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Arlana returned to a vacant spot on the couch, holding an exhausted Aziel. "I want to go to bed!" he complained, rubbing reddened eyes that were quickly filling with tears.
"I think I should message Lachlan," Arlana shifted Aziel's weight on her lap.
"One late night won't kill him," Jaira rolled her eyes, voice escaping in an exaggerated huff, "I might never see our relatives again. We're going."
Arlana agreed. This really was an incredibly rare invitation. She soothed her son, trying to rock him to sleep in a stuffy funeral home. In hindsight, it would have been much easier to leave him with Lachlan.
"Ready?" Roseann interrupted her thoughts, "You guys can ride with us."
They made small talk as they sat in the backseat of a luxurious four-door truck with ample legroom. Her relatives had obviously done well for themselves. If she thought the truck was nice, their house blew her away.
The sisters sat together on a small couch in a sunroom overlooking the backyard with its sunken pool. Past 10 pm, all was quiet save for the lowered voices of those present.
"Here, let me take Aziel to the living room. He can lay on the couch and watch cartoons."
Aziel had no idea he had so many relatives who loved him.
Roseann returned moments later, "Drinks?"
The sisters accepted a glass of water. Socially awkward was an understatement yet of all gathered, no one passed judgment.
Rosanne was the first to bring up the topic. "Mark didn't tell Jaira that Grandpa died. She wasn't invited to the funeral. I was telling her today that Mark isn't all that he seems."
Her husband nodded solemnly, "We always worried about you girls but couldn't say anything while your grandpa was still alive. It would have killed him. Now that he is gone, it's time you learn the truth."
****
TWO HOURS LATER, JAIRA was weeping, tears pouring down her cheeks as she shook both her hands at the same time.
"I can't bear it! I can't bear it!"
The wives of their uncles tried in vain to console her.
"You can get through this. Just build up your self-confidence a little more each day."
Aunt Samantha slipped away, joining Arlana in the living room. Arlana was putting on her son's shoes, still reeling from the two-hour revelation. She had known parts - experienced it first hand.
No one believed her - until now.
"You need to focus on your son," Samantha's voice was low, "Focus on yourself and get strong. We shouldn't have said anything in front of your sister. She obviously isn't strong enough to handle the truth..." She paused to stare at some point on the wall for a moment, silence engulfing them. "We are counting on you," she turned to hug her niece.
No words were needed.
"Okay, let's get you home," Roseanne slipped on her shoes, Samantha joining them on the ride home.
"I'm sorry you had to learn the truth like this," Roseanne pulled up in front of the motel.
"Thank you for sharing with us - for trusting us. This really needed to be said and it verifies that all these years I have been telling the truth. That means a lot to me," Arlanda swallowed hard at the lump in her throat, "See you tomorrow. Have a good night."
Jaira was silent in the elevator as she carried their purses and other items they'd brought along. Arlana carried her sleeping son, waiting for Jaira to open the lock.
Jaira's lips were pursed in a thin white line as Arlana tucked Aziel into bed. Sound asleep, he was blissfully unaware of the turmoil that had been unleashed that night.
"I feel like I am going to vomit," Jaira whimpered into the pillow as Arlana sat by her side. "I had no idea..."
"I told you parts years ago..."
"Ya, but it was so outrageous! Besides, Mom and Adelaide said you were a liar when I told them."
Arlana felt like she had been kicked in the heart at her sister's words.
Silently, she crossed the floor, slipping into the bed beside her sleeping son. Her thoughts racing, she remained restless, sleep elusive.
Jaira's phone lit up as she texted her husband in quick succession. For one who despised her husband and constantly wrote Arlana of leaving him, you'd never have known they weren't separated lovers. Perhaps Jaira realized life wasn't quite so bad now that she had been introduced to the skeletons dancing in their family's closet.
So much had changed in less than twenty-four hours.
****
"MORNIN'," JAIRA GROANED, fluffing her pillow then reached immediately for her cell phone. She checked and replied to her messages before sitting up in bed, "I had a hard time sleeping last night after..." Her voice caught in her throat. "It is too much to take in. I feel so lost. Everything I held dear when I was a kid...everything I believed to be true - gone! Where do we go from here? Oh god...." Jaira groaned though it was far from a prayer
Arlana joined her on the side of the bed, "We have to keep a brave face and get through this funeral. Did you tell William?"
"Of course!" Jaira's voice was testy, perhaps from lack of sleep. "He's my husband!"
"I didn't say you shouldn't, just was wondering how he took it," Arlana soothed her sister's ruffled feathers.
"He said we will talk about it more when I get home. Oh, Arlana, I wish I had never come! It would be better if I never knew...."
Arlana held her sister as she cried, unable to find words to comfort Jaira, neither saying the words, though it hung heavily between them.
A quiet rapping on the door came as a welcome relief. Arlana crossed the room, opening the door for Lachlan.
"Good morning Love, I wasn't sure if you would be up yet..." he stepped into the room, winking at Arlana, "Hello Aziel, what are you up to?"
"Mummy made sandwiches. Want one?"
"They look great!" Lachlan grinned, swinging Aziel high in his arms.
Aziel giggled, "Don't drop me!"
"Never," Lachlan promised, kissing his cheek.
Jaira turned towards the wall but not before Lachlan saw her teary eyes.
"Everything okay?" He sat beside her on the bed, holding Aziel in his lap while Arlana passed out saucers.
"Does he know?" Jaira directed her question at Arlana.
"No," Arlana shook her head as Lachlan raised an eyebrow.
What had Arlana kept from him? Lachlan frowned.
"Would you like to tell me?" Lachlan soothed, choosing to focus on Jaira. He remained sitting on the bed beside her, Arlana sitting on the bed across from them.
"We found out bad news last night..." Jaira began, rubbing at her eyes with her knuckles, only making it worse, "We are just trying to take it in," She changed the topic, "When are we leaving for the funeral?"
"It is at 1 pm, but I was hoping to stop at the store and get Aziel some funeral clothes. I think it is important Aziel is there today..."
Lachlan nodded, "Sounds good. I'm just going to wait in the car. I have a few things I want to deal with."
"Are you sure?" Arlana looked up, "I'm certain no one would mind if you were there."
"It's okay, it will give me more time to get some things done."
"I'd like to stop and get some flowers for when they bury Grandpa," Jaira suggested, blowing her nose softly.
"Of course. Okay, so we should check out of the motel soon then we can get these things done before the service. I'll just bring my stuff over to this room. Do you ladies need help with anything?"
****
WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES, they were pulling out of the driveway searching for the stores they needed to hit up before the funeral. Arlana's chest tightened, stress mounting. She was not looking forward to the day's events.
They found the clothing store first. It didn't take long to find a black shirt and dress pants in Aziel's size. Two stores over was a florist. Arlana picked out crimson flowers, Jaira sunny yellow ones. Adelaide had mentioned she was going to bring a single rose like their father had when his mother was buried years before. Truth was, Arlana had forgotten he had done that gesture and had now forgotten Adelaide's plan. So much had happened since the wake yesterday it had totally slipped her mind.
"We've made really good time," Lachlan glanced at his cell phone, "We have over an hour to kill." Glancing around the plaza, they spotted a McDonalds. "Why don't we grab some lunch?"
Aziel didn't have to be asked twice, grabbing Lachlan's hand and half dragging him in the restaurant's direction.
Jaira didn't want anything more than a coffee. She nursed it as they sat together at the table, waiting for the time to pass. Jaira scowled visibly as Arlana and Lachlan joined her, sitting side by side, an expression filled with unspoken words passing between them.