Chapter Four
Nine days.That’s allthe time she’d had with her mother before she passed on.She tried to be logical and tell herself her mother was finally at peace and in no more pain, but her selfish, childish part wanted her mom back.
She stared down at the coffin as the preacher droned on.She tried to concentrate on his words, but the pain was so overwhelming that she had to distance herself or lose all control and start weeping uncontrollably in front of the few people who had known her mother.
She’d called her sister when their mom passed, but Shasha told her she was busy and wouldn’t be around.She went on to tell Hanna their mother would understand.Shasha had to work hard to survive and couldn’t take any time off unless Hanna gave her some money.
Hanna had declined, which threw her sister into one of her tantrums.She was glad she wasn’t there.Hanna knew Shasha would do something to disrupt the funeral, and she couldn’t handle any more at that moment.
Hanna got through the service and the people’s well-wishes before she was left alone in blissful silence.
****
Blake stood at thecheckout in the farm store, waiting for the older lady before him.He gritted his teeth.He just knew they were going to gossip for ten minutes before he’d be able to buy what he needed.
“I heard Amelia finally passed?”the man said.
The woman nodded to the old male clerk.“Oh, thank God.That woman had been through hell her whole life.A miserable drunk of a husband, a slutty daughter, and a ranch that has been debilitated for so long, I can’t remember what it looked like twenty years ago.”
The clerk grumbled under his breath.“At least she had the one good daughter.I don’t know what Amelia would have done without her.I heard she sent her mother money every month, and I know she’s been here for several weeks helping her mother out.”
“She couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.”
The clerk nodded.
Blake’s heart thumped heavily in his chest.They had to be talking about Hanna.“Who are you talking about?”
The woman turned to him.“Why, Amelia Black.”
“She died?”God, he hadn't even known she was sick.
“Yes, two days ago.The funeral is happening right now.”
“Where?”
“The Baptist Cemetery.Why?”
Blake set the few things he’d come in for and raced out of the store.
The clerk and the older woman watched in shock.Neither had ever seen one of the Denison’s lose it like that before.
“I wonder what that was about?”the clerk asked.
“I've no idea.”
****
