“Keep eyeing my sister like you’re a starving man and I’ll take my business and my parents elsewhere. Are we understood?”
He puts his hands in his pockets, looking nervous as well he should.
“I’m sorry, sir. No disrespect intended. It won’t happen again.”
I convinced her this morning to leave Stony Max behind today. But now I’m regretting that decision.
I walk back over to Elle and sit beside her.
“What was that about?”
“I didn’t like him looking at you like he has seen you in your underwear.”
She shrugs, “Well, big brother, sorry to tell you this but he probably has.”
I groan, “Don’t remind me, please.”
Joe clears his throat as he sits behind his desk, “Your parents have adjoining plots that are already paid for.”
I nod, “Okay.”
“They did not pre-select anything else, however.”
He opens a book of caskets, and I still can’t believe this is what I’m doing today. We agree on two that are identical, solid mahogany wood. We move on quickly to the flowers. Elle grips my hand, “Can we do some red roses? Maybe they aren’t funeral flowers, but mom loved them so much, Liam.”
“Whatever you want, Cupcake. If you want mom to have red roses, she will have red roses.”
“How about a spray with lilies, sunflowers, and delphinium for your dad and a red and white rose spray for your mom?”
“Spray?” I ask.
“It’s just an arrangement of flowers that will stand near the casket. Dr. Lexington, I know this is difficult, but I need to ask. Do you want two funerals or one?”
I glance at Elle, “What do you want to do?”
She takes a deep breath, “Well, if they died together and are being buried together...”
I nod, “We’ll do one funeral for both of them.”
“Okay let’s discuss music.”
Jesus, this shit is overwhelming.
“Right.”
He hands me a list of recommended songs, “But of course you can pick anything. This covers the most used songs, however.”
I hand the list over to Elle. She’s going to likely be the one to decide anyway.
My parents were both far more religious than I have ever been or ever will be. They were always trying to get me to go to church. I know we need to choose songs that would’ve made them happy.
“Amazing Grace,” she smiles sweetly, “It was both mom and dad's favorite.”
I squeeze her hand, “Okay.”
After scheduling everything finally, we are done and drive back to my house.
Elle asks, “Does Xander know?”