Maxine Wore Black by Nora Olsen

Author:Nora Olsen [Olsen, Nora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626392656
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2014-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

I was not looking forward to the ceremony of scattering Becky’s ashes. Well, no one would really look forward to something like that, but I felt it wasn’t my place to be there. If I loved Maxine any less, and if I hadn’t been scheduled to work with Ben and Alena, the kids I’d met on the beach, in the evening, I would have bailed on it.

From the ferry I spotted Maxine waiting on the Seaview dock. She stood out from the crowd because she wore black. The dark colors made me think of the depths of winter, not a bright summer day drenched in sunshine. Her face looked sharp and pointed, more real than the faces of the people around her.

When I stepped off the boat, she greeted me as if I were a stranger. It seemed as though we were people from another planet because everyone around us was merry and dressed for the beach, while we were soberly dressed for a funeral rite. We were completely out of step.

“They’re fighting,” she warned me as we walked along the narrow concrete street toward Becky’s house.

“Why?” I asked. I knew she meant the Rodmans, Becky’s family.

“Becky’s grandfather is still mad they cremated Becky because it’s against Jewish law. Her grandmother is mad at him for being mad. Sadie wants to sprinkle the ashes on the beach, but Jake says we can’t do that because people are using the beach and it’s improper. Then there’s Becky’s aunt. I’ve met her before—she’s always a pain in the ass. Danny is just mad at the world. You can’t say anything to him—it’s like talking to a bear.”

Oh, of course Danny would be there. He was Becky’s best friend. He was always so mean to me.

“How about you?” I asked Maxine gently.

She turned and looked me full in the face for the first time. The brooding intensity in her eyes broke my heart. Then she turned her head away. “How about me what?” she asked.

“How are you doing?”

She shrugged, glanced once again, and then looked away. “Just dandy,” she said shortly.

I wanted to hug her or rub her back, something, anything, to show my support for her. But nothing seemed right. I would do my best for her, I vowed. I was filled with a nameless dread as we walked up the ramp to the large house, but I knew this day was not about me.

If Maxine hadn’t told me the family was fighting, I would never have guessed. They all greeted me so cordially, it embarrassed me. They treated me like an honored guest coming for a social occasion instead of an interloper at a private family funeral service, there by Maxine’s request. Every single person present offered to get me a beverage, except for Danny, who did not acknowledge me, and Becky’s aunt’s personal assistant. I was actually really happy the personal assistant was there even though we didn’t talk because it meant I was not the only person who didn’t really belong.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.