Jennifer could hear a catch in Laurie’s voice as she waxed nostalgic about how much Maria had added to her childhood. She closed her spontaneous eulogy with a question: “Did you go to India to bring back her body or her ashes to the States, or are you planning on leaving her there? After all, India might be the world’s most spiritual country. If I died in India, I think I’d like my ashes placed in the Ganges with the billions of other souls.”

“Now that’s one thing I didn’t think of,” Jennifer admitted, explaining that she was having trouble deciding between cremation or embalming, much less what she was going to do with the remains afterward. “Sometime today I’m going to try to get over to the American embassy. I imagine they’ll have the scoop on comparative costs and all the diplomatic details.”

“I imagine that will be the case. Gosh, I’m sorry you have to do this yourself. I wish I were there to help. She truly was like a mother to me, so much so, I think there were times my real mother was jealous, but it was my mother’s own fault. She was the one who handed me over to begin with.”

“I can assure you the feelings were mutual,” Jennifer said.

“I’m pleased to hear it, but I’m not surprised. Children can sense it, like I did.”

“There’s something else I want to run by you. Do you have a few more minutes?”

“By all means. I’m all ears.”

“The hospital authorities have really been pushing me hard, which I freely admit I don’t respond well to, and they do have reason. I mean, the private hospital involved is spectacular and very high-tech. Yet when they built it, they passed on building any mortuary facilities. Because in India bodies are claimed very rapidly by both Hindus and Muslims, for religious reasons.”

“And maybe the hospital’s owners thought that in spiritual India with all the gods on their side, they wouldn’t have any deaths.”

Jennifer managed a chuckle then went on. “Granny’s body is in a walk-in cooler, but the cooler is down near the cafeteria and contains mostly sealed food containers. Apparently that’s the only place to leave a body.”

“Yuck,” Laurie voiced.

“Why I’m telling you this is because from their vantage point they have a real reason to want to dispose of Granny, especially since they already have the death certificate in hand.”

“I should say.”