Lilacs for Laura by Dianne Miley

Author:Dianne Miley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Rose Publishing (an entity of Pelican Ventures, LLC)
Published: 2008-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

Lilacs For Laura

Chapter 14—Sweat-Soaked Sawdust

Four days after the accident, Jake’s body still hadn’t been found. On Thursday, August thirty-first, Laura dressed for his funeral. The pepper spray she’d been carrying sat on her dresser. Laura tossed it in the trash. After today, she’d forget about Jake Santos. No more guilt or what-ifs. She was tired of blaming herself. The snake got what he’d deserved.

Yet a tiny part of her still felt sorry for him. Something lovable had always drawn her to him. His boyish charm? His underdog struggle? His fun-loving nature? His sexy attitude?

How ridiculous! Jake tried to rape her. She nixed her feelings and pulled on black heels. She didn’t feel sympathy for him. She didn’t feel anything for him.

At The Olde Methodist Church, anxiety filled the air. Laura fussed with bouquets of red and white spider mums adorning the altar. In absence of a casket, a photo of Jake sat on an easel. She refused to look at it, focusing instead on her sister.

Stiff as a robot, Rachel helped her daughters light candelabras on either side of the pulpit. Jessica barely blinked, her eyes wide with shock. Amelia silently clung to her mother’s black skirt.

Muted whispers rose from the back of the church. Laura turned to see a crowd leaning in around Myrtle Winthrop as she sputtered and nodded toward a couple entering the sanctuary.

Jake’s mother arrived with her fourth husband in tow. Maria Santos, or whatever her last name was now, lacked the charming good looks of her son. She smoothed her frizzy, graying hair.

Chad offered an arm to escort her. She shook her head, swinging jowls beneath her mustache-lined frown. As she staggered up the aisle, her glazed eyes stared at Jake’s photo.

Rachel greeted her mother-in-law, but the girls hid behind their mother. Laura followed, placing a hand on each girl’s shoulder. A faint smile lit Maria’s eyes as her hug nearly knocked Rachel over. The smell of alcohol blindsided Laura.

Like cornered mice, her nieces’ eyes filled with fright. Laura bent down and hugged them to her. Maria swayed away from Rachel, who stepped aside but steadied the woman’s arm.

“Say hello to your grandmother,” Rachel encouraged.

Two tiny hellos squeaked from the girls’ lips.

“Jessica,” Maria slurred, patting Amelia on the head as if admiring a pretty china doll. “Emily,” she pronounced Jessica with a similar tap.

Laura held her breath, certain Jess would correct her.

“I’m Jessica,” the child muttered. “Emily’s my grandma,”

“Yes, I’m your grandma,” the woman said absently as she tugged up her polyester skirt between thick rolls of fat, exposing the tops of snagged knee-high nylons.

How could a grandmother forget the names of her own grandchildren? Laura wondered if the girls would see this woman again after today. Rachel made an effort to keep in contact with Jake’s family, but they hadn’t responded.

“There’s a seat for you up here,” Rachel motioned politely. “Right beside the girls and me.” She led them to the front.

“Come on,” Maria said to her husband, who sucked noisily on a breath mint.

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