“Of course,” Ruby said. “But I’m here about you as well. Chief Pittman called me about your situation…about wanting to go home, and I want you to tell me, in your own words, what you need for us to get you there.”

Donna’s eyes welled. “I honestly don’t know, except that I’m not burying Arnold here.”

Ruby nodded. “Then you intend to wait until the coroner releases the body and have it transported to West Virginia?”

“We always said we didn’t want to be buried, so I reckon I’ll take his ashes back with me,” Donna said.

Ruby’s focus shifted. “You do know that funeral homes can ship ashes to you?”

Donna wiped her eyes, then shook her head. “No, I don’t think I did.”

“Well, they can, so don’t let the unknown of when his body is released be the deciding factor in your decision of when and how you want to leave, okay? Just so you know, the funeral home here can receive Arnold’s body from the coroner, follow your wishes, and ship the ashes at a later date to your new address. Chief Pittman also told me about Dub’s phone call, but there’s no way to know when any of that will go into effect, so we want to have a couple of fund-raisers here in Blessings to give you the freedom to make your own choices…if that’s all right with you?”

Donna covered her face and burst into tears.

Ruby jumped up and went to her. Within moments she was down on her knees in front of Donna’s chair, patting her arm.

“I’m so sorry, sugar. I’m so, so sorry. Cry all you want. I’m a good listener, and we’ll get this figured out together, okay?”

Donna nodded. But the relief was huge. She was no longer trying to figure this out alone.

* * *

Junior was at the pharmacy when he heard about Birdie and the fire. At first he was shocked, and then sad no one in the family bothered to tell him. Then when he found out Arnold Hollis had died in that fire, he was sad all over again.

Arnold had always been friendly to Junior and had even taken him home one night during a downpour when his car wouldn’t start. Junior remembered the man’s kindness and his gentle spirit, and now he was gone.

Junior left the pharmacy with full intention of going home, but the thought of going back to nothing was suddenly more than he could bear. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, he made a U-turn in the street and drove out to Grey Goose Lake, then parked and got out.