The morning of the interment service, Belle, her parents, and sister gathered around Judy Ashford’s grave in St. Gertrude’s cemetery. The urn containing the remains sat on a green, felt-covered pedestal as the priest droned a series of prayers into the thick, early September air.
Frankie Ashford was finally receiving a proper burial service, his ashes to be interred with his mother in her grave.
Belle stood between her parents holding their hands, silent tears streaming down her face from under her sunglasses. Her mother must’ve heard her sniffle and produced a tissue for her almost instantly.
A mother’s love was instinctual, automatic. Judy must’ve been inconsolable when her son died, if she hadn’t been scared out of her wits considering she was a kid herself.
Belle closed her eyes and let the hope and promise of the prayers lighten her heavy heart. But when the priest recited the part of the Shepherd’s psalm that said, “Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,” she choked back indignation. What life? What constitutes a life in God’s eyes? Sixteen years for a girl traumatized by sexual abuse? An hour or a day for the innocent boy born of it?
She wanted to believe in God at that moment of abject sadness, but the God her grandmother used to speak of was incongruous with an entity that would’ve allowed all of that to happen—from the moment an adult betrayed a child’s innocence to the moment a human being had to die and be stuffed into an old milk crate, unnamed, and in an unmarked grave.
“Are you okay?” Belle’s father whispered.
Belle nodded, but she wasn’t—far from it. The tragedy of it all was too much, but so was her breakup with Ally. It was all so sad; the worst part was discovering that Ally wasn’t who she’d thought she was.
She’d fallen so deeply in love with a woman who was caring, intelligent, and seemingly above reproach. And then one event happened and changed everything she’d understood about her.
It was indeed a time for mourning.
When the service was over, Belle and her family turned to leave. Charlene and Craig were standing several feet behind. Belle wiped the last of her tears and approached them, hugging each one.
“I can’t believe you guys came all the way up here for this.”
“We wanted to,” Craig said. “Judy meant a lot to us.”
“I needed this,” Charlene said. “I finally feel a sense of closure after what you and I talked about—and knowing my friend and her child are together again.”
“I can’t thank you both enough for being so open and honest with me. The investigators wouldn’t have gotten anywhere in this case without you.”
“Do they know who the father is?” Craig said.
“I don’t know if the DNA test for the sheriff ever came back, but I’m assuming it’s him—given his dubious track record with pubescent girls.”
“It’s unbelievable,” Craig said. “But then it makes sense why he hated that I was dating Judy. If I had known what he was up to, I would’ve busted his head wide open, deputy sheriff or not.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Charlene said. “You would’ve rotted in prison forever if you had. What would I have done without my big brother?”
Belle smiled, her mood lifted by their love for each other. “Would you guys like to join my family and me back at the house? We’re gonna have a little cookout and visit for a while.”
Charlene looked at Craig.
“Please,” Belle said. “In a way, you’re like family.”
They agreed and followed Belle’s car back to the house.
***
After a simple cookout of hamburgers and hot dogs, Belle took in the traditional family scene happening on her stone patio. Her parents and Craig and Charlene were chatting like they were old friends, sharing their similar versions of the good old days while her brother-in-law attempted to get Red to chase a tennis ball.
As Belle moved the leftover side dishes into the shade, her sister, Carolyn, approached her with two crimson martinis splashing over the rims of their glasses.
“Try this.” She handed one to her as though they were kids again sneaking behind their parents’ backs.
“What are you doing to me?” Belle said as she sipped the pomegranate cocktail. “I’m trying to sober up from this insane summer.”
“Don’t be a wimp. It’s the Friday before a three-day weekend.”
“I’m trying to detox,” Belle said.
They both cracked up laughing as they clicked their glasses together.
“If Eddie thinks he’s gonna get Red to chase that ball, he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. That dog is so old.”
Carolyn laughed. “Let’s see how long it takes him to figure it out.”
“Is that what twenty-five years together does to couples? Makes them secretly root for each other’s downfall?”
“I still adore him, but that doesn’t stop me from relishing those moments when his stubbornness backfires on him.”
Belle laughed, envying with good nature her sister’s enduring marriage.
“Speaking of significant others,” Carolyn said. “Where’s that deputy sheriff you were so hot and heavy with?”
Belle glared at her. “I told you it’s over. Way to bring down the room, Carolyn.”
“I know you did, but I thought you guys would’ve worked it out after the case was over.”
“Well, surprise, surprise. We didn’t.”
“I’m sorry. How are you doing?”
“I’m a mess. I miss her so much, and I’m so conflicted about everything. I have my condo in Guilford and this house, and I don’t know which one to sell, but I have to sell one of them so I can pay my bills.”
“Don’t sell this place.” Carolyn glanced around in awe. “You’ve done an amazing job renovating it. It’s just gorgeous.”
“I’m so torn. I put all of myself into it, and I love how it turned out, but it’s also filled with major negative vibes—my latest relationship disaster, oh, and lest we forget, two kids died here.” Belle shivered at the thought.
“We all have to die somewhere.”
Belle glared at her again. “Seriously?”
“It’s all about perspective, sis. I mean you inherited a free house on a picturesque piece of land, and you fixed it up into a dream house. I know it’s in the boonies, but I don’t know. If I were you, I’d get a shaman in here to sage the place and call it home sweet home.”
“Oh, okay. Some hokey incense ceremony performed by a crunchy granola is gonna solve all my problems.” Belle rolled her eyes.
“It would take a hell of lot more than incense to solve all your problems. I was only addressing your bad juju issue.”
“Making fun of your little sister’s heartache? Classy. I think we’re done here.”
Belle started to walk away, but Carolyn grabbed her arm.
“I’m sorry, Belles. You know I’m teasing you. It’s our thing.”
“I’m just really bummed. I felt a connection with Ally I’d never felt before, with anyone.” She paused to compose herself. “It’s been hard moving past this one.”
Carolyn put an arm around her and pushed Belle’s head onto her shoulder. “Call me more or come visit more. I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks. I will.”
“Liar. You’re gonna keep on pining over your deputy all by your lonesome.”
Belle smirked. “Probably. By the way, she’s the sheriff now.”
“Ugh. Then I guess I can understand your motivation for wanting to sell, even though I’m in love with this house.”
“You’re not making this any easier.”
Carolyn shrugged helplessly as Craig and Charlene approached to say good-bye.
“We have to head back now,” Charlene said. “Thank you again for all you’ve done.”
Belle hugged them both. “I wish I could’ve done more. I wish Bob had to face his victims and account for his actions.”
“I’m sure he already has had to account for them at the pearly gates,” Charlene said.
Craig agreed. “If there’s a hell, that’s where he is right now.”
Belle wasn’t sure about all that, but it was a lovely idea. She needed to believe that justice would be served even if she’d never witness it.
In any event, she found consolation in having seen it through to the only outcome that truly mattered—Judy and her son were finally reunited.