The Deepest Blue by Kim Williams Justesen

Author:Kim Williams Justesen [Justesen, Kim Williams]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781933718958
Publisher: Tanglewood Press

chapter 13

The room is already filling with people. I recognize most of them. Jack Sutton from the Lolly Gag is sitting about five rows from the front, and Frank, his first mate, is a row behind him. I look around for Rachel, but she isn’t here yet. A large table has been centered at the front of the room. It’s draped with a white cloth and surrounded by flower arrangements. There are pictures of Dad on the table in frames of all different sizes. Some of them are from Maggie’s house that I didn’t notice had gone missing. Some are pictures of Dad with people from the community. There is an old photo of me and him on the Mighty Mike when I was about eight; Dad used to keep that in his bedroom. Maggie must have gotten it or sent Chuck for it. There is the brass vase that we picked out what feels like a hundred years ago in the middle of the table, big and more heavy looking than I remember.

“I’m so sorry, Mike,” says Mrs. Clark. She is an elderly lady that Dad did handyman stuff for. She takes my hand in her soft grip and squeezes. “If I can do anything, just anything, you let me know.”

I nod. She releases my hand and starts walking toward Maggie.

“Mike,” says a voice behind me. I turn.

“Jayden, man, I’m glad to see you.”

He reaches out to shake my hand, but I grab him around the shoulders. He doesn’t back off but gives me a firm pat on my back. His hair is slicked back and looks darker than its usual light brown. He is dressed in a black suit with a purple tie that I think I recognize from prom.

“I’m really sorry, man.”

I start to say something, but I’m not sure how to respond. “This totally sucks,” I finally say. “There are no other words for this.” The tears begin to well up in my eyes. “I can’t believe he’s really gone. I can’t believe he’s not here.” My voice cracks a little.

Jayden looks at his feet. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m just really glad you got here.”

Jayden looks up at me. “Rachel here?”

“Not yet,” I say. “But she said she’s coming.” I take a quick look around the room to make sure she hasn’t walked in.

Chuck comes up beside me. “We’re going to have a little family gathering before the service,” he says. “In about five minutes you need to head over that way.” He points to a small curtained area just off the main room.

I nod, but I don’t know what we could be gathering for.

“So what happens after this?” Jayden asks.

“I think some of the ladies that work with Maggie are fixing lunch at St. John’s.”

Jayden grimaces. “No, I mean after after. Where’re you gonna live?”

“Oh,” I say. “That after.” I take a long breath. “I’m gonna live with Maggie in my dad’s house.” The words sort of hit me as I realize we haven’t really made any firm plans, we sort of talked about it over pizza.

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