Everyone is getting ready for Big Earl's funeral. Luke finds Dollie ironing a blue tie.
"Where'd
you find a tie, Dollie?"
"Remember
last Halloween when Patty and I dressed up like hobos? I bought this
tie in Harlan and kept it all this time."
"Nice
tie," he remarked.
"You
may keep it," she replied with a twinkle in her dark eyes.
"Thank
you."
She
set the iron up, turning it off. She handed him his suit, shirt and
tie.
"I'll
be right back," he told her, leaning in for a kiss.
A
quick peck on his lips was all he got, but it was better than
nothing. He went down to the bathroom and changed. Luke's suit was
dark charcoal gray. He'd looked for black suits, but none of them
fit. He couldn't afford tailor made, so he settled for what he could
get. The tie complimented it beautifully. The blue in it set off the
color of his eyes. He preened a little, smoothing his hair with his
hands.
When
he got back down to Dollie's apartment, she was talking animatedly to
her sister and Will. When he walked in the room, she stopped
mid-sentence, staring.
"Do
I look bad?" He thought he looked pretty good.
"No,
you look—great!" She rushed to his side, straightening his
tie. It wasn't so much that it needed it as she just had to touch
him. "You're the handsomest man I know," she whispered.
"And I love you so."
"I
love you too," he whispered.
The
kiss they shared was longer and more passionate than the earlier one.
Neither of their siblings said a word. Luke suspected that they were
using the opportunity for the same thing. All too soon, they parted.
"Reckon
it's about time to head over to the chapel," Will said quietly.
The
ladies settled their hats on their heads, pulling down their veils.
The four of them drove in Dollie's car to the chapel with Will behind
the wheel. Arriving earlier than most of the congregation, they went
inside.
Rachel
Henry knelt in the front pew, head bowed. She looked up when they sat
down beside her. When she saw Luke's unusually pale countenance, she
burst into tears. Holding his face, she kissed his cheeks.
"You
look so unlike yourself! Are you sure you're better!"
"I'm
fine, Mama. Don't worry so about me."
"You're
my precious son, of course I'll worry."
"His
fever broke during the night," Dollie assured Rachel. "He's
on the mend."
"All
from a splinter. I declare! You got to be more careful, Lucius."
"Yes,
ma'am. Reckon I do and I will."
"I
can't lose another son," she whispered. "I can't." She
held his hand, squeezing the fingers until they turned purple.
Luke
wiggled his fingers slightly and she eased her grip. Kissing his
hand, she put it down on his knee, but touched him from time to time
to reassure herself.
"Where
are the little uns, Ma?" Will asked her quietly.
"Up
with Granny Nation. Ain't no place for children at a funeral."
Luke
and Will couldn't help thinking that Granny Nation's wasn't a place
for children either, but didn't say so. They did agree that a funeral
was no place for children and were glad that someone had seen fit to
take the children away.
The
chapel was filling up. The family stood near the doors greeting
people and thanking them for coming. Samuel arrived with Doctor and
Mrs. Starbuck. Jane came in with her friend Louise. She looked like
she'd been crying. Louise kept an arm around her, guiding her to a
seat beside her mother. She would have gone to sit with her parents,
but Jane asked her to stay. The two girls clung to one another as
Jane started to cry again.
Just
before the service began, Will's boss, Mr. Prentice, and his wife
came in. The family had already taken their seats. They saw Will up
front and waved as they found a place for Mrs. Prentice to sit. One
of the men stood next to her husband, giving her his spot. The small
chapel was packed with standing room only.
Luke
didn't know if it was respect for his family that brought folks out,
the fact that he'd died mysteriously, or they were there to be sure
the old bastard was really dead. That was the motivation of at least
a few. Luke had heard them whispering when they thought they were out
of earshot of the family.
The
service was lovely. The Episcopalian minister from town officiated.
He was a young man, hardly older than Will, as yet unmarried. Several
of the local women had set their caps, hoping to attract his
interest. No doubt the reason they were dressed in their Sunday best
and scattered about the church glaring at one another.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
No comments:
Post a Comment