The Happiest Day by Huth Sandy

Author:Huth, Sandy [Huth, Sandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-12-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

The entire city turned out for Norris’ funeral and although people whispered behind their hands, no hint of scandal was ever uttered. The kinder of those in their social circle attributed his suicide to his despair of losing his son. Rachel sat in the front pew of the church, Laurie next to her, stoic in his grief. He was still mourning Geoff’s death and seemed to have aged into a man in just a matter of weeks. Maryanne sat next to him, then Bert, Peter, and Blanche. Rachel wished beyond all reason that Peter could sit next to her, where he belonged, but knew that Blanche would never allow it.

She stared at his coffin, her eyes dry and her face pale. Since the moment she had found Norris’ body, her body had felt as cold as ice. She had spent the past few days huddled in blankets, shaking uncontrollably. Dr. Miller had prescribed sleeping pills for her but they remained unopened. She didn’t want to hide from the world; she just wished she could get warm again.

Laurie nudged her and she stood. The six of them exited the church and drove to Spring Grove Cemetery for the internment. As they filed into the rows of seat set up at graveside, Peter took the opportunity to squeeze her waist briefly with one hand. She looked up at him and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I love you,” then took his seat next to his wife.

The graveside ceremony was blessedly short and the following wake at the house was a macabre encore of Geoff’s, only a few months earlier. Rachel realized that Norris was died the day Geoff did, it just took a few months for his body to follow his spirit.

“Rachel,” a voice greeted her.

She looked up from where she sat in a chair. “Leonard,” she said softly. “How nice of you to come.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” He pressed his hand to hers. “Is there anything I can do for you?” He shifted restlessly and Rachel thought that he must be very uncomfortable at wakes.

“No, but thank you for offering.”

“The reading of the will is scheduled for Friday at ten a.m.”

“All right. The whole family should be there?”

“Yes. Norris changed his will after Geoff died. I wasn’t sure if you knew that.”

Rachel drew back in surprise. “I didn’t know that. You came out here to see him?”

“Yes, he called for me.”

“Do you feel…that he was in his right mind?”

“I do. He was depressed, certainly, but he knew exactly what he wanted. I’m sure of that.”

“I trust you,” she said and was surprised again by his apparent discomfort. Was there something in the will that she wasn’t prepared for? “Is there something you need to tell me, Leonard?”

“No, no,” he said nervously. “Everything will be fine with the reading, I assure you.” He looked over his shoulder and Rachel followed his gaze. Blanche stood in the middle of the room, smoking her cigarette, staring at Leonard with a half-smile on her face.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.