“Everyone ready to go?” Jeb asked loudly. All eyes in the room swung his way. Five pairs of shoulders straightened as they steeled themselves and they all walked outside. Jeb and Sadie turned to go to Jeb’s truck. Brody’s hand on Jeb’s shoulder stopped him.
“Mom would want you to ride in the family car. She wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“If you say so,” Jeb replied, nodding slightly. He helped Sadie into the back seat and then climbed in himself. Lou slid into the center row and moved to sit against the far window. Sarah sat in the middle. Brody sat on the other side. John sat up front next to the driver. Lou buckled Sarah in to the middle seat and rested her arm along the back. Brody lifted his arm to the back of the seat as well. Her eyes caught his when his fingers slid between her own. She squeezed his hand gently and smiled softly at him.
Sadie squeezed Jeb’s thigh in the backseat. He patted her hand in return.
Brody and John formed the receiving line at the funeral home, ready to greet the visitors. Sadie and Jeb played host and hostess, shaking hands and giving teary hugs to friends and family. Sarah held on to Sadie’s dress. Lou turned to mingle with the crowd, not sure what to do with herself.
She felt Brody’s arm slip around her waist. He whispered in her ear, “Come and stand by me?” His hand slid from around her waist and trailed down her arm. He lightly tugged her hand, urging her to walk with him.
She protested, “But I’m not family.”
“You were to her and you are to me. Please?” She nodded slightly and allowed herself to be placed between Brody and John. He smiled the unabashed smile of a ten-year-old. “I have to admit I need someone to tell me who all these people are. It’s been more than ten years since I have seen most of them.”
Friends, family, and well-wishers all came to pay their respects to the late Mrs. Wester. They sobbed, they laughed and they all spoke of what a fine woman she was. She had numerous friends and acquaintances from the charities she supported and families from the neighboring farms all visited. Lou got choked up when friends spoke of how much they would miss her, and her constant laugh and quick wit. Brody had his cheeks pinched by the old dowagers and even had his bottom pinched by an old friend from school.
Heat crept up her cheeks as Brody’s eyes caught hers. He knew must have known she had seen the pinch. After the visitor had passed, he whispered, “Do you know who that was?”
“Melinda Campbell from C&C Farms. They live down the road from us,” she nearly growled.
“That’s little Millie? No way!” He cast an appreciative glance in Melinda’s direction. “She sure has filled out. Last time I saw her, she was still in braces.” He glanced over in her direction again.
“I guess she’s cute if you like buck teeth and a wide behind,” Lou mumbled.
“What did you say?” Brody asked.
“Nothing.” She planted a fake smile on her face.
Just then, a blond bombshell strode up, legs up to her ears. Brody’s grin got even wider as he reached to embrace her. “Now this is a face I remember! How are you, Liz?”
“Doing fine, Brody. I’m so sorry to hear about your mom.” His hand clasped hers.
“Me too, but we all know she’s in a better place,” Brody replied.
“Are you staying in town for a while? If so, maybe we can go out for a drink for old times’ sake?” the leggy blonde wanted to know. She reached into her purse and retrieved a business card. She pressed it into his hand. Lou read the type, “Elizabeth Patton, Party Planner Extraordinaire,” over his arm before he tucked it in his pocket.
“No. I actually am going back home a few days after the funeral. I’ll try not to stay away so long next time so I can take you up on that drink offer.” He leaned and whispered something in her ear, causing her to twitter nervously. She kissed his cheek and moved away, throwing, “Save that ‘til the next time I see you,” over her shoulder.
Lou stepped away from Brody, taking herself out of the receiving line.
“Where are you going?” Brody called to her retreating back.
She kept walking. She was irritated. She was angry. She was jealous! She decided some fresh air would do her good, so she went outside to where Sarah was playing with some of the neighborhood children on the small playground beside the funeral home. Sadie had her watchful eye on the child but, she was deeply engrossed in conversation with one of the parents.
Sarah’s black dress was dusty with dry dirt and leaves clung to her hair. “How do you manage to get dirty so quickly, young lady?”
“It’s easy, Mommy.” She grinned up at Lou.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yeah,” she replied. Then paused, a serious look on her face. “Is it okay to have fun with Mrs. Wester going to heaven and all?”
Lou took a deep breath and knelt down to Sarah’s level. “What do you think Mrs. Wester would want? Would she want you to stop playing? Would she want you to be sad?”
Sarah’s worried frown was replaced with a grin. “She would never want that!”
“I don’t think so, either,” replied Lou. She stood, stretched, and turned to go back into the funeral home.