“Yet?”
“I don’t date very much, so when they find out, they’re going to be… a bit excited.” Cypress grinned slyly. “Expect lots of big family dinners and almost certainly some interrogation.”
“I can’t wait,” Tom laughed. “It actually sounds like—” His phone rang, and his stomach jumped up into his ribs.
It was Mr. Crosby.
“One sec.” Tom grimaced as he answered it, saying hesitantly, “Uh, hello?”
“Ah! Tom!” Mr. Crosby greeted him. “How are you? How’s the leg?”
“Fine, fine. Uh, how are you?”
“Good, good. Just great.” Mr. Crosby paused. “Oh! Except my sister just died—”
“God, I’m so sorry, sir.”
“—and I want you to come in and embalm her.”
Tom gritted his teeth. “Tonight?”
“Please. I know it’s a lot to ask after your surgery, but there’s nobody else I trust taking care of my family.”
Tom glanced miserably over at Cypress.
He didn’t know if Cypress could hear what Mr. Crosby was asking, but he was actively shaking his head and mouthing ‘no.’
“Is she already back at the funeral home?” Tom asked, cringing as a wave of guilt began to chew away at him. He didn’t think he could refuse a personal request like this, not from Mr. Crosby.
“Oh, yes. Bosco and Scott brought her back a bit ago. I wanted to help, but I’m afraid I’m not the man I used to be.” Mr. Crosby sighed. “I would very much appreciate it if you would do this for me, Tom.”
“Okay,” Tom said, quickly turning his body so he wouldn’t have to look at Cypress’s disappointed expression. “Okay, yes. I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you so much, Tom,” Mr. Crosby replied. “Miss Edie will be along in an hour or two.”
“Wait, what?”
“She’s going out of town tomorrow, so she has to do the hair tonight.”
“But you didn’t know if I was going to agree.”
“What’s that, Tom?”
“Nothing, sir. I’ll be up there as soon as I can.” Tom hung up and slowly turned back around to face Cypress with a sheepish grin. “Uh, so…”
“What did you do?”
“I maybe might have agreed to go to work.”
“You’re still on vacation!” Cypress protested.
“It’s for Mr. Crosby’s sister. She just died, and he wants me to come in and embalm her,” Tom explained quickly. “He already knew I was gonna do it, too. Damn him. He’s already got Miss Edie coming in to do her hair.”
“Okay, fine.” Cypress stood up, heading back to the door to put his shoes on.
“Fine?” Tom was confused. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going with you.”
