Risk Factors by Calisa Rhose

Author:Calisa Rhose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The air fogged from her mouth with each breath in the unseasonably cold evening air. Viv stood over the ridiculously small hole that accommodated a near one-hundred-pound dog. The bronze urn that she’d paid a price she cringed to think of, and refused to let Connor know, was in place before Janna, her father, and grandparents were scheduled to arrive.

Ever punctual, Connor led his family to the row of chairs she’d borrowed from the Legion Hall. Janna took a quick detour to run and hug Viv with a quiet “thanks” before rejoining her dad. The small act drew a knot in Viv’s chest. When several other vehicles parked and children joined the family, Viv stared, surprise shuddering through her. So many people…to say farewell to a dog. She should be so lucky when her own time came! She shook her head. Not what Viv had planned, to speak in front of a large group, but by the time the last person stood quiet, she counted seventeen adults and children.

The impact of the turnout of caring friends and family sent wings of mixed emotions soaring. What loving family. She’d known people who’d died with less fanfare.

A tiny blonde with short hair joined Janna on her chair. Her best friend? How Viv had longed for a BFF in her lonely growing-up years. Someone to share secrets, laugh and play with. Traveling had made getting close to anyone next to impossible. It warmed her heart to see Janna cuddle and whisper with her friend, while Connor sat stoically beside them, ever-protective.

He didn’t make eye contact, but awareness let her know he watched whenever she turned away. The tingling sensation would begin at her neck and quiver through to rest in her chest like a gel, cool and thick. He still disapproved of the whole affair, but the smile on Janna’s face told Viv she’d done the right thing. Sometimes parents could learn from a child.

With a few opening words to the group, Viv invited Janna to speak about her dog. One by one, children stood shyly to voice their memories involving Heidi–or more often than not, their own passed pets–while Viv stood to one side. Even in jeans her legs were cold, her hands numb, and did she still have a nose? With the tears she’d fought against–and lost–during the many stories, she was sure it had frozen and fallen to the winter grass under her feet, also numb.

As the last child fell silent in the evening mist, she hesitated. All of fifteen minutes had dragged by and it was done. What now? A prayer, perhaps. Maybe generalized condolences to “the family”? What did she say to complete a funeral?

As she considered how best to end the awkward moment, a deep voice washed over the crowd. “Thank you, Doctor Dane, for putting this together. Thank all of you for coming out in this cold to help us send Heidi off in a way I know she’d have enjoyed. She loved having a lot of children to play with more than anything, as most of you know.

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