“Okay!” She held her hands up in mock surrender. “Just remember what I say. Everything doesn’t fit into a neat and tidy box. Some things are complicated. And they are supposed to be that way.”
“Point taken,” he said. “I love you.”
“Almost as much as I love you. Now, scoot. Go and help Lou finish picking the flowers. Send Lola back up here. Then we’ll put the flowers on the grave and have some lunch by the pond.”
“Are you getting tired?”
“No. I’ll let you know when I am. Run along. I want a minute alone, please.”
“Okay.” He kissed her on the forehead and started to walk toward Lou who was still gathering flowers by the pond. He motioned to Lola that she should go back up and sit with his mother while he walked over to Lou.
“Are you doing all right?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah. But we had better get home before too long. She looks a little tired.”
“I’m ready when you are,” Lou replied and put the bouquet of wildflowers in his hand with a smile.
They turned to walk back to where Lola and Mrs. Wester waited at the gravesite. Then they heard Lola scream. “Dr. Wester! You had better come quick!”
Brody and Lou both broke into a fast run and reached her at the same time. She appeared to be sleeping, her head hanging to one side, eyes closed, and a slight smile on her face. Brody touched her lightly on the shoulder but she did not stir. He grabbed Lola’s stethoscope from where it rested around her neck and listened to his mother’s heart.
He stood up and turned to grab Lou in a tight embrace. He buried his face in her hair and he pulled her close to him. “She’s gone,” he whispered in her ear, his voice cracking only slightly as he said it.
****
The next twenty-four hours rushed by like a fast-moving wave. Time and fatigue washed over them all as they prepared for the funeral and dealt with the emotions flying around like kites caught in a summer storm.
Lou stood in her bedroom, dressing for family night at the funeral home when the reality of the situation finally hit her. Mrs. Wester was gone. She had given Lou opportunities and chances for a good life but she had also done more than that. She gave Lou a role model, someone she could look up to. She gave her something to aspire to be. And she was gone.
Lou tucked her black silk blouse into her black skirt and slid on her dress shoes. She turned to open her door to walk out of the room and the emotions slapped her in the face.
She couldn’t go through the door but returned and sat down on the edge of the bed, burying her face in her hands, letting the tears flow freely. She cried until there were no tears left. She reached for a tissue to dry her eyes and felt a gentle tug on her sleeve.
“Are you okay, Mommy?” a little voice asked quietly, similar brown eyes staring into her own.
Lou pulled Sarah into a clumsy embrace, clutching the child against her. She sniffed loudly and the tears started to fall again. Lou held Sarah against her until the child started to squirm.
“Sadie says God calls some people up to heaven, Mommy. Is that where you think Mrs. Wester is?”
Lou smiled through her tears and dried her eyes once more. She took a deep breath.
“I don’t just think it, Sarah, I know it.”
“But, didn’t God know we wanted her to stay here with us?”
“Oh, I’m sure He knew how much we all wanted her to stay, but He has to do things on His own schedule and not on ours.”
“Do you think she’s happy in heaven, Mommy?”
“I do think she’s happy and healthy in heaven, Sarah. She’s looking down on us all, watching us.”
“Well, then, Mommy, what do you think she would say about all this crying you’re doing? I think she would laugh at you and tell you how silly you’re being. What do you think?” Sarah asked with a cheeky grin.
Lou laughed through her tears. “I think you are probably right, Sarah.” She took Sarah’s hand in her own. “Let’s go to the funeral home and make her proud of us. Shall we?”
Lou and Sarah walked hand in hand into the kitchen where Jeb, Sadie, John and Brody were all waiting. Brody rose from his chair at the table when he saw her approach. She was sure he could still see the remnants of her tears as he asked “Are you okay?”
“I’m as okay as I’m going to be today, I think.” She sniffed loudly.