Birdie’s eyes widened.
“Oh my God,” Emma whispered, and then covered her face. Junior was speechless.
Ray couldn’t look at Hunt.
But they were all thinking the same thing. If it hadn’t been for what happened and the lie they all hid, he would have gone to college, not to war, and they would have still been family.
“Is there anything else?” Emma finally said.
“Betty will have a copy of the will for each of you as you leave. I’m suggesting, in honor of your mother’s last wishes, that you maintain a sense of decorum, at least in public,” Peanut said.
“Yes, yes, we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Emma said.
“And if that’s all for us here, the funeral home is expecting us. We need to give them the okay before they put Mama in a viewing room.”
“You don’t need my opinion about that, and I need to get to work,” Hunt said. “If anybody needs to talk to me, you know where I am.”
He stood up, shook hands with Peanut, patted Birdie on the shoulder, and walked past the others as if they weren’t there.
Hunt was already gone by the time they got outside, and then Ray brought up the money.
“By the time they get through paying Hunt, there likely won’t be much for any of us divided up five ways,” he said.
“They’re not giving Hunt anything. He’s being paid back money already owed. There’s a great big difference,” Birdie snapped. “I don’t know who stole it, and I don’t know why the whole lot of you decided to protect a thief at the expense of your own brother, but whatever’s happening now is karma for what you already did to him. Now let’s get the funeral home business over with. I seem to be the only one of us who has a job to go to.”
She got in her car and drove away, leaving them in shock.
“I got a job,” Ray muttered.
“Whenever your boss says come to work, you do,” Junior said.
“Junior! You have no room to criticize anyone,” Emma said.
“I don’t believe we’re practicing decorum here,” Junior said. “Ray, get in the car.”
They headed for the funeral home, with Emma driving behind them. The trip across town was brief. They walked in together and were soon escorted into the back parlor.
They approached the pale-blue casket with trepidation, as if Marjorie was going to suddenly sit up and chastise them for the mess their lives were in.
“I was dreading this, but she looks peaceful,” Junior said.
Ray was crying. “It don’t seem right that she’s gone.”
Birdie’s voice was trembling. As the baby, it hadn’t been all that long ago when she was still living with their mother.
“Everybody dies,” she said. “Mama was worn out with her sickness. I’m gonna miss her like crazy, but I wouldn’t have her back still sick and suffering.”
Emma slid her arm around her sister’s waist.
“She looks pretty, doesn’t she, Birdie?”
Birdie sighed. “That pale-blue dress was her favorite. I’m glad we chose it.” Then she looked up at the funeral director. “She looks beautiful. Thank you.”
“It’s my small part in helping families deal with the transition of their loved one’s passing,” the director said. “So, as of now, she will be available for public viewing?”
They nodded.
“And the service is set for day after tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. Two p.m. at the First Baptist Church,” Emma said. “The family viewing will be tomorrow evening. And the day of the funeral there will be a dinner for friends and family at the church after the burial in White Dove Cemetery. I’ll be dropping off a notice at the newspaper office, but I’d appreciate it if you’d spread the word, too,” Emma said.
The director nodded. “Of course, and again, I am so sorry for your loss.”
They walked out in silence, then Emma paused on the steps. “People have been bringing food to my house. Y’all want to come over for dinner tonight?”
Both brothers nodded.
“I’ll come,” Birdie said. “But not one hateful word about Hunt, or I’m leaving.”
“Think we should invite him, too?” Emma asked.
Birdie rolled her eyes.
“I believe he’s already sent his regrets on how he feels about all of you. Don’t insult him further. I have to get to work. What time tonight?” she asked.
“Six o’clock okay for you?” Emma asked.
Birdie nodded. “Yes. I get off at five,” she said, and then she got in her car and left.
“Okay then. See you this evening,” Junior said. Then he and Ray drove away, leaving Emma standing.
Her steps were dragging as she got in the car, but she didn’t want to be alone. Gordon was at work. She had a few errands to run, and then maybe she’d go for a walk in the park before going home.
As the oldest girl, she had an inborn urge to become the hub of their family like Mama had been for them. But the crime and the secret was there instead. If she could take back the decision she’d made to stay silent, she would, but it was too late to change that. As their daddy had said, what was done was done.
* * *
Ava was having a video chat with her parents, Larry and Karen Ridley, when she mentioned Marjorie’s passing.
“Oh, bless her heart,” Karen said. “She suffered something awful.”
“Yes, she did, but you won’t guess who showed up at the hospital.”
“Who?” Karen asked.
“Hunt.”
“You’re kidding! Where has he been? How did he know?”
“I don’t know much, but evidently he stayed in contact with Marjorie because from what he said to her at the hospital, it appears she sent for him. I think that’s why she was hanging on.”
“You used to have such a crush on him. How does he look? Is he married? Did you talk to him?” Karen asked.
Ava sighed. “That was years ago, Mom. He looks good. He’s not married, and yes, of course I talked to him. We all grew up together. He’s staying at the family home long enough to fix it up and then they’re putting it up for sale.”
“Well, we have four more days here in Vegas and then we’ll be home. I’m sure we’ll get a chance to say hello before he leaves, but we’re going to miss the funeral. Please give the family our condolences, okay?”