Mountain Storm

Chapter 6

"I'm coming," I yelled as I walked down the stairs while putting on my silk robe. I opened the door to find Malik standing there.

"Good morning." He said with a smile.

"Ugh, what are you doing here this early?" I said as I turned into the house.

"Um, it's not early," he laughs, "It's almost noon." He says as he closes the door behind him.

"Well, with all respect, I was out pretty late, or I guess you could say early this morning."

Lisa POV

Good god, what is he doing here? I heard the motorcycle pull up in front of the house, and for some reason, I knew it had to be him. For as long as I can remember, Malik has always had a motorcycle of some kind.

I really was trying to avoid running into him while I was home, but somehow I knew it would be inevitable. He was, after all, my brother's best friend. I was just hoping it would only be at the funeral and maybe for the wake afterward.

He looked so sexy standing in the doorway. When I opened the door, the blast of heat carried his scent right to my nostrils. The warm masculine smell hit me right in my pelvis, my panties started to dampen. If he only knew what I did this morning during my shower.

"I brought you the paper, Gram's obituary is in it. I figured you would like to read it." He said, pulling the paper from his inner jacket pocket. He took off his leather jacket and draped it over the back of the bar stool as he sat down.

He opened the paper to Gram's obituary and started to read it as I made us a pot of coffee.

'Nina Yoder passed away Thursday morning peacefully in her sleep. She was survived by her twin grandchildren, Logan and Lisa O'Conner, whom she had raised since they were 3 years old. She was also survived by her niece Isabel Myers and family, nephews Albert Miller and family, Robert Miller and family, who reside in Canada. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Yoder, who passed away in 2008, daughter Sandra and her husband, Patrick O'Conner. Also preceding her was her sister Francis Miller. Nina retired from her paralegal position at Zimmermann law firm of Mifflintown in 2000 after working for them for twenty years. Nina was involved in her local garden and book clubs. She also volunteered at the local hospital. She was also the

A viewing will be held at Schneider funeral home on Monday, August 21, 2023. Friends can call between six and eight pm. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at eleven am at the Witehall cemetery in Belleville.

"That's a very nice obituary. Did you write it?"

"No, she actually had it pre-written, I found it in her safe along with a ledger that had details of her service and receipts for everything she had pre-paid at the funeral home. Seems she took care of everything a few years ago so that no one had to be burdened with it. That's Gram for you though, always thinking of everyone else first." I chuckled.

"Well, it looks like the weather will be nice for the services, no rain for the next couple of days."

"I'm going to go up and get changed. I will be right back. The coffee should be done here in a minute. Help yourself."

I ran up the steps and changed into a t-shirt and jean shorts. I grabbed a scrunchie and threw my hair into a loose bun. I went to the bathroom and wiped my face with a cool wash rag, hoping to remove the sleep from my eyes. A yawn escaped me, I was still so tired. How can he be so wide awake? He would have been at the bar after it closed to get it cleaned up.

Coming down the steps, I could hear voices in the kitchen. I walked in to find Logan standing beside Malik at the bar.

"What the hell Leecee?" He said as he held up the paper. "Why was I not told about Gram?"

"Logan, we have been trying to get ahold of you since Thursday. Peggy, Malik and I have tried calling and texting you. I was hoping you weren't DEAD somewhere too!" I yelled at him while standing in the kitchen entrance with my hands on my hips. "Don't come in here all pissed off, when you're the one who hasn't returned OUR calls. I wanted to tell you in person, and not through the damn paper." I said, pointing my finger at him.

He slumped his shoulders, placed the paper back on the bar and walked over to me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a hug. Tears began to fill my eyes and slide down my cheeks. I sniffled my nose, and he pulled back, looking me in the eyes. "I'm so sorry Leecee."

Malik grabbed a tissue and placed it on Logan's shoulder, making me laugh.

"Thanks Malik." I took the tissue and wiped my face. Logan released his hug and went to sit down at the bar beside Malik.

"Thanks man, I'm glad you are here in my absence," Logan said to his friend as he placed a hand on his shoulder, "you have been such a good friend to both of us."

Malik looked up at me and smiled with the corner of his mouth that was opposite from Logan.

"It's my pleasure bro, I have thought of you guys as my second family since we were kids. If it's OK with you guys, I would like to hold the wake at 'Boots'? There will be plenty of tables and space for everyone, and I will close it to the public on Tuesday."

I looked over at Logan and we both told him yes at the same time. We all chuckled.

"It's the least I can do. She was, after all, my second Gram."

Malik excused himself as he went into the living room to make a few calls.

I sat down on the empty stool on the other side of Logan and put my head on his shoulder. "I can't believe she is gone." I said.

"Me neither Leecee. Guess it's just us now, huh?" he said.

"Hey, what about me?" Malik said as he came up behind us, leaned down between us and wrapped his arms around us and pulled us all into a squeeze. Our heads were all touching and his beard tickled my neck. I squealed and scrunched my shoulders up. He moved his hand to my tummy and pulled on me tightly as he purposely rubbed his beard on my neck. Logan reached over and grabbed my ribs.

"Stop that, you overgrown children." I said as I escaped their clutches. "What am I going to do with the two of you? You will never change." I laughed.

"Everything is taken care of for Tuesday. My crew will be coming in to help out." Malik said.

I filled mugs with the freshly brewed coffee and went to the table to sit.

"Is there anything you need help with Leec for the funeral?" Logan said.

"Actually, no. Gram had everything pre-arranged. All I had to do was contact the funeral home and set the dates for the services."

"That's Gram for ya, always making sure no one was bothered with her."

"I'm getting hungry" I said, "should we go out or stay in and do some grilling?"

The guys looked at each other. "We are grilling. We are men." They said in caveman voices.

And on cue, they both stood up and flexed their muscles. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "Children, I say, children."