Page 35 of Someone to Remember
She doesn’t care for that, but I don’t look away until she does. I hope she gets the message that Taylor’s—and Will’s—wishes take precedence over hers. Not that my heart doesn’t ache for them both, because it does. Dear God, the thought of losing my adult child in the prime of his life is one of the worst things I can imagine. But Will was a grown man with a wife and family. If necessary, I’ll remind them that his wife deferred to them on a Catholic service that Will wouldn’t have wanted, but Taylor won’t back down about the cremation.
Thankfully, Claire gives up without further argument on that point, and we conclude our business at the funeral home. The wake is set for Sunday, from four to eight p.m., and the service will be held the following morning at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church.
Outside, I take deep breaths of chilly air as Gage holds the passenger door of his car for me. “Where to?”
“Back to Taylor’s, I guess.”
“I think we should go home and get some rest. You won’t be any good to her if you get sick or run down.”
He’s aware that I get tired more easily than I did before I was treated for breast cancer and is vigilant about making sure I take care of myself. I want to be with Taylor, but he’s right. I’m running on empty after the sleepless night followed by the long, difficult day. “Okay.”
“That was easier than I expected it to be.”
“I’m an agreeable kind of girl.”
His snort of laughter makes me smile. “Sure you are.”
After he gets into the driver’s seat, I reach for his hand. “Thank you for coming with me on this dreadful mission. It’s above and beyond the call of duty for a widower.”
“Nothing you need is above my call of duty, love, even a trip to a funeral home. I’m not sure that Taylor would’ve had it in her to fight for what she and Will wanted the way you did.”
“I felt bad about that. The woman just lost her son.”
“Her son’s wishes must be respected. You made sure they were.”
“What an awful situation.”
“It sure is.”
On the way home, I get a text from my widow friend Joy.Dear God, Iris, I just heard from Christy about Taylor’s husband. I’m heartbroken for her. What can I do?
Joy joined the group about six months before Taylor’s last meeting.
I call her. “Hey, hon. There’s not much we can do but be there for her. The wake is Sunday, and the funeral is Monday.”
“I’ll be there for both and take her some food in a week or two when the influx dies down.”
“She’ll appreciate that.”
“Good Lord, Iris. How can this happen to someone twice?”
“It’s impossible to believe.”
“And with the baby due any time, too.”
“I know.”
“So I’m not sure if you’ve looked at your phone in the last hour or so, but Lexi sent a photo of her and Tom. They got engaged today.”
“Oh, wow. That’s fantastic news.” I hold the phone aside to tell Gage, who smiles widely. “I’ll text her when I get home.”
“I got the feeling she doesn’t know about Taylor.”
“I haven’t had the chance to call her, and I doubt Christy or any of the others will say anything about it to her today. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”
“Yeah, for sure. What a day of soaring highs and crushing lows.”
“For real.”
