The cemetery was quiet, save for the faint rustling of trees and the soft crunch of gravel under their shoes. Sunlight filtered gently through scattered clouds. They had all gathered around the grave now, just in front of the gray marble headstone engraved with WINSTON FORD.
Leonard stood slightly to the back, hands deep in his coat pockets. He glanced sideways as Claudio stepped forward, expression taut but eyes gentle. There was a red tinge around his eyes like he had cried earlier but cleaned up before arriving.
"Hey, Dad," Claudio said, voice steady. "It's been six years year. Crazy, huh? Julio's grown a lot. You'd really like him now. He's smart, like Paula, but kind of stubborn like me." He gave a faint smile and rubbed the back of his neck. "Work's been nuts. Still trying to live up to the 'Winston Ford standard,' you know? Not easy. Never was."
