Like I Used to Dance by Barbara Frances

Author:Barbara Frances
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: raising children, rural america small town, texas author, life inspiration hope, violence and danger, suspense and drama, conquering adversity, life changing events threaten to tear them apart
Publisher: Positive Imaging, LLC

Chapter Twenty

The funeral was small. A cool front had blown in the night before, dropping the temperatures into the mid-seventies, which seemed cold after the blistering upper nineties. The gravesite was on the side of a small hill overlooking a pasture where cattle grazed. Mrs. Dollard had chosen her own plot right after burying her husband, purchasing one on the opposite far side of the cemetery.

The priest asked Ceil if a mistake had been made. Ceil replied with a smile, “Oh no, she knew what she was doing. One lifetime of hell has been enough for her.”

After the service, a small group gathered at the Dollard house. There was Nelda, Mayphelia, Grace, Bud, Regina and the girls. Clem, his wife, Mable and their five children came in through the kitchen, but Ceil told them to come around to the front door and into the parlor where the town’s merchants and businessmen were mingling. Father Gilbert, accompanied by Lavenia, showed up with the crucifix from the coffin. The priest handed it to Ceil. Slightly repulsed, Ceil blurted out, “I have no use for that.”

Grace knew Lavenia would use this comment to poison anyone who cared to listen, so she quickly said, “I’ll take it. She’s not herself.”

Just about everyone expressed amazement over the once-gloomy house. “This might just be the most beautiful home in this little Podunk town of ours,” the banker announced to the group.

“Well, it’s all because of Clem Sites and his sons Johnny and Donny. They’re expert craftsmen and the hardest workers I’ve ever employed,” Ceil said, hoping to drum up more employment for them. She wished she could add, “Clem’s never once come on the job drunk.” Clem and his sons had ducked their heads in embarrassment over being singled out for praise in a gathering such as this. Ceil also wanted to say, “Hold your heads up. You’re as good as anyone here.”

With Lizzie’s help, Grace oversaw the food and made sure there were enough places for everyone to sit. She wanted to keep moving to avoid thinking about Ceil’s departure to L.A., which was now imminent. After a few more finishing touches, the house would go on sale. The funeral parlor had been sold over six weeks ago to a young man just out of mortician school.

“You need any help, Mom?” Regina asked. She was holding Tessie, who kept her arms tightly wound around her mama’s neck. Regina had hardly been able to put her down since getting off the train. Angie and Toby, Clem’s eleven-year-old son, were playing with building blocks in the wide hallway leading to the back of the house. Regina sat down on the stairs and looked into Tessie’s eyes, “You can go play with Angie and Toby. Mommy will be right here.” She kissed her several times. As usual little Angie took charge. “Come on Tessie. You can build too.”

From the moment Regina had stepped off the train, Grace could see that she was more rested and relaxed than she had been in a long, long time.

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