Love, With Strings Attached by b.l. wilson

Author:b.l. wilson [wilson, b.l.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ex-cop searching for lost girl finds love instead
Publisher: patchwork bluez
Published: 2019-05-19T00:00:00+00:00

COMMANDER XAVIER ARMSTRONG was right. He was wrong too, Lena thought. She waited in the funeral director’s office while one of his assistants dressed her kid sister in one of several dresses and shoes the trooper’s people sent with the body. Beatrice arrived in just over two days. Somebody had originally dressed her in a hospital gown and robe and put hospital slides on her feet. She had on makeup that covered the bruises on her neck and chest unless you knew where to look. She looked more peaceful in death than she did in life. They all had one common goal. They wanted to be sure Beatrice looked normal to her sons and baby daughter.

She grew bored waiting and stood up from the comfortable leather seat to examine the various pictures of the funeral home and its directors back in the day on two of the four office walls. Then she went on to read the certificates the director and his staff earned from the city, the state, and the federal government. The other walls had interesting watercolors and sketches of Harlem maybe. A half wall contained a bookshelf full of medical and legal books. She grabbed one and opened it. A gentle hand rubbed her back before she read much of the book and understood even less, since she’d mistakenly selected a legal manual.

“She’s ready Lena, honey,” Eugenia murmured softly.

The funeral director allowed Eugenia to observe and make suggestions about the clothing. Once she explained the situation, everybody went out of their way to be helpful. She and Lena had discussed her desire not see her sister’s body unclothed again as she had in the crime scene photos. Lena said she wanted her last images of her sister to be pleasant. She wanted as much if not more for her oldest nephew. They hadn’t told any of the children their mother was here in the city yet. That would come tonight or tomorrow morning. The wake was tomorrow night and the next morning just before the interment services. There would be no repast. Lena considered a small memorial service in NM for her sister’s friends if she had any left and for the children’s sake, later.

Lena sucked in a deep, ragged breath, then she cleared her throat. The sadness remained. “Let’s do this. How does she look?”

“She reminds me of Little Bea, but all grown up.”

Lena nodded. “I always thought so too.”

When they arrived in the basement, the strong smell of embalming fluid permeated the air and made their eyes water. “Follow me, please.” The assistant director nodded at them. He walked down the hallway and opened a set of double doors. He and his staff had thoughtfully curtained off the first table, making the rest of the dead bodies invisible to the doctor when she entered the room. They lowered the lights as well.

Lena approached the stainless-steel table with a great deal of sadness. She studied her sister’s face. She could see the makeup, but she knew it was necessary to cover the bruises.

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