EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE

     Becky Simpson stood at the edge of the open grave.  Long strands of soggy hair clung to her face as tears slid down her cheeks.  Her lightweight jacket dripped water as the rain pelted against her slim body.  Thunder rumbled in the distance while the coffin slowly descended into the gapping hole.  Cory sidled up next to her and placed an arm around her waist.

     “Come on, Sis.  You’re getting soaked.  It’s time to go. ”

     He gently led her toward the big black limousine, helped her into the seat, then scooted in beside her.

    “What am I going to do without him?”  She said, her voice quivering as she took the handkerchief he offered, and dabbed the water from her face.

     “You’ll be fine.  Now you can do the things you always wanted to do.”

     “Do you realize without Dad, I’m all alone.  You’ve at least got a wife and a child on the way.  I’ve got no one.”

     He gave her a squeeze.  “Hey, you’re still young.  You have plenty of time to find the right man.”

     She glanced at her brother.  “You know what I’d really like to do?”

     He shook his head.  “No, what?”

     “Find out what happened to our mother.”

     Cory straightened and removed his arm from around her shoulders.  “Why do you want to go digging into the past trying to find the whereabouts of Mom?  She left years ago and never made contact with either of us.”  

    A slight smile curled the corners of Becky’s lips.  “I’ve dreamed of her many times.  I can still see her cleaning the house and humming a cheerful tune.  She always seemed so happy.”  Clasping her hands in her lap, Becky stared longingly out the rain streaked window.  “There’s bound to be a reason she left.  I know she loved us.  Why would she just disappear without a word?”

     Cory bowed his head and dusted off his wet pants.  “Have you ever thought she might be dead?”

     Becky jerked her head around and glared at him.  But before she could answer, the big car came to a stop in front of the church.  Cory hopped out and ran around to open her door.  He took her arm, and they hurried up the steps just as a bolt of lightening streaked across the sky, followed by another rumble of thunder.  Dashing into the building, Susan, Cory’s wife, met them inside the vestibule.  She gave her husband a hug and took Becky’s hand.

     “I think you two need to get into dry clothes.” 

     Becky nodded.  “You’re right.  I’m getting chilled.” 

     “We’ll go by and pick up something to eat,” Cory said.  “See you in about thirty minutes.”

     “Okay.   Meet you at the house.” 

     As Becky drove home, many thoughts crowded her mind.  She wondered why there were so few people at her father’s service.  Surely he had more friends.  Of course, the weather may have played a role and kept many away.  Not good for older people to drive in cold and stormy conditions.  Maybe she should have offered to have a wake with food and drink.  “Sorry, Dad,” she muttered aloud.  “I was just too upset.” 

     When she reached the house, she ran upstairs and changed clothes, then brought in a big log from the covered back porch.  Placing it on the paper she’d stacked on the grill, she set it afire.  By the time Cory and Susan arrived with the food, the house felt cozy and warm.

     After they finished the meal, eight months pregnant Susan groaned as she rose from the table.  “It’s been a tiring day and we have a long drive tomorrow.  I think I’ll go to bed.”  She turned to her husband.  “Honey, could you help your sis clean up?”

     Becky waved a hand.  “You two go ahead, it won’t take me a minute to get everything put away.”

     “Are you sure?” Cory said, picking up a couple of the plates.

     “Yes.”  She gestured for him to leave the dirty dishes.  “You go take care of Susan.”

                                                                                ***

     The next morning, Becky walked her brother and wife to their car.  “Susan, are you okay?”

     “Yes.”  She laughed.  “Just big and fat.  Believe you me, I’m ready to have this baby.”

     “Be sure and let me know as soon as the big event happens.”

     “Don’t worry.  You’ll probably be the first we call.”  

     Becky bent down and gave her a hug.  “I pray everything goes well.”   She stepped back as her brother closed the car door.  

     He put his arms around Becky and gave her a squeeze.  “Sis, stay in touch.”  Glancing up at the sky, he dashed around the front of the car.  “We’d better get on the road.  Hopefully, we can beat this next storm.”  

     “Call me when you get home.  Drive carefully.”  They waved as she watched the car turn the corner and disappear.  Climbing the steps to the front porch, she rubbed the sides of her arms as the goose bumps rose from the chilly breeze.     

     The minute she moved inside, silence engulfed her.  She leaned against the door and stared into quiet room space.  Normally, Dad would have the news blaring on the television, regardless of the hour.  She already missed his voice, calling for her to come and watch the latest storm alert or to tell her about an incident at the grocery store.

     She wiped a hand across her face.  It surprised her when she discovered her cheeks wet and warm with tears.  Suddenly, a clap of thunder jolted her out of the intense thoughts.  Running fingers through her long brown hair, she pushed the loose strands behind her ears and moved toward the hallway.                

     Becky hesitated outside the closed door of her father’s office, bit her lower lip, then turned the handle.  She moved cautiously across the room to the large oak desk in front of the window.  Tracing her fingers across the worn smooth wood, she felt a guilty sensation flow through her, as though she’d intruded into an area where she didn’t belong.  She took a deep breath and slid into his desk chair.  So many questions left unanswered.  Her eyes welled with tears again as she thought about all the wonderful times she’d had with her dad.  Now, all the kin she had left in the world was her younger brother.  

     Only two years separated their ages, but Cory had married soon after he finished college, moved to another town, and now had a baby on the way.  Five years ago, due to the woeful pleading of her father, Becky had returned home.  He said the big house seemed so empty and lonely after his children had gone off for school.  Maybe all the chatter of a growing family might not be present, but if she’d come back he knew it would lift his spirits.  He promised not to put a damper on her life, and she could stay as long as she wished.  No love had entered Becky’s life, so the decision hadn’t been hard to make.  Once she’d settled in, she had no desire to find a place of her own.        

     She’d found a good paying job in town at a mall, where she became the buyer of women’s clothing at one of the well known department stores.  This kept her wardrobe in the latest style and occasional travel kept her from boredom.  Many people told her she had exquisite taste, and wearing the fashions she’d purchased, lured many people into the women’s area. 

      She remembered how her dad teased her about one of the slinky outfits she wore home.  He told her a beautiful woman prancing around in that outfit would cause nothing but trouble to the married men in her office.  His laughter rang through the house when he told her she’d leave them panting and the wives ready to kill.

     Becky wiped the tears from her eyes, and blew her nose.  Having the full responsibility of being executrix of her father’s will, she’d taken off a couple of weeks to get things in order.  Cory would return to sign the final papers in the next few days.  He had no problem with her keeping the house, as he had no interest in it.  The estate would be divided so that he’d be covered for his half.  

     She pondered again how she’d approach him on the idea of finding their mother.  Cory was only eight when she took off.  No trace of her had ever been found.  But Becky remembered her twinkling blue eyes, big smiles and wonderful hugs. 

     Dropping her pen on the desk top, she strolled to the window and peered out through the sheer curtains.  The rain had quit and she smiled at the squirrel guarding his nest in the crook of the oak tree.  He kept chattering and scolding a blue jay perched on a limb a few feet away.  The bird flew at the sound of the gate as it rattled open and Henry Harris, the gardener, entered.  He’d taken care of their yard for as long as she remembered.  Becky had never liked him as a little girl.  When she told her dad the man scared her, he just laughed, telling her Henry wouldn’t hurt a fly and he needed the job.  Strange, she didn’t recall seeing him at the funeral, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t there.  In her state of mind, she probably didn’t see anyone who wasn’t right in her face.  He tended to be very shy and could very well have been in the background.  Becky crossed the room and went down the stairs to the main floor.

     Slipping on a jacket hanging on the hook near the back door, she went outside.  “Good morning, Henry.”

     “Mornin’,” he said, ducking his head as he reached down to pick up the rake.  “Sorry about your pappy.  Very sad to have him gone.  I thought I’d run over and see what I could do between the storms.”   

     Before Becky could respond, he’d turned abruptly and headed around the corner of the house.  She decided not to pursue him this morning.  Her questions could wait until a less strained time.