Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
I folded my piece of paper and bolted from the podium to my seat. Toni stood and pulled me into her arms for a solid hug, and then she pulled back and cupped my face.
“That was perfect,” she said.
A small smile formed, and I said, “She was perfect.”
Chapter 27
Antonia
The service for Miri was lovely. I had thought about saying something, telling everyone our story, but in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to stand up there and look out at a sea of people dabbing their eyes. Selfishly, I didn’t want to share her with people I barely knew.
The reverend finished by inviting everyone over to Miri’s house. As soon as her parents had shown up, I wanted to tell him not to say anything, but something told me they’d end up finding us anyway.
While the pallbearers carried the casket toward the back of the church, Cutter, Nova, and my family followed behind. At a later date, the three of us would set Miri into the ground and cover her with the marker the kids had picked out for her. We wanted to say our own goodbyes in private.
Cutter and Nova stood by the black hearse, which would lead a procession to their home. Once the casket had been loaded, I spoke with the funeral director briefly and then sent the kids to my car.
Weston had stepped into a role I didn’t know I needed—a friend, a shoulder to cry on, and a protector—and walked next to me with his hand on my lower back until we’d reached my car.
“Do you want me to drive?” he asked, his mouth close to my ear. I nodded, and he guided me around to the passenger side and held the door open for me. He checked on the kids in the back seat and then shut my door.
He slid into the driver’s seat, pushed the starter, and then pressed the button for the flashers. The assistant to the funeral director pointed to where my car needed to be. Weston eased forward until he was behind the hearse.
“You did a nice job up there, Cutter,” Weston said, breaking the silence.
“That was hard and uncomfortable.”
“A eulogy will always be the hardest speech you write or give,” I added.
“How come I didn’t give one?” Nova asked.
The procession finally started, and I had to look away even though Miri wasn’t in the hearse in front of us. Just the fact that we were doing this hurt.
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” I said as I cleared my throat. “I didn’t think you’d want to stand up there.” I turned in my seat to face her. “Would you like to say something at the house when everyone is there?”
Nova nodded, but I suspected she wouldn’t want to once she had everyone’s attention on her. I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You did very well in church.”
“It was for Mommy.”
“I’m sure she was watching.”
Nova’s eyes roamed around the car and then looked out the window. She hadn’t smiled in days, and I missed seeing it. Nova reminded me so much of Miri in the way she looked and in her mannerisms.
I relaxed against the headrest and kept my eyes on my best friend’s kids—strong, resilient, and facing the hardest obstacle of their lives. I could only hope I’d live up to her expectations where her children were concerned.
“We’re home,” Weston said as he turned into the driveway. The hearse parked in the road until the last car of the procession had arrived, and then the director left. What a business death was.
The kids got out of the car and ran up to the house. I sat there with Weston, staring at the garage doors that either needed a great coat of paint or replacing. Either way, something had to change.
“Were those her parents?”
“Yeah,” I said, not needing him to specify. “I’m torn because how shitty must it be to find out through an obituary that your only child died, but then again, how shitty do you have to be to kick your only child out of the house because she wanted to keep her baby?” I shook my head. “They never reached out. Not even to my parents to check on Miri. They didn’t even know about Nova until today. The way her father looked at me and then at Nova . . . you could see it in his face. She looks identical to Miri, and I’m sure it hurt him to see it.”
“Miriam doesn’t want her family to have anything to do with the kids?”
I shook my head. “They didn’t want her, so there’s no need for them to want her children now.”
Weston nodded. “I suspect they’ll show up today.”
“Yeah.” I pushed imaginary lint off my dress.
“I don’t want you to worry. Between your brother, me, and Jerome, we’ll make sure the kids are safe.”