Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 114820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
There was a reading stand to the side where a female pastor was handling the ceremony.
The seating was theater style, curved, and Lucinda had Gary, Dakota, Keyleigh, her boyfriend Declan, as well as Melanie seated front and center.
She and Indira, with Madden sandwiched in between, sat at the front, but off on one of the wings.
In the congregation, among the other mourners (and the house was packed), Cade sat with Jason and Jesse, and sandwiching stone-faced Jace, who Rus didn’t see take his eyes off the display at the front once, were Celeste and Delphine.
The pastor had clearly done her homework and had lovely things to say about Brittanie.
After a thankfully short prayer, she opened it up to the crowd and several friends walked to the front to share.
Keyleigh was the last, turning to a portrait on an easel, talking directly to Brittanie but telling them all Declan had asked her to marry him that weekend, and she’d actually sent an entire, excited text to Brittanie before she realized she’d never receive it.
She got this out before she dissolved into sobs and Declan had to go fetch her.
It was also when Rus got choked up.
Gary wept silently through it all, and since his dad was showing emotion, Dakota did the same.
But Melanie spent the entire service shooting filthy looks Lucinda’s way.
On one hand, he got it.
The streamlined, black turtleneck dress Lucinda wore, with her healthy hair hanging straight around the sides of her face, the silver pumps on her feet, the thick silver bangle at her wrist and large, interesting silver ring on right middle finger, she was the height of funereal elegance.
And Melanie, wearing a too-short dress that looked like a black-and-white print of a patchwork quilt, and she had not taken the time to deal with the roots in her hair, was not.
On the other hand, her daughter’s ashes were sheltered among the roses in an ornate urn not ten feet from her, she’d been murdered at twenty-five, so how the woman could be anything but destroyed, Rus couldn’t fathom.
He was worried she’d get up and say something, ruining all the effort it was clear Lucinda put into the service, before the pastor closed the proceedings, asking everyone to stay and share a light luncheon buffet that would soon be served.
At first though, no one moved, because suddenly, static played over the sound system, like someone was changing the channel.
Rus knew what was coming, so he clenched his teeth so he wouldn’t lose it.
When the guitar hit, Gary’s quiet weeping became audible. Not loud sobs, but he could be heard, and Dakota wrapped his arm around his old man’s shoulders and tugged him close.
It took Jace until the lyrics started to drop his head, and when he did, Celeste curled into him, burrowing her face into his neck.
Jesse visibly swallowed and both his hands were clenched into fists. It didn’t take long before Bohannan’s hand covered one of them and remained there.
And, “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd played.
Rus was glad she did it.
It was wholly devastating.
But at least Lucinda got to say what she needed to say to Brittanie.
It was beautiful, how everyone stayed seated until the very last moment of the song, the wind whistling, taking Brittanie away.
And then it was done.
She’d never be there again.
But those who were kept going.
As folks got up to mingle, and Melanie made a beeline to Lucinda, Rus, who’d been standing off to the side with Moran and Porter, strode forward.
“Take Madden,” he murmured to Indira as Melanie arrived at Lucinda.
He felt her startled look, but she bundled Madden away just as Melanie demanded, “I want her ashes.”
Rus put his hand to the small of Lucinda’s back, opening his mouth to say something, but he should have known better.
“You can’t have them,” Lucinda replied sedately.
“She’s my daughter, I want her ashes,” Melanie spat.
“I’m aware she’s your daughter. And next weekend, Gary, Dakota, Keyleigh, Declan, Madden and I are going to put her in the river. She loved the river and that’s where Gary and Dakota want her to be. It’s going to be a private ceremony. Of course, if you’d like to be there, you’re welcome.”
“You don’t get to pick where she goes,” Melanie retorted.
“I didn’t,” Lucinda replied.
“I’m taking her with me,” Melanie declared.
“Then how ’bout you give Cin the twenty K she dropped on this shindig?”
Gary was there, and even if his face was haggard and still wet with tears, his words were snide.
Melanie turned on Gary. “I’m not sure what this has to do with you.”
Gary’s bloodshot eyes bugged out and his face turned purple.
Rus pressed in at Lucinda’s back, because he knew Gary was going to blow, and he wanted her out of there.
And then, Gary didn’t blow.
“You’re a miserable individual, Melanie Iverson,” he said in a defeated voice. “And you can’t have her. She hung out with little Maddy by the river, and they played in it when Maddy was a little thing and that’s where Maddy wants her. So that’s where she’s gonna go.”