“I don’t know yet. No one has contacted us. Have they you?”
“No. Would you…. Could….” He gulped.
“You want me to make the arrangements?”
His eyes begged me. How could I say no?
“Of course. We’ll have to have the funeral before you get out of here. But you and I will plan a memorial for her. A blow out party to end all, when you’re better.”
“She wanted—cremation.”
“Yes.” She’d told me that long ago.
“A tree,” he whispered. “Her cremains. A tree.”
“Whatever you want. I’m sorry about Mom. She’s just trying to understand.”
“I don’t even—understand.”
“I know. You concentrate on getting better, my brother. Stevie’s going to need you strong.”
“Have they told him?”
“Don’t know.”
“I won’t ask that of you. That shouldn’t be your job. My dad…. He can.”
“I’ll ask him.”
“No. I’ll do it. I know we were never close. Why?”
Why weren’t we close? No, he knew that. We’re on a completely different wavelength. Rather, why did I believe him? Why was I being so nice? “I see how this has destroyed you. You hurt here.” I gently touched his heart. “And there’s a place inside that used to have her in it, and it’s empty now.”
“Yes! Yes. I swear to you, Keir. I wasn’t cheating.”
“I know that, Steve. You’re an honorable man. A good husband and father. I know.”
“Tell—Deirdre.”
“Count on it. You rest.”
“Your dad’s here?”
“Yes.”
“Bastard,” he mumbled as he fell asleep.
Mom and Dad were talking to Elaine, so I took Austin Richards aside, and told him what Steve had told me. He nodded, biting his lip.
“I’ll tell Stevie. The boy needs to know. He won’t understand why the rest of us are so upset.”
“Thank you. Steve was going to ask you.”
“I heard. I was standing by the door. Thank you, for your kind words.”
“He’s a good man. I always thought he was too good for my sister.”
Austin’s eyes widened.
“Not that she wasn’t worthy of a good man. I always thought she needed someone who wasn’t as sensitive, refined. He’s a great dad, and he was a good, strong husband. I can’t deny that he did his best. Dionne wasn’t easy to live with.”
“I’m surprised to hear you speaking so candidly.”
“I loved my sister, but she was difficult. Why sugar coat it? I’ll contact you with details. I don’t think Stevie should be there, but we’d be honored if you and Elaine would.”
“Certainly.” He shook my hand solemnly. “She was challenging, but she loved my son—deeply, madly. I’m so sorry….” He choked up.
We embraced and I said my goodbyes.
Once home, I had a long shower and cried. Rowena found me twenty minutes later, sitting on the bottom of the tub, sobbing. Turning off the water, she helped me up and dried me off. Tugging on my hand, she led me to bed. I thought she was going to dress me. Instead, she took off her top. Her pants went next, then her underwear. Taking a condom from the drawer, she held it up, smiling at me.
It seemed naughty, taking her to bed in the middle of the day. I should have been aware of the family, but I didn’t care. When we were together, she had a way of making me think only of her. For that space of time, I was transported out of my bubble of grief. I couldn’t be sad inside her. She made me way too happy, content, hot as hell. God, the things that woman did to me should be illegal. All that for me, and no one else. We hit our climax together and mine went on so long, I thought it was going to kill me. Groaning, I rolled over, flopping on the bed in an exhausted heap.
Rowena laughed, climbing on my legs as she kissed me. I could feel her, still damp and sultry, but I couldn’t possibly have done a thing about it. I was spent, done.
“You love me like that every time, I’m gonna be one of those one time a night pussies,” I wheezed.
“None of them went as long, or made me feel as great as you do. You’re a very talented man, Mr. Doyle.”
“Why thank you, Miss Tynan. I suppose we should join the family again.”
“Shower first. I don’t want to go around your sisters, smelling like sex.”
Laughing, I followed her to the shower. We bathed quickly and dressed, trotting downstairs hand in hand. The family had gathered on the patio. Some of the girls were in the water. Jake was sitting on the double wide lounger, talking to Hannah. They seemed very chummy. I was pleased and slightly surprised that they’d hit it off so well. Of my sisters, Hannah is the most mellow and easy going. She’s not high maintenance like Chica, or strident like Maria and Dionne. Where they are like raging white water, she’s an easy going brook.
©2021 Dellani Oakes
Dellani Oakes 