The vigil for Todd was being held that night on the promenade near the water he’d loved so much. Every night as the sun went down, the sunset ceremony was held there. Many in Key West would gather to honor the beautiful sunset and the day that had passed, give it a fitting send-off. As the light of the day drew to a close, the promenade filled with musicians, singers, stragglers, all kinds of couples, and vendors selling Key Lime pies. Not only Todd, but most in Key West were usually part of the nightly festivities.
This evening, though, the mood was somber, the music softer, and the sunset skewed behind a sudden mist that had drifted in. A group of locals strumming guitars were sending Todd off, singing a heartrending lullaby. Flowers and stuffed animals were strewn along the edges of the walk along with notes of farewell and burning candles. A spontaneous outpouring of love and sorrow was visible everywhere.
“Another one gone in Key West,” sang a guy in a cowboy hat and boots, strumming a guitar as he strolled along.
As Olivia walked onto the promenade with her family, she realized she had no idea Todd was so well known down here. Were all the people here for him? Her stomach lurched, as in the distance, she saw Todd’s family walking in her direction. Introducing them to her parents was the last thing she wanted to do right now.
“Your friend seems to have been quite popular,” Olivia’s father commented, as she watched Todd’s family approach.
Olivia hadn’t realized it herself and didn’t know what to say. Todd had said very little to her about his time in Key West. She’d just thought he’d come down here to work from time to time.
“My guess is that these people are mostly curiosity seekers,” Mauve piped up. “Todd’s death has become a big story down here because of the recent food poisonings. Everyone loves a mystery.”
The promenade seemed to become more and more crowded as Todd’s family finally approached Olivia and stopped. Todd’s mother and father were there, his brothers, Craig and Lance, and a young, striking woman with long, dark, wavy hair. She must be Deanne, Todd’s sister, thought Olivia. Todd had mentioned Deanne in passing a few times.
“How are you doing?” Olivia directed her question to Todd’s mother and sister.
His mother looked at Olivia blankly, as if she weren’t there. Deanne took a deep breath.
“This is totally surreal,” Deanne responded. “I refuse to believe that Todd is gone. Absolutely refuse.”
“I’m Olivia’s father, Blake Wells.” Blake immediately introduced himself to Todd’s father and held out his hand.
Todd’s father, George, nodded without taking Blake’s hand. “Unfortunate to meet you under these conditions,” George curtly replied.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Blake offered. “Our entire family is.”
George stared at him harshly. “I understand that you and your wife never met our son, just as we never met your daughter.”
“That’s right,” said Blake. “I wish we had.”
“Too late now,” Todd’s brother Craig intercepted.
Wisely, Blake paid no attention to Craig, let his words drift off into the rising commotion. “Our daughter tells us she loved Todd very much, and that he loved her as well,” Blake continued speaking. “They were happy together. At least we can take some comfort from that.”
But George seemed to have no desire to be comforted. “You call that comfort?” he shot back.
Olivia found it odd that her father would even say that. Why did he think it would bring Todd’s family some sort of consolation? She felt it would only incense them further. Clearly, they were still on the warpath. But of course, her father hadn’t met them before.
“Many people loved Todd.” George, combative, raised his arm and swept it around grandly. “You see how many have come out to honor him. I recognize many of his college friends and coworkers here.”
Todd’s brother Lance looked down and bit his lip. “Lots of Todd’s friends have come from home as well,” he added. “There’s an outpouring of concern. It means a lot.”
“You want to know why so many people are gathering quickly?” George’s face grew darker. “People want to know what happened, that’s why! Nan and I have already spoken to plenty of them. No one had heard that Todd was getting engaged. No one heard anything about Olivia. Frankly, it doesn’t make sense.”
Blake wasn’t put off for a moment, though. “Doesn’t make sense to our family or friends either,” he replied. “But life doesn’t always make sense, does it?”
Olivia was proud of her father’s reply. It didn’t hold water with George, though.
“My life makes sense,” George bitterly retorted, “and so does my family’s. I don’t just throw out a child like that.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you throw your son away.” Blake stayed dignified and centered.
Olivia said nothing, just stared straight ahead of her. In the distance she suddenly spotted Wayne and Lorna strolling amidst the crowds. It was jarring to see them, but also reassuring to know that law enforcement was here, monitoring the activities.
“Some of Todd’s friends are planning to make impromptu speeches about him at the vigil,” Lance said to Olivia then. “Is there something you might like to add?”
“Not right now, not tonight,” Olivia responded. That was going too far. She didn’t know any of these people and they didn’t know her. Todd’s death wasn’t some kind of public spectacle. There was no way she could stand up and talk about Todd to them.
Lance seemed to understand, but Craig’s face pursed. “Why won’t you talk? Wasn’t Todd worth it?”
“Of course he was worth it, he was worth the whole world.” Olivia felt herself shaking. “I just don’t think I can do it.”
“He didn’t mean that much to you?” Craig retorted.
Blake took offense. “Now, hold on. It’s perfectly understandable that my daughter wouldn’t want to speak in public a day after such a loss.”
“It’s not understandable to me, though.” Craig was fuming. “It’s more our loss than it is hers. How long did she know him anyway? Five months.”
“I would think you’d want to say something,” Mauve echoed in the background.
Olivia spun around then, trembling.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, I totally understand,” said Deanne, putting her hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “It is too much. I couldn’t do it either. Everything is so extreme down here, anything goes.”
“I’m sure Olivia will say a few words at the memorial though,” Lance broke in. “After Todd’s body is returned from the medical examiner, we’re having him cremated. Then there will be a memorial for him down here very soon after. You’ll have time to prepare.”
The memorial? Olivia hadn’t even begun to think about that. “Yes, of course I’ll say something at the memorial,” she offered.
“Todd always said he wanted to be buried in Key West,” Lance continued. “He wanted his ashes tossed into the water.”
Olivia began shaking. The thought of Todd’s memorial once again brought the reality of his death to her in a flash. She had to say something at it and she knew it.
“We’re all waiting for the medical examiner’s report,” Lance continued heatedly. “It’s coming soon, too. Word is we may even have it later tonight or tomorrow.”
Craig jumped in again. “If Todd didn’t die by food poisoning, and we don’t think he did, everyone has to know immediately. For all we know, a killer’s on the loose, mingling around right here, among all of us.”
The possibility that a killer was on the loose slit the evening air like a knife, freezing the conversation.
The two families slowly began backing away from each other, nervously blending into the crowds.
The vigil for Todd started spontaneously a few minutes later. People gathered together, arms around one another, swaying and singing. Some placed wreaths for Todd at the edge of the promenade. Others left small stuffed animals. A few handfuls of cards and notes were also freely scattered around. The entire gathering was completely makeshift and informal. Olivia decided that it was perfectly okay that she wasn’t speaking at it.
Olivia and her family stood in the background, watching all that went on. Todd’s family, oddly enough, also stayed in the background, on the other, far side.
Tremendous grief welled up in Olivia as she heard the soft music grow louder and more fervent, sending Todd off in a wave of love.
“They all loved him so much,” Olivia whispered to her father, who stood staunchly at her side.
“The death of a young person is always a tragedy,” her father responded. “You’ve been through too much, Olivia. It’s deeply troubling that you have to go through this again.”
A young man whom Olivia didn’t recognize stood up in front of the crowd then to speak about Todd. Thankfully, she couldn’t make out exactly what he was saying, due to the loud murmurs of the group.
After he sat down, Todd’s brother Lance walked to the front, held out his hands, and called out something in the dimming light. It seemed as if he was sending his farewell wishes to a beloved brother. To Olivia’s surprise, his brother Craig said nothing, just stayed slumped beside his parents, scowling.
One after another, different young people stood up, either reading poems, speaking, or singing. The noise, the commotion, and the dying light made it difficult to understand anyone. It was more like a spontaneous love fest with the chance for his friends and family to be together and support one another at this terrible time.
“We can go now,” Olivia’s father said after a short while. “No one knows we’re here. It doesn’t make a difference.”
Olivia was relieved to hear him say that. She couldn’t wait to be far away from this strange gathering that was so painful to her and so unruly.
*
Olivia and her family returned silently to the hotel, exhausted and famished. They quickly ordered dinner in from a restaurant down the block and then slowly began to unwind.
“None of this is good,” Blake said as all of them were seated in Olivia’s room. “If you ask me the best plan is for us all to pack up tonight and get out of here.”
“That’s abrupt, dear,” Olivia’s mom, Della, replied. “And we’re all exhausted. We have rooms reserved and we need to sleep.”
“Besides, it will look strange if we leave so fast,” Mauve chimed in.
“It looks strange enough as it is,” Della agreed.
“I agree,” Blake relented. “So, at the very least Olivia has to pack up and leave with us first thing in the morning.”
“I can’t do it,” Olivia repeated sullenly.
“There’s no such thing as I can’t,” her father repeated carefully. “I don’t like Todd’s family one bit, don’t trust a single one of them.”
“You’re being harsh, dear,” Della said. “You don’t know his family. None of us do.”
“They’re chomping at the bit, looking for someone to pin the blame on,” Blake continued. “Who better than Olivia?”
Olivia put her head in her hands. Her temples were throbbing.
“In fact, I’m even thinking that maybe we should take you on a vacation out of the country.” Blake turned to Olivia fully.
Olivia’s head shot up. “Leave the country?” She was horrified. “Why? I haven’t done anything.”
“Of course you haven’t done anything.” Blake’s voice grew more intense. “But people get snarled up in all kinds of tangles for less reason than this. Lady Justice can be complicated. Listen to me, Olivia. You were the last one to see Todd alive.”
This was way too much for Olivia. “I’m not running away, there’s nothing to run from,” she repeated.
“There’s plenty to run from,” her father insisted. “Being smart is knowing when to get out while you can.”
“It will only make things look worse if Olivia runs,” Mauve broke in then.
“Besides, I have to stay here for Todd’s memorial,” Olivia mused. “I want to give him a proper good-bye.”
“No,” Blake insisted. “We’re all definitely going to be out of here by then. You can come back down for the memorial if you want to. It won’t be for at least a few days.”
“You can also bring some of your friends down with you, too,” Olivia’s mother added. “Then you won’t be alone.”
“Olivia doesn’t need to bring her friends. I’ll be coming down with her,” her father exclaimed.
Olivia realized that her mother was eager to leave, had no intention of attending the memorial. She’d been through too much already with Olivia and her first fiancé, Paul.
“Then, right after the memorial, I suggest we take a vacation in France,” her father repeated. “You love it there. I’ll go with you.”
“What’s gotten into you, Blake?” Olivia’s mother was flustered. “There’s no reason at all that Olivia has to run off to France. After the memorial she should come back to Boston and settle back down near us.”
“Leave my life and my job?” Olivia was startled.
“You’ve been through another horror, dear,” her mother continued. “You don’t realize it yet. One never does. But you’re vulnerable. It’s wise to come home and be near your family. It will take time for you to process this as well.”
To Olivia’s surprise, the thought of being near her family was not at all appealing. And yes, she’d been through another horror and did full well realize it. Why was this devastation happening again? she wondered. Was it true that, as Mauve said, she’d been cursed?
“Will you come back with us tomorrow? Will you listen to me?” Olivia’s father turned to her mournfully. He looked so troubled, it gripped Olivia’s heart. “Please listen to me on this one,” he repeated. “Just come back for now, not your whole life.”
Olivia was torn. Her father had been through so much with her already, she couldn’t bear to add to his upset now. On the other hand, it felt much too early to leave.
“Just come back with us for a couple of nights,” he said. “I promise I’ll come back with you for the memorial.”
Olivia took a moment to consider what he said. If she went back for a couple of nights, not only would it soothe her family, it would give her a chance to get her bearings and a new perspective on everything. There was also no point in staying down here near Todd’s family when their anger and grief were still so raw. They clearly did not wish her well. She needed to get some distance from them and give them time to calm down.
“I’ll do it,” Olivia quickly agreed. “I’ll go back with you tomorrow, but I’m returning for the memorial immediately.”
Olivia’s father sighed deeply. “Of course you are,” he agreed, “and I’ll come right back with you. Thank you, I truly appreciate it. Something’s tremendously wrong here, I feel it, and you can’t stay down here alone.”