Page 41 of Riley
“Because she was never out at the tavern. You know she always went out on Thursday nights, but she hasn’t been out once since you left.”
“What are you doing, stalking her, Ev?”
He laughed. “Hardly. I figured that since I was always there on Thursday nights, I would make sure she got home safe since you weren’t around.”
“Why are we even talking about her? I don’t want to talk about Riley.”
“Okay, then tell us more about Sam,” Cara said sweetly.
“No. My love life is off the table. How about we talk about something that matters. Like when are we going to have Mom’s funeral?”
The minute the words were out of my mouth, I wanted to take them back. For just a few moments, I had forgotten that my mom was gone. I was pretty sure by the looks on their faces that they also had.
“Brad called the funeral home for me today,” Cara said softly. “Because of the holiday and your schedule, it’s kind of tricky.”
“I don’t care about my schedule,” I snapped. “I’ll miss the damn class. I don’t care.”
“Ethan, Mom would not want you to do that. I was going to say that Saturday is our best bet anyway, so you can head back to class and then come back on Friday night.”
“You want me to go back for three days and then fly back?”
“Yes,” she stated forcefully. “Mom would want you to do that. Hell, Mom would expect you to. You know she never wanted to be a burden to us. Never wanted to interrupt our lives.”
Suddenly, Cara’s face screwed up, and she put her hands to her face and started sobbing. I hung my head as Evan put his arm around her and pulled her toward him.
“I’ve been so busy. We’ve all been so busy.” She looked at Evan. “When was the last time you came by to visit?”
He frowned. “I guess it’s been three weeks—shit.”
“Yeah, well, I hadn’t seen her since before I went to training,” I announced, and Cara spun on me as she wiped her cheeks.
“Yeah, but you had a reason! You were a thousand miles away, Ethan. It’s not like you could just pop on over to say hello or share a cup of coffee or dinner. I could have, but I didn’t.” She batted tears away with the backs of her hands. “I could have, but I was always busy! All of us were!”
“Enough!” my father’s voice roared from the door. “Your mother would be beside herself hearing this discussion,” he said as he came out onto the porch, my other siblings behind him. “Your mother did not want you to know because of this. Because she knew that the moment you all knew, you would stop your lives and hover over her. She did not want any of you to put your lives on hold.”
“Come on, Dad. Putting our lives on the back burner for a few days or weeks is nothing compared to what she gave us. What you both gave us growing up,” I told him. “Both of you deserve every minute of our time that you want. All you have to do is ask. Shit! You shouldn’t even have to ask. That’s it, I’m not going back to class, and I’m going to leave county detectives and come back to Millerstown.”
“The hell you will, young man,” my father growled. “Do not even let me hear such foolishness come out of your mouth. Your mother is proud of every single one of you.” He glanced around the porch. “She loved you all so much, you were her life, and she was happy when she knew you were busy. It was when you were always calling her, crying on her shoulder, confused about where life was taking you that she worried about you. She did not want to tell you because she wanted to remember you all the way you are, not staring down at her with fear and sadness, and she sure as hell did not want you to see her suffer.”
He shook his head as Carmen put her arm around his waist and leaned into him. “I thank the Lord that he took your mother before you all were here. Yes, I am heartbroken, and I will miss her until my last breath, but I am glad that she went as quickly as she did and as peacefully. She was loved and happy in her last few moments.” He stared at me hard as he spoke the last line. “All of you need to remember that. Your mother died the way she lived—exactly how she wanted to. Now, you guys can sit around here and mourn for a few days, and then you are going to get back to your life. We all will.” He lifted his chin, his strength radiating out of him. I had no clue where he was finding that strength just then.
He stepped toward me, putting his hand on my arm. “Son, you will go back to your class, and we’ll wait to hear from you when you can get back up here for the funeral. Your class is essential to your career. Your momma believed in you, as I do. You will finish that class.”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded, and he squeezed and let go.
“And the rest of you, I don’t expect you to change your entire life because I am alone now. I’ll get by. I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, right, Dad,” Carmen said. “I can’t remember the last time you cooked.”
Candy laughed. “Or did the laundry.”
My father cracked a smile. “Okay, so maybe you all can change your routines a little bit to help me get it all figured out.” He spun around and pointed at me. “Except you. You are staying right where you are until you finish. Then we will talk when you come home.”
“Okay, Dad,” I told him with a smile. Whatever the man wanted, I’d give him.
* * *
Sunday was the Fourth,and instead of the big picnic we had planned, we had a small family dinner. Even the Youngs gave us space, and we played a few games, talked about what to do with some of Mom’s things, and helped Dad look through paperwork to find life insurance and other vital documents.
