Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“Ellie, you can leave now, or I’m going to have to help you leave,” Pete finally says, nodding at Deputy Felix Rice to come help if he needs.
“Fine,” Eleanor decrees, pushing through Pete and grabbing Norah by the elbow aggressively. “We’ll leave, but it’s not because you’re telling us to. It’s because I’m disgusted and ashamed of what my eldest daughter has become,” she says directly to Josie, and an anger lights in my chest and threatens to burn the whole place down.
Norah’s cheeks are pink as Eleanor drags her away, but she doesn’t say a word in Josie’s defense either. I can’t imagine how betrayed Josie must feel.
Bennett arrives just as they’re climbing in their car to go, and I steer Josie around to sit in one of the chairs in the front row, squatting in front of her. “You okay, baby?” I ask, putting my hands to her knees.
“You guys okay?” Bennett asks, trying to get a look at the offending assholes but missing them entirely as they drive away.
Josie shakes her head and mutters angrily to herself. “That woman is cancer. She eats you alive until you’re nothing of yourself anymore.”
“Who the fuck was that?” I hear Bennett ask Sheriff Pete, but Pete’s voice is low enough that I don’t quite hear what he says in response. It doesn’t matter anyway. My priority is my wife.
No one knows yet that that’s what she is to me, of course, but there’s time. When all the dust settles and Josie feels more like herself, we’ll let people know.
But right now, there are important things to handle.
“I hate her so much, Clay,” Josie whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I know.” I gently squeeze her thighs. “But for as much gall as she had showing up here, today isn’t about her.” Her eyes flick up to meet mine, a sheen of tears still coating them. “Let’s lay Rose to rest,” I suggest softly, and with a racking shake in her chest, her cry welling, she nods.
I climb out of my squat and into the chair next to her, offering my hand in her lap so she can hold it. Her grip is tight, and the tips of her nails dig into the skin of my palm.
I welcome the sting of it, hoping it’ll give me some of her pain.
Reverend Bob steps forward to take a spot at the casket, and the rest of the crowd files in around us to fill the rest of the seats and all of the standing space within a twenty-foot radius. A gorgeous spray of white flowers sits atop the deep-colored wood casket, a piece I know Josie picked out with care while she was making the arrangements this week.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming out today to commune in the joy that Rose Ellis brought to our lives. Our earthly world is cruel in its timing, but our Father, our God, bestows it as divine. As Rose is enveloped in heaven’s arms, we must seek solace in the arms of one another and find camaraderie in the love Rose made us feel.”
Josie licks her lips and clenches my hand even tighter, and her knee shakes as she bounces it, desperate to channel her grief somewhere.
“It’s our time to mourn, but we must remember that Rose is not. Her earthly body is retired, but her spirit lives on in all of us and Christ himself. Rose was a pinnacle in our town, a beacon for community and friendship I know personally we’ll all treasure for a long time to come. She was also a child of the Lord and a woman of repentance. I know she’ll find a welcome and most perfect home on the other side, and I hope you’ll join me in my confidence. God has called his daughter home, and I know he’ll provide her with the tenderness and care we so wish we could.”
I bring Josie’s hand to my mouth to kiss the back of it, and as a sob racks her body, I pull her in close with an arm over her shoulders.
Reverend Bob places his Bible on the casket and bows his head to pray. Everyone around us does the same, but I look directly at Josie, my priority to give her any level of comfort she’ll accept.
“Our dearest God, please grant your grace to us living with pain—and to our dearly departed Rose, a most peaceful rest. Please guide us through this time, and light the way to You, your courage, support, and wisdom. Let Rose continue to bestow her knowledge and encouragement on us and allow us the insight to know she’s with You. Blessed we are to have known you, Rose. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
“Amen.”
I’ll take it from here, Rose, I vow with my heart and soul, tears carving down my cheeks and ending in a salted pool at the corners of my lips. I promise I’ve got our girl.