his son like Aidyn and Scott did, indulging him to no end?

He thought Caleb would have been even more indulgent—scooping up his son, perching him on his shoulders, letting little rascal Damian climb all over him...

But Caleb was gone, and Bernard could only conjure up a blurry vision of how Caleb might have held his son's hand, strolling down a street bathed in the glow of a setting sun, their shadows stretching behind them. And even though it was just a vision, Bernard cherished it deeply, tinged with the regret that over time, one could truly forget a person's face...

It was as if the final credits of a movie had rolled; everything became ethereal, faces disappearing into the river of time...

As Bernard stood by the gravestone, lost in memories and lamenting his fading recollection of Caleb's face, a figure clad in a black coat and a beret, leading a boy and a girl, entered the cemetery from another gate...