By the time Rick came by to pick Lynn up, she and Sher both had showered and changed and discussed the first steps Rachel would need to take today. Hannah arrived shortly before, this time without Annie, who she said was spending the day with her Daddy.
Sher and Rachel cleaned up the plates from the tuna salad they had for lunch and as she turned from the sink, she saw Rachel held a white rose in her hand.
“Mack gave me a white rose on every date. It was our thing and so special. This one is from last night before Glen and I took Mack to the ER.” Rachel said.
“Hon, why don’t you add it to the vase in the living room with the others?” Sher suggested and was glad to see Rachel did just that. Sher fought back the tears. She couldn’t fall apart in front of Rachel. That wouldn’t help anyone.
The women barely finished their to-do list, when Glen arrived to take them wherever they needed to go. It was unspoken that Rachel could still be in danger, so the women didn’t object.
Their first stop was the cemetery. Rachel picked the same one Mack went to for Thomas’s arrangements. She was glad the service was over when they got there. She was trying hard to keep her strength up, and watching a casket get lowered into the ground wouldn’t benefit her at all.
They were greeted politely as they entered the cemetery office. Rachel explained why they were there.
“I’ll first point out on the map plots we have available. And if you find one you prefer, we will take you out and show you,” The man said.
“Can you show me on this map where Thomas Sterling, who was laid to rest today, is located?” Rachel asked.
A little taken aback, the man pointed the spot out for Rachel, “It’s right here, next to the beautiful aspen tree. I believe that’s what his cousin, who made the arrangements, thought would be a peaceful place to spend eternity.”
Rachel almost lost it there and then, put she straightened her back and said she wanted the space next to Thomas Sterling.
“Are you sure? Spaces together are usually for family, miss.”
“Mack is family. He was the man in here yesterday making arrangements for his cousin. They were all the family each other had until recently,” Rachel added, as she glanced around her group.
“Oh,, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ll get the paperwork while you decide what day.”
“Don’t push yourself, Rachel. These are your decisions, and whatever you decide, will be it. If you want Mack laid to rest tomorrow or two weeks from now, do what’s best for you,” Glen said with his hand on Rachel’s shoulder.
“I’m thinking the day after tomorrow. Monday…Is that too soon?” Rachel asked.
“Whatever you want, Rachel. The day after tomorrow it is, if that’s what you want,” Hannah said.
“I figure that will allow time for putting the info in the paper and for the funeral home to prepare everything,” Rachel choked.
“That will be our next stop, when we finish here,” Sher said.
Rachel signed the papers the gentleman returned with and wrote a check, although later when they pulled up to the funeral home, she didn’t remember doing it.
At the funeral home, she was sat down at a table in a large room with the others as the director went step by step through all the details. They finally got to the point of selecting a casket and Glen cringed. He couldn’t let Rachel carry all the expense when it was his fault.
Rachel choose what she believed Mack would want and said, “I’ll have to come back later with a check, after I transfer some funds.”
That was when Glen spoke up. “Rachel, the community has a fund that will cover the expenses here. I’ll bring a check by later today.”
Looking confused, but grateful, Rachel gave Glen a tiny smile of thanks.
Sher also looked at Glen, knowing he felt guilty and maybe this was his way to help, because she’s never heard of a community fund. She wasn’t going to say anything. If Glen wanted to cover some of the cost, she would back him.
Sher was sure Mack more than likely had an insurance policy that would cover everything, but she’d leave that conversation with Rachel for after the funeral. She wouldn’t bring up any more than the poor woman could handle at one time. She knew today was the easy day, compared to what lay ahead.