“I’m going to close the diner after these customers—”
“You don’t—”
“Hush, Harriet,” I said with a small smile. “You’re not going to change my mind. We’re going to close up and come with you to do whatever you need to before the funeral.”
“I did want to pick up some flowers,” she said.
“And I know a really good florist,” I said.
I slid out of the booth and headed for the kitchen. Her loss had brought mine into perspective. I hid from my best friend and the man that I loved all weekend while Harriet dealt with the loss of her best friend.
Once I was in there, I pressed my back against the wall and shed a few tears for Kenneth. I was sure to be full of waterworks for the funeral, but the shock was just catching up to me. He’d been chronically ill, but they always managed to come into the diner like clockwork.
This whole situation was like a slap in the face. Life was short. What the hell was I doing by being so pissed at Parker?
Tony handed me a napkin and I dabbed at my cheeks. I didn’t want Harriet to see me this way. I had to be strong for her.
I opened the office supplies drawer and ripped a piece of paper from the notebook inside. I scribbled down a note for any other customers that would come by today.
Family emergency. The diner is closed until tomorrow.
“We’re closing after these customers, okay?” I told Tony.
“No problem. I’ll start grabbing their plates as soon as the last bite is eaten,” he said.
I smirked and shook my head. I grabbed a piece of tape and left the kitchen.
Once we were officially closed, Tony and I went home and changed into appropriate funeral attire. Then we convened at my house and went together to pick up the flowers that Harriet requested. We also ordered a grave blanket to be delivered to the site after the burial. Harriet told us she wanted to do the part at the cemetery alone and I totally understood. But I wanted her to know that even when she was standing alone, she wasn’t. Tony and I would be there with her in spirit.
Harriet planned a small service at the funeral home. We arrived there around two-thirty. Harriet was in the main space alone with the pastor and Kenneth’s coffin.
I took Tony’s hand. “This isn’t real.”
He squeezed back. “Just take a deep breath.”
I did as he said and we walked into the room together.
We sat with Harriet in the front row. The funeral home had only set up two rows of chairs, probably with a request from Harriet since she knew not to expect a large turnout.
“How are you holding up?” I asked.
“Better now,” she said, looking from me to Tony.
We sat together reminiscing about all the good times we had with Kenneth at the diner. And Harriet even added a few other memories that we hadn’t heard before about their younger days.
I couldn’t help but feel the striking resemblance to the friendship that Parker and I had. Even though I didn’t know the couple well outside of their older years, her stories of the adventures they had together sounded remarkably similar to how Parker and I were when we were together.
The pastor started the service at three on the dot.
“I’d like to welcome you all here today to celebrate the life of Kenneth Lamonte—”
He stopped speaking, and his attention moved to the door.
We turned around and saw Parker standing at the back of the room.
My mouth fell open. How the hell did he know about the funeral? I threw a look at Tony and he shrugged and shook his head. I didn’t want to turn around again, but I didn’t have to. Parker sat in the chair next to me and leaned over.
“Harriet, so sorry I’m late.”