The funeral was short, a Bible verse, the minister’s philosophy that there was no such thing as death, a few nice words about Millicent, and another prayer. Then we were invited to the cemetery for the conclusion of the service. There we stood under umbrellas for another prayer, and then it was over.

“Bummer,” Haley said as we sloshed back to the cars. The drizzle had become a heavy rain again.

“Y’all wait up,” Jason Marley called. When he caught up to us, I saw he looked sick. He was pale, and the flesh around his eyes looked bruised. Add to that the fact that his toupee seemed to be shrinking in the rain, and you had a sight that, as Sister declared later, would twang your heart strings.

“Come by the house,” he said. “I’ve had a light lunch brought in. And drinks. There’ll just be a few of us; Millicent’s sister and brother need to get home out of this weather. But Fairchild’s coming, and we’ll sit around and have a few drinks and talk.” He held out his hand to Fred. “I’m Jason Marley.”

“Fred Hollowell. Hell of a place to meet, isn’t it?”

Jason didn’t answer, just looked around as if he were suddenly puzzled to find himself in a cemetery.

“Ladies?” Fred asked. We all nodded. “We’ll be there,” Fred said.

“Good.” Jason headed off through the gravestones to his car.

“Where’s Berry?” Haley asked Sister.

“Bringing Fairchild home. There are still a few things Fairchild has to tend to, and Berry said he didn’t mind waiting. The Stampses went on. They left right after the church service.”

“I wonder if Eddie is okay,” I said.

Fred unlocked the car door. “Laura’s looking rough.”

“She needs some Retin-A something awful,” Sister said.

“Or that new one, doesn’t make you peel,” Haley agreed.

Sister touched her palms lightly to her cheek. “When you get middle-aged like we are, Haley, you can’t let yourself go.”

Middle-aged? This woman was sloughing years like a snake does skin. Haley, bless her heart, kept a straight face. Fred was doing his shaking number again, though. He climbed into our car, wet, muddy.

“I declare,” Sister said, surveying the graveyard, “funerals have just got to be the most depressing things in the world.”

“God’s truth,” came from our car. For once even Fred agreed with her.

Chapter 15

Chapter 15