It wasn't much, Langdon. In fact, it quite reminded Roy of Chickasha. The difference was the rolling hills as a backdrop, and actual people.

"Wow, I'm nervous," MacKenzie commented. "I'm like...really nervous."

"I can tell. We had to pull over at least four times so you could throw up."

"Hey...that was whisky on an empty stomach."

"Glad you let me drive the rest of the way," Roy smiled. "Do I get to see your house?"

"Aunt's house, remember?"

"Right."

"It's not too far down here. Just take the next right, and then it looks like we're on a road that's not a driveway, but that's the driveway."

"Got it."

It looked like a road that went into nothing; a good quarter mile of it. There was a creek along the road after a gentle slope, with bolders sticking out and branches hanging into the water.

"Quaint," Roy commented.

The driveway came into a clearing with hills behind a bright green Victorian house. A brick walkway led to the porch and the blue shutters were open. There were several cars parked nearby.

"They know you're coming, right?"

"They really asked me too," MacKenzie said.

"They know I'm with you, right?"

"I briefly mentioned it."

"Great..." Roy rolled his eyes.

The porch had a gentle step; not too difficult to pop across. Roy smiled to himself. He wouldn't have been anywhere close to doing that a year ago.

MacKenzie took a deep breath, and quickly let themselves in, to Roy's surprise. He wondered if it was normal here to walk into a relative's house.

Roy wheeled in after her. The house was beautiful, the foyer graced with a mahogany staircase and golden chandelier. Fancy.

"Sparrow?" MacKenzie exclaimed. A brunette woman who appeared to be in her mid thirties, entered from an adjacent room, which Roy assumed from here was the dining room.

"MacKenzie." She quickly rushed over to her.

"I, uh, I know you needed me here for your mother."

The woman's face darkened. "Yeah, I needed you."

"Sparrow, what? Oh god, she didn't..."

Sparrow began to burst into tears and threw her arms around MacKenzie.

"I'm so, so sorry," MacKenzie cried. "I should've come sooner."

"The funeral is tomorrow," Sparrow sniffed. "Y'know my dad's been living back here."

Roy didn't know whether to say anything or just stay quiet. He chose the latter.

"Timothy tried calling you," Sparrow said. "Right after she passed. I think your half sister answered."

"Did he...did  he tell her what happened."

"Yeah."

"And she didn't tell me..."

"There's a reason she's  not a part of our family, Kenz."

"That CUNT," she said through gritted teeth.

"MacKenzie," Sparrow wiped her nose on the back of her hand.

"Oh, god. I know. I know. Where's your brother?"

"Timothy is at work. I don't know when he'll be home. Dad is upstairs. Surprised he didn't come down yet."

"I'm not surprised." MacKenzie took a deep breath in attempt to soothe herself. She bumped into Roy, who was sitting meekly behind her, and nearly jumped. "God, I forgot you were there."

"Good to know," Roy whispered.

"Uh, my boyfriend I was telling you about," MacKenzie gestured to Roy.

He offered a handshake, and as usual it wasn't shaken.

Why am I like this.

"It's...Ray, isn't it?"

"Roy..." he corrected her.

"Roy. Right. That's a unique name. I've never heard it before. It's not too common."

Roy nodded. The poor girl was trying to make her  breakdown as less awkward in front of him as possible.

"I'm extremely sorry you have to be burdened with this," Roy said quietly. "To lose someone you love is as painful as losing a limb."

"He's polite," Sparrow smiled at MacKenzie.

I'm here.

"Yeah, it's...you'll be at the service as well, right?"

"As long as your cousin needs me there."

"Yes, Roy," MacKenzie said.

"I'm sorry we have to meet at such a time like this."

"A little bit of goodness comes out of a bad situation sometimes."

"Sparrow, I'm really nauseous; I'll be right back. Sorry." MacKenzie headed the other direction.

"Um, Roy. Can I get you anything?" Sorrow began to lead him to the living room.

"I'm quite alright."

"Okay. You can have a seat here and..." she frowned at her own comment and smiled pitifully. "Mmm."

MacKenzie returned a bit later and sat down next to Roy.

"You good?" Sparrow asked.

"Just on the road for a long time."

"Can I get you a drink?"

"Absolutely."

MacKenzie held Roy's hand. She looked fragile, like a wounded faun. Roy wanted to slap Alice for taking away MacKenzie's chance of saying goodbye to her aunt. She was full of pain, and Roy could feel her energy.

This was the first time he saw MacKenzie truly sad.