Chapter Thirteen
Monday finally rolled around. I was scheduled to arive at the parlor at twelve thirty, to get the finishing toutches on the private service and the public service. Most of the people that were expected were coming to send their appologies to me.
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I took a shower and got dressed into my only black dress. It was a black jumper dress that went down to mid thigh with a slit in the fabric on the right leg up to an inch from the hip, with a dark blue velvet tee shirt. Hair down, black head band in, and tall black plastic boots that came up to the knees. Jake came in with me like he always does.
We arrived at the parler a little after twelve thirty, so, since it was Jake, me and the people working for the parlor, I went to visit my mom's casket. We had decided to have a closed casket service, for my sanity. When I began crying, somebody wrapped their arms around me from behind.
"Hi Dane." I whispered.
"Hey Lenora. How're you holdin' up?"
"As good as anybody that has their only parent die."
"Not good huh? You know you don't have go to work tomorrow."
"I'm going for me. I'd go crazy if I didn't do anything. Yesterday was bad enough." We stood there, looking at the casket. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was hoping she'd jump out of the casket and say early April fool's or something, but obviously that wasn't gonna happen. What seemed like a few minutes later, one of the ladies came in announced that the people for the private service had begun to arrive. Dane followed me out to the lobby of the parlor. The first people that came in, I had no clue of who they were, but they wanted to hug me, so I let them. The next people to come in were a man and a woman. They were both middle to late thirties, about as old as my mom was. Co-workers?
"Lenora. I would like for you to meet my wife Sue."
"Hello Lenora. I'm so sorry to hear about your mother." She shook my hand gently, then returned to the man's side.
"I know you don't know me Lenora, and you can ask any family that show up who I am. Do you know?" I looked up into the man's eyes. It looked as if I was looking into a mirror and saw my own eyes. I shook head. I had a thought, but it couldn't be true.
"I'm your father Lenora. I've watched you grow up on t.v. and in the movies. Your mother has done a wonderful job raising you. Now it's my turn. Come live with Sue and I after the funeral's over." All I could do was stair. I spun around and ran for the bathrooms, flying passed Dane on my way by. I found refuge in the bathroom after I locked the door. I sank down on the floor. I was shocked, happy and mad all at the same time. How could my dad come back after all these years- then try to get me to live with him and his wife? I don't even know where he lives. I am glad for the fact that after all, I'm not really alnoe in this world. I'm not going with this supposedly father person. He probably lives out on the boonies somewhere. A knock sounded on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Dane. Is it safe to come in?"
"It's a woman's bathroom Dane, but yeah. Hold on." I got up and unlocked the door. He slipped in and closed the door behind him.
"What was that all about?"
"How much did you see?"
"Well, you were talking to the woman, then you ran by."
"Okay. The woman is the man's wife. The one next to her. He came up to me, and he claims he's my father, and he wants me to come live with him and Sue."
"H- he calims he's your father?!"
"Yeah."
"Are you going with him?"
"No! No way. I don't think so."
"Well, I'm glad you're staying."
"Thanks."
"Now lets go back out. The service is about to begin."
"Fine. But I have to sit in the front row on the end."
"I'll sit on the other side with a supply of Kleenexes." We both smiled.
"I'm not gonna cry with everybody here."
"Can you do that?"
"Dane. We're professional actors. I can handle it."
"Okay, but I'll still have the Kleenexes."
"You're so sweet Dane." We came out of the bathroom and went into the room that the service was to be held in. I sat on the end, Dane sat on my right side, and my 'father' snd Sue were on the other side of Dane. Surprisingly enough, half the room was full. The service it's self went smoothly. A couple people cried, but they must have been my mom's friends. I was proud of myself- I didn't cry in front of the people. At the end, I was asked by the pastor person to exit first, the the room to empty by rows. I stood by the doors with Dane by my side, while everybody gave me a hug. Most of the people had left by two when the public began coming. Dane stood by the door, side by side. My arm was looped through his, my head resting on his shoulder. One of the first people to walk in was Devon. He gave me a sad smile. I broke away from Dane and gave Devon a hug.
"I'm sorry." Devon whispered. He had one arm around my back and the other holding my head against his chest. "Been a long day?" I looked up at him.
"Yeah. Very long. The food's in there. Go help yourself."
"Thanks." He headed in the direction of the dining room, then he stopped suddenly, turned around and came back. He pulled a card out of his jacket.
"Here."
"Thanks."
"It's a little something from everybody." He headed back to the dining room. a few other people came in, gave me a hug, then dissappeared into the dining room. I glanced at the clock. Only two fifteen. I groaned inwardly. How much I'd love to go home and ride Tristy for a while. I didn't realize I had my eyes closed until someone called my name.
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