The Muddy Course: A Sugarbury Falls Mystery (Sugarbury Falls Mysteries Book 5) by Diane Weiner

Author:Diane Weiner [Weiner, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press
Published: 2019-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The charcoal sky hovered over the church. On the way to the funeral, it had been sprinkling on and off, but standing at the church entrance, Emily knew it was a matter of time before the storm broke.

“Let’s go in and get a seat,” said Henry. He grabbed a program. “Looks like we have our pick of spots.”

“He didn’t live here long. Not enough time to make a church full of friends, anyway,” said Emily.

Lisa Cutler, her daughter Shari, and son-in-law Paul occupied the front pew. Across the aisle, were Jessica, Sam, and––Emily guessed––colleagues from the school where Toby had recently started working as a security guard. Emily looked over her shoulder.

“Henry, isn’t that Charlie Adams from the bar? That must be his wife next to him.”

Although he’d taken a seat in the back corner of the church, Emily spotted him right away. She half wondered if he’d come to the funeral, given what the bridal shop owner told her about how he and Toby ate lunch together frequently.

“That’s him. Isn’t it kind of strange? I mean, the deceased was suing him and all,” said Henry.

“I guess he just wants to pay his respects. Besides, I doubt there was as much animosity between them as you’d expect, given the pending law suit.”

A solo soprano began to sing, and the priest took his place. Emily’s mind wandered throughout the service. She couldn’t believe she’d agree to be hypnotized, but her mother wouldn’t let up. Secretly, Emily hoped she would remember something that might lead them to Amy. Henry nudged her and she realized everyone was kneeling. He nudged her again when it was time to sit back on the pew.

Lisa Cutler wiped her nose and dabbed at her eyes with a white handkerchief throughout the service. Shari buried her head in her hands. Paul periodically put his arm around his wife, but mostly sat erect with his arms folded across his chest.

Emily heard thunder. By the time the mass ended and they followed the casket to the front, it was out and out pouring. Lisa made an announcement.

“Please join us,” she began sobbing. “Come back to our…”

Paul took over. “You are all invited back to the house for food and to honor my father-in-law’s life.”

Jessica and Sam came over. Always prepared, Jessica had brought a golf umbrella with her. Emily struggled to open the portable umbrella she’d shoved into her purse at the last minute.

Henry said, “Did the two of you know him well?”

Jessica said, “I’d gotten to know him a little. Whenever I stayed late at school, he stayed at the door and watched to make sure I got to my car.”

Sam said, “He would have sucked in a crisis. He was all about being friends with the students. Dollars to donuts he’d run the other way if there was a real emergency.”

“That’s an awful thing to say,” said Jessica. “If you didn’t like him, why did you show up here?”

“It would have looked bad if I didn’t. The principal was sitting right behind us and you know she noticed who was there.

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