Mrs. Kennedy returned. “Have you decided?”
“Yes. I’ll take these,” she said, pointing to the arrangements.
“Let me get you the total,” Mrs. Kennedy said, punching numbers on her calculator.
Jameson handed her his credit card. Mrs. Kennedy gave her one last hug before they left.
“Thank you,” she murmured as he held the car door for her.
“You’re welcome. Do you want to grab some lunch before we head back?”
“We still have food in the fridge from yesterday and I have a feeling I’ll have more casseroles than I can eat after the funeral. Oh, crap. I didn’t even think about the reception afterward.”
“Did you like the food from the barbecue at Rebecca’s? It’s a small ma and pa shop. They have a nice selection of food to choose from. I’m sure Riley has a menu,” he suggested. “Anything else we can have catered in if they don’t have it.”
“Dad might like me supporting them. It sounds like a great idea. I’ll call her,” Caroline said. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather go home.”
“We can eat the food Rebecca purchased yesterday while you go over the menu with Riley,” he said, driving to the house.
Caroline leaned back in the seat, letting the tough day roll off her. Her dad’s words from his letters haunted her. He wanted her to find love and happiness. After the last couple of days, she didn’t think it possible to have both.
Jameson pulled the car into the driveway and waited while Garrett cleared the house.
“Why did he go inside the house?” Caroline asked. “You’ve never done it before.”
“Extra precautions,” he said. “Someone always stayed here. Since we’ve spent most of the day away, Garrett’s checking it out.”
“Oh,” she said, watching Garrett signal the all clear.
Entering the house, Jameson set her to calling Riley while he prepared lunch.
She went into the living room and took out her computer from the bag where she left it the night before. After going over the menu, she decided on all the dishes. She pulled out her phone and added everything up on the calculator.
“Did you get everything figured out?” Jameson asked, setting a selection of mini sandwiches, veggies, and a brownie before her.
“I hope so. It’s hard to guess when I don’t know who will be there,” she said, glancing at the numbers.
Jameson took her hand. “Nancy mentioned Thomas’s friends. Plus, all yours will be there to support you. Order what you need, and I’ll cover it.”
“You already took care of the flowers,” she reminded him.
“It’ll take a bit of time for the insurance check. I don’t want you worrying about money right now. Let me help you,” he pleaded.
“All right,” she sighed. “Thank you. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s humiliating to not have a job and having to ask for a handout.”
“I offered, you didn’t ask,” Jameson said firmly. “What else do you need to handle?”
“Nancy plans on coming later this evening. I don’t want to go through anything else before she gets here. I feel like I’m intruding on her privacy. After all, they lived here one day, and then they’re both gone the next.”
“Since you’re done until she arrives, how about another swimming lesson?” he suggested. “It’s warm outside, and fresh air will do you good.”
“Don’t you think it’s disrespectful to go swimming?” she asked.
“Your dad wanted you to go on with your life,” he reminded her. “You can’t sit inside and dwell on this. You’ve finished all your tasks until Nancy arrives.”
“’Kay,” she agreed, taking a bite of her sandwich and turning the computer toward him. “Do you think it’s enough?”
Jameson snorted. “Have you seen how much Garrett eats? We’ll go without if he gets to the food first,” he said, changing the order, putting in his card information, and hitting the confirm button.
