Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Now, Dair studied Ned, and he saw for the first time how Helena’s death had impacted him. His bearing was straight, his jaw strong, but there was a haunted feel to him.
“Take your sister and go to him,” Dair urged as the opening notes to the hymn began.
“But you—”
“Get Alex and go. Rix and I will follow.”
“You’ll meet me in the front pew?”
This was the decision. Even if he didn’t think they were there yet in their relationship for him to have that place of honor during these proceedings, Blake had insisted on it.
And if she needed him there, he was there.
“Aye, lass, I’ll meet ye. Ned’s about to enter the sanctuary. Go.”
She released his arm and scurried to Ned, tagging Alex’s hand and dragging her sister along with her.
Alex read the situation instantly and they both took one of Ned’s arms, to the man’s open surprise. Ned glanced back at Rix and Dair as they formed together behind the trio.
Dair nodded to Blake’s father.
The choir started singing and Ned led his girls into the cathedral.
Dair and Rix followed.
He felt a muscle jump up his cheek when he came abreast of the row his mum and sister were in, both stiff-backed and staring straight ahead.
This was because his father was sitting in the row with them.
He hadn’t seen the man arrive, and undoubtedly, he’d maneuvered that so he could be right where he was sitting. Next to his daughter, who was next to the wife he’d cheated on with the woman in the casket at the front of the church.
Christ.
Per Nora’s instructions, their row was supposed to be Ned, Blake, Dair, Alex, Rix, in that order.
But Blake arranged them so Ned was between his daughters, Rix at the head of the row next to Alex, Dair at the other end by Blake.
They sat, and the rousing hymn that had been used by the English for practically any purpose, from weddings to funerals to anything in between that had anything to do with England or Englishmen and women ended.
The casket gleamed under a spray of monochromatic roses and orchids in a deep rosy-pink color. A spray that was so enormous, it almost entirely covered it.
The reverend made his approach.
And the memorial began.
During the service, the congregation sang “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” The choir sang “Lord of All Hopefulness.” Kind words were found for a woman who hadn’t done a kind thing, that Dair knew, in her life.
It was a beautiful ceremony.
And then, thank fuck, it was done.
The short, private ceremony for Helena’s few good friends was had at the cemetery behind the chapel in Treverton.
They left so the casket could be laid to rest, the spray of flowers draped over the loose soil on top.
High tea was served in the main house by Christine, the three maids, and a bumbling, frowning Jeff.
Now, the guests were gone, and they were all in the lounge having changed out of their funeral black.
His father hadn’t dared to attend the private ceremony or the tea. Then again, at the ceremony, neither his mum nor Davi came (though, they didn’t miss the tea).
However, he had two texts from the man since the service, Dair just hadn’t read them.
They were chatting and having pre-dinner cocktails.
Though, Blake and Alex were fussing over their father.
“You must stop. I’m all right,” Ned said in an undertone as Blake pinched off a fleck of non-existent lint from the poor man’s jumper.
“Can Marlo fly out?” Blake asked in the same tone.
“I don’t think you girls are ready for that yet,” Ned murmured.
“I think we were ready a year ago, Daddy,” Blake retorted.
“All right then, darling, then I’ll say now is not the right time,” Ned said.
“For her, you or us? Because I can share, for us, we want you to have the support you should have,” Blake returned.
Dair didn’t know Alex knew about Marlo yet, but apparently, she did.
Ned sent him a beleaguered expression.
Dair read the “for God’s sake, save me” look and he wasn’t surprised about it. Blake and Alex had been tag teaming Ned since the memorial.
He was about to make a move to do so when he heard Rix announce, “All right, people, we’re doing this.”
He looked that way to see Rix standing, and he had Alex in his hold.
“Oh my God,” Blake breathed with excitement, clutching her father’s hand in one of hers, and reaching out for Dair with her other.
“It’s time for some good news,” Rix said when he had everyone’s attention. “And that good news is, I knocked up my wife.”
Trust Rix to put it that way.
Dair laughed while others did the same, while clapping or crying out, and everyone got up to rush them with hugs and kisses and good wishes.
If Ned was troubled before, there was nothing left of it. He was beaming, proud and happy, as he gave his youngest a long hug and turned to his son-in-law to do the same.