Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies by Trice Hickman

Author:Trice Hickman [Hickman, Trice]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, African American, General, Contemporary Women
ISBN: 9780758288981
Google: BIN6Y4GdVp4C
Amazon: 0758269072
Publisher: Dafina
Published: 2012-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Why, Why, Why ... ?

Victoria knew that Carolyn Thornton’s funeral would be one for the history books just by virtue of the way the day had begun. Her ordeal with Alexandria early that morning served to prepare her for the puzzling events that would unfold before her mother-in-law was laid to rest.

When they drove past the gate of the Thorntons’ large estate, the funeral home limousines were already lined up and waiting to transport the family to the church. After settling inside, Ted and Victoria stayed close together, keeping a watchful eye on Alexandria. Lilly, her husband, and their three children were there, along with uncles, aunts, and cousins from their father’s side of the family. But there was no sign of Charlie or his wife and kids.

“Damn son of a bitch,” one of Ted’s uncles said. “Serves him right that Carolyn left him out of the will. Charlie’s always been a rotten apple.”

Charlie had quickly spread the news about his mother’s last wishes, hoping to gain sympathy from other family members. “I deserve what’s rightfully mine,” he’d told several cousins. He thought that if he was able to get the support of his relatives, it might help his case when he went before a judge to challenge the will. But his plan backfired. No one was willing to step forward and take his side, and now he was angrier than ever.

Victoria prayed that the funeral service would end as quickly as the wake had the night before. The sooner they could leave, the better. She planned to watch Alexandria closely during the service and to keep an eye on Ted as well.

When they arrived at the church, Charlie was already there—alone. He was standing off to the side of the sanctuary. Ted looked around for his brother’s current wife, number three, and for any signs of his children, who numbered five in total. But none of them were there. Charlie was so angry that he’d instructed his wife and children to stay away from the service. None of them had ever been particularly close to Carolyn, so their presence wouldn’t really be missed.

Ted had a feeling that Charlie was going to pull a ridiculous stunt. Before they’d left his mother’s house, the funeral director approached him and Lilly, informing them that although Charlie planned to attend the service, he had requested to be seated on a separate pew up front, and only after the rest of the family had taken their designated places.

“This is absurd,” Lilly had said in a weary voice. “Why must he cause such headaches and strife today of all days?”

“Don’t worry about him,” Ted had responded in an even tone. “We’ll get through this.”

As the ceremony started, the organist played a beautiful selection composed of some of Carolyn’s favorite songs. After the immediate family had been seated, Charlie slowly strode to the front of the large church and took his lone seat on a pew behind the last of his cousins. No sooner had the minister stood up in the pulpit to begin the service than Charlie broke into tears.

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