Never Alone and New Man in Town

The icy January wind roared around the gray mausoleum, assaulting the group of mourners huddled several yards away, at the double graveside. Jane felt as though the piercing wind whistled right through her. Her heart had been shattered--just as Dena's and John's bodies had been shattered by a car out of control on an icy street. Only baby Angie, strapped in her car seat, had survived. The forest green canvas canopy flapped wildly overhead. Glacial winds moaned and buffeted Jane. She shivered while tears streamed down her face. Cash stood ramrod straight beside her at his only sister's grave. Tears blurred her sidelong view of his face, but his chin, his whole face, looked like it had been carved from stone. A sob shuddered through her. How could Cash hold in his grief? He'd adored Dena. Standing at the head of the graves, the pastor, wrapped in a heavy black overcoat, gave her a sympathetic look. He went on, "We know John and Dena's faith was deep. We know they have claimed the promise--"To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord."" But I want Dena here with me! She was my best friend. We've spent our whole lives together!She felt a touch on her sleeve as Cash handed her his handkerchief. She wept harder. She had her family. Now Cash had only Angie. She silently endured the graveside parting to its end. The pastor said the final prayer, then walked to Cash and offered his hand. "Please accept my sincerest sympathy. Losing both of them so young is a terrible loss." Cash shook hands. "Thank you for handling the service." "I only wish I could do more. Grieving is a long process. If you need someone to talk to--"" "I'll handle it myself." Knowing how much Cash hated any show of sympathy, she nodded to the minister, then slipped her hands into the crook of Cash's elbow and pulled him back a step. "Cash, Grandmother wants you to come home with us." He looked down at her. "That's kind of her. But I have things to take care of." Folding up the side of her collar against the wind, she knew she should insist, but her own sorrow robbed her of the strength to argue. If only they had the closeness she'd always longed for, they could comfort each other. She imagined turning to Cash, opening the front of his coat and burying her face into his starched white shirt. In wordless sympathy, he would bend and kiss her hair. She shook her head. This won't help. "When are you going to pick up Angie?" she asked. The worrying wind swirled around her legs and flared her skirt. "Tomorrow. After I see Tom about the will." "Would you like me to come over and help you--"" "No." She shivered again. She'd known he would say no, but she'd had to offer. For Dena's sake, for her own sake. "You'll call if you need help?" He nodded, but she knew he would never call. When had he ever called her? All those years she had dreamed he would notice what she felt for him.... He turned away from her to accept another mourner's condolences. She wanted to stay beside him, but she forced herself to walk away. Icy snow suddenly flew from the gray felt sky. Each particle stung her wet, wind-chafed cheeks like a pinprick. She joined her grief-stricken parents and grandmother, who were still standing beside the graveside. As she followed her family into their large sedan, Tom Dawson, another old friend, stepped close. He'd pulled up the collar of his steel gray overcoat. With his face framed by these two flaps, he bent forward to keep his words more private. "Jane, I need you to stop by my law office tomorrow afternoon." "Why? Tom, I--"" "It has to do with Dena's estate." The bleak sky, vicious cold and her ragged sorrow twisted together and wrapped around her like a wet, raw rope--dragging her down. She couldn't bear much more. "Cash can take care of all that." "Wills are never as simple as one anticipates, Jane. Youhaveto be there."Cote, Lyn is the author of 'Never Alone and New Man in Town ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373652761 and ISBN 0373652763.