The Arcanum of Beth by Mary Jane Russell

Author:Mary Jane Russell [Russell, Mary Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Lesbians, Suspense, Murder, Women Lawyers
ISBN: 9781935216018
Google: ps9ZPgAACAAJ
Amazon: 1935216015
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Published: 2009-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

There was no stopping Janet from leaving the house a good thirty minutes before they really needed to. She insisted on driving since she didn’t have the patience to be a passenger. “What are you doing with that thing?” She stared at Ellen using her BlackBerry.

“This ‘thing’ comes in very handy as you’ll soon see. I was giving my e-mail a quick check and letting the boys know we were leaving, and I remembered…” Ellen waited a moment, then held the small screen toward Janet.

“Yeah, right, like I could see that even if I wasn’t doing sixty miles an hour and had it in front of me.”

“It’s not my fault you won’t wear glasses except when you’re doing paperwork.”

“I can see fine at a distance.” Janet shook off the bickering. “So what does that say?”

Ellen angled her head so her bifocals were right. “Arcanum. It’s a noun, meaning ‘1. A deep secret; a mystery. 2. Specialized knowledge or detail that is mysterious to the average person. 3. A secret essence or remedy; an elixir.’ I looked it up on the The American Heritage Dictionary site.”

Janet nodded. “From the Latin arcanus, meaning secret. I remember it now from school.”

“Well, you have one hell of a memory if you can still recall high school Latin classes.”

“It’s a curse. I don’t forget a damn thing even when I want to.”

They were the first to enter the church. The dark walnut casket at the front of the sanctuary was closed. Janet and Ellen sat midway along the row of pews on the right side of the church in the middle of the seat to allow those arriving late a place without having to move.

“I can’t believe she’s gone,” Janet leaned over and whispered to Ellen as she removed a handkerchief from her pocket. It didn’t seem fitting to bring tissues.

“I can’t believe I’m dressed up again so soon,” Ellen whispered back and added because of Janet’s expression, “You know what I mean.”

They were in the small Baptist church that had embraced Keith when she moved to the country with her girls, as she had referred to Beth and Lou. People had listened to Keith’s explanation and not asked questions; most of them understood the situation.

Will had wanted the funeral held at the large city church he and Patti joined after their return to Virginia. Surprisingly, Beth had attached to her will written instructions for her funeral. She made her own arrangements at the funeral home when she did the same for Keith. Janet remembered Beth telling her that the two of them actually giggled through pre-planning. The service would be held in the country Baptist church that had accepted Keith as though a lifelong member. The burial would be in the private cemetery on the original Candler farm.

Janet’s mind wandered as the church filled to capacity. Beth’s co-workers and colleagues mixed with the church members who came out of respect for Keith. Janet could hear folding metal chairs being opened in the vestibule.

“Damn.” Ellen looked about at the packed sanctuary and received a frown from the woman beside her.

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