Hopeless Hero

I turned to see my cousin Megan hurrying toward me. She engulfed me in a bone-crushing hug before pulling away and holding onto my arms as she looked me up and down. “Ugh, you look gorgeous!” she said. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. You always were the pretty one.”

“Thanks Meg. You look great too. How long has it been?”

“Six years!” she half-yelled. “Can you believe that?”

“No.” I shook my head and glanced around me. I caught Allie’s eye, trying to silently convey that I needed help, but she just laughed and made her way into a pew with the kids. I could have killed her.

“So what have you been up to? Still in New York? How are things? Are you still a paralegal or something like that?”

“A lawyer, yes. I’m still—”

“Oh no!” Megan interrupted. “Looks like they’re about to start. We better sit.” She hurried away in a blur, and I turned around to make my way over to Allie.

When I sat down, I shoved my shoulder hard against hers.

“Ouch,” she said.

“I can’t believe you just left me with her!” I hissed under my breath.

“You looked like you were doing fine.”

“I hate you,” I told her again.

She chuckled. “You might want to be careful with your hatred today. I could be next, you now?” She gestured toward the casket at the front of the church.

“Drama queen,” I mumbled.

***

During the funeral, I finally realized how sad I actually felt about Uncle Jimmy. It may have been a decade since I last saw him, but when the eulogies were read, I remembered everything I loved about him and it didn’t take long for my tears to start flowing. Allie held my hand, all of our bickering forgotten.

After everyone moved to the cemetery to watch as Uncle Jimmy was lowered into the ground, we piled into cars and drove through town toward Kellan’s Pub. Uncle Jimmy’s one request was an Irish wake and the Joppas were nothing if not accommodating to the dead.

Kellan’s was decked out in pictures of Uncle Jimmy. Every inch of bare wall was covered with his face. I shook my head and went straight for the bar. Grabbing two pints, I claimed a table with Allie and we raised our glasses in honor of our uncle.

“He was a good uncle,” Allie said.

“He was a little pervy though,” I reminded her.

“But good all the same.”

“Yeah,” I agreed sadly. “He was.”

“I know I already said it,” Allie began, “but I’m really glad you’re here, Alicia.”

“You’re just happy to have someone else around to incur Mom’s wrath.”

“I’m serious,” Allie said and then took a swig of her beer. “We miss you when you’re not around.”

“She’s right.” Jordan, Allie’s husband, pulled up a chair beside his wife.

“Where are the kids?” I asked with a nervous glance behind me.

“I set them up on the patio,” he said. “They’re good for a few hours.”

I nodded and took another swig of my beer. I had forgotten how good beer from Kellan’s tasted.