Marinette's POV:

    I did not know how the graves of my loved ones had gotten here. I knew someone must have taken the time to pay for their burials and to see that fresh flowers were left. Who?

   I sobbed against his chest as he held me close. I felt so bad about how I treated him.

    I apologized, and he held me close.

     A voice said, "Adrien, there you are, I was going too..." She stopped when she saw him holding me. "Awe, I knew it," She said. She seemed happy and walked away.

     I did not bother to look up to see who it was that spoke. I already knew it was Rachel, Adrien's sister.

      Adrien continued to hold me close. "Marinette, you feel so cold." He said. I could tell he was worried about me.  He picked me up and carried me to his car. He drove me to his place.

      I did not say a word. How could I?   I was still shocked to have discovered the grave markers for my mother, sister, and father. I felt touched by the site of them. I never knew until today they were not cremated.

    Once at his place, Adrien carried me inside and set me in a chair. He tucked blankets in around me and pushed a button. The fireplace logs turned on and I began to relax.

        "Marinette?" He spoke softly. I could tell he had been crying. 

        I did not look at him. I just sat looking at the fireplace.

      I heard him sigh.

     "Marinette, let me explain about the graveyard." He said.

       I  sat there stunned but let him explain.

       "My sister, Rachel, used to take food to the alleyway until my father caught her then she stopped.  One day she came home in tears because a baby had died. She had witnessed it and this had her all choked up. She said it wasn't fair that the baby girl, Margaret Ann never got to grow up."

            "I felt sad at the news even though I never met the baby. A few days later, Rachel returned against our father's wishes. I didn't know it then, but she arranged for the baby's body to be prepared for burial.  A few weeks later, after I met you and received the job there as a worker for the graveyard groundskeeper I discovered the grave. I knew that Rachel must have taken care of the arrangements. Otherwise, the baby would have been cremated.  I asked her about it and she admitted that is what she had done." Adrien explained.

         I was shocked, Adrien's sister had made sure my sister was buried. How kind of her and I had never even thanked her.

  Adrien told me that his mother, Emilie helped him with the arrangements for my mother. He felt it was better than her being cremated since she already had a daughter who was buried there and besides, Marinette needed this.  Before, I could say anything about this, he told me my uncle had sent plenty of money to take care of the funds needed, for the grave markers and to bury my father alongside the bodies of my sister and mother. 

     I could not believe it. All this time, Rachel had buried my sister, Adrien and his mother had buried my mother, and my uncle John had buried my father and had the grave markers put there.  I still had no idea who had left the flowers.

    "Rachel leaves flowers as often as she can at Margaret's grave," Adrien explained.

     "What about the flowers at the other graves?" I asked.

       "Sometimes my mother leaves flowers at your mother's grave and sometimes I do," He answered.

     "And the ones at my father's grave?" I asked. "I leave them."He said.

    Adrien came and held my hand. He squeezed it. "I have to go because it is my turn at the graveyard shift," He said. He stood up letting go of my hand, and walked away.

     I should have called out after him, but I didn't.

   I felt more tears fall as he left. 

  His family had buried mine and I never knew. I sobbed more. 

 I must have fallen asleep because a few hours later I woke up and Glinda was on my lap.

  Rachel was on the sofa smiling.  I  did not see Adrien. 

   "Where is Adrien?" I asked.

   "He will be home from work soon," Rachel said.

    "I brought your cat over because I thought she looked lonely and you could use the company," Rachel told me.

    "Thank you, and thanks for burying Margaret Ann, Adrien told me," I said. I did not know why my voice said softly when I said his name.

         "You need not thank me, I was happy to do it. You are welcome, and what else did he tell you?"

     I told her what else he said and she smiled. "You know he is happier with you than he has been in years and a bit of a romantic,"  Rachel said.

     I heard the elevator open and saw him. I smiled.  

   "Hi, ladies," Adrien said.

    "Hi, A-Adrien," I said. I was not sure why I stuttered sometimes when he was around. 

       He walked over to me and removed most of the blankets. Rachel folded them. He pulled me out of the chair and I landed on top of him. I blushed. Rachel smirked and took our picture.

          I got up and helped him up. He smiled. He kissed my cheek. "Mari," He spoke softly.

 Rachel did not say a word, she stood up, grabbed her purse, and headed to the elevator. She waved as she left.

       "Adrien," I said. I kissed him and he closed his eyes.

         I  did not know why I had done it. I never did before now. He kissed me back.

          I pulled away. He opened his eyes. "Mari," He whispered. He kissed my lips. I didn't pull away not this time. I kissed him.

           This time he pulled away but he was smiling when he did.

            "I love you," He whispered.

  Find out more in Chapter 17

    Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!