"I really hate funerals," Katy said to me as we walked into Wilson's Funeral Home for Susan's funeral.
“Me too. Though to be honest, anyone who actually likes funerals probably has a screw loose," I said.
"Good point. This is a wonderful turnout,” Katy said, looking around at all the people in the room.
"It is. I’m glad. The people I’ve talked to about Susan either loved her or hated her. It didn’t seem like there was much in between. Makes me wonder if more people love or hate me," I joked.
"Everyone loves you," Katy said, giving me a smile. "Are Cooper and Willie coming?"
"Cooper is. He didn't really know Susan, but as mayor, he said things like this were important for him to attend, whether he personally knew her that well or not," I said, wrinkling up my nose. "I get why he needs to do it; it just wouldn't be a part of the job I would enjoy. Especially if I didn’t know the person whose funeral I was attending. It's hard enough figuring out what to say when you do know them. I just never know what to say. ‘Sorry for your loss’ doesn’t seem to cut it. It seems more like a platitude."
"I think it’s more the thought that counts," she said to me.
I knew she was right. Showing up for someone and their family to support them was what mattered.
"Where did you want to sit?" Katy asked.
“Toward the back. That way when Cooper gets here he can join us, and it won’t be so obvious that he's running a little late. He had to go to the office today before the funeral, and I have a feeling he will get caught up with stuff. It seems like that place really holds him hostage."
"I'm sure once he gets over the learning curve of the job it won't be so bad."
“I hope not. I don't mind that he's working all the time because he loves what he does, and I want to support that. I just don’t want to see him running himself ragged, and the poor guy is only getting three hours of sleep a night."
Wilson’s Funeral Home had two viewing rooms. A large one and a smaller one. Susan’s funeral was being held in the bigger room, and I actually wondered if this room was going to be big enough, as there were still about fifteen minutes before the service was supposed to start and the room was wall-to-wall people. Katy and I took seats in the back row, and I put my purse on the seat next to me, saving it for Cooper.
I hoped I’d have the chance to talk to Dale after the funeral, though I realized it might not be the best time. But I thought his being fresh off being called in for questioning yesterday, he might be a little more willing to have a chat with me. At least that was my hope. I wasn’t completely insensitive and wanted to be careful about honoring him and his late wife.
I looked around the room and nodded at a few people I knew as they walked in and found their seats. Eventually, I noticed Dale standing next to a woman who looked a little like him, making me wonder if it was his sister. Talking to them was the woman I saw with Dale at Mi Casa. Susan’s sister, Megan. Her gray hair was swept up in a twist and she wore a plain black dress. She reminded me of Susan much more today than she had when I saw her with Dale. Maybe it was because I knew who she was now. Susan had told me she had a brother who had died in a car accident at twenty and then this sister, Megan, who was two years younger than her if I was remembering right.
I swiveled my head, observing the crowd and waiting for Cooper to walk through the door. He had texted me a minute ago to tell me he had just pulled in. I finally saw him walk in and raised my hand to get his attention. He smiled at me, walking in our direction. We were in the middle of the back row, and he made his way by the people sitting next to us to get to me. Even though he hadn’t been mayor long, everyone seemed to know him. That took a little to get used to. Our life really wasn’t all that private anymore.
"Ladies," he said, nodding at Katy and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“Did you get your work done?" I said.
"I'm not sure there will ever be a time when my work is done, if you want the honest truth. But I did deal with a couple important things that needed my immediate attention, so now I don't have to worry about them while I am here."
"That's good."
We were prevented from saying anything else as the minister walked up to the front of the room and got our attention, starting the service. The service was beautiful. They played the song How Great Thou Art, and Dale got up and said a few words along with Susan’s sister, Megan. Dale talked about Susan and all the wonderful things that she did during her career as a kindergarten teacher, and how she selflessly gave her time to all the children she loved. I couldn't help but wonder how he really felt about certain things Susan had done, knowing he hadn’t agreed with what she had done to Nikki and Joyce. Though to be fair, she had taught for over thirty years, and I knew she had put a lot of good out in the world.
I heard the door of the chapel open about halfway through the service and couldn’t help but look back. I was shocked when I saw who walked through the door. What is she doing here, I wondered. I had planned to stop by her hotel later today, because last night she wasn’t in, but maybe I could catch her while she was here.
The minister pulled my attention back to him as he asked us all to bow our heads in prayer. Once the service was over, the family headed to the front, and the minister organized a receiving line. Cooper was in front of me, with Katy behind us. As we reached Dale, he looked to be barely holding it together, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," I said, shaking his hand and giving it a squeeze when I reached him.
"Thank you for coming, Presley. I know Susan enjoyed working with you on the flower arrangements for the contest."
I wasn't sure how true that was. Susan was the one with all the knowledge. I hadn't seen much of what she was working on until that fateful Saturday. I wasn’t my mother, and thought that she felt a little put out to work with me until the very end. Almost like I was too insignificant for her to share the details.
"I enjoyed working with her too," I said and leaned a little closer to whisper in his ear. "Is there any way we can talk later?" I needed him to talk, to hear me out; he might actually believe I was here to help him and be willing to consider what I had to say.
He nodded. "There's going to be a gathering at the house. You are all welcome," he said looking at me, Katy, and Cooper.
I nodded and then moved on, shaking Megan’s hand, and offering condolences to other people, trying to get a sense of the relatives.
By the time we walked out to the parking lot, I was disappointed to see there was no sign of Josie. We got into our cars and drove over to Dale's. As I parked on the street in front of Dale's house, cars were already starting to pull in. Cooper and Katy had followed me. I waited for them to pull in behind me and park so we could all walk in together. I did want to pay my respects, but I also thought I might be able to get a few of my questions answered.
On my way to Dale's, I couldn't help but think the man I saw at the funeral home looked broken and was the same man I had seen come to my shop the day Susan had died. It was hard to reconcile that person with a cold-blooded killer willing to kill his wife for insurance money. But I also knew people weren't always what they seemed, and you never knew what was going on inside people's heads.