Good Girl (Alphahole Roommates 2)

***

The service is standard, with a few prayers and some kind words of comfort by the reverend. And then Doc and another man who introduced himself as Walter, a coworker of my father’s who said he was a fellow classic car enthusiast get up together.

Doc talks about my Dad being generous, always donating to worthy causes the bar champions, how he has always been there to buy a round or lend an ear to a buddy with a problem.

Shane and I exchange looks briefly at that.

The bar was obviously Dad’s happy place. It wasn’t our house, that’s for sure, and I can’t help but feel bitterness about that.

Walter talks about Dad’s love for cars, his love for his kids, (gesturing to us) how great an asset he was to the company softball team, and Shane and I sit with perfect poker faces. And then Walter chokes up and says their classic car enthusiast club won’t be the same without him and neither would the lunchroom on Fridays at work because “Rich brings donuts for the whole team every week.” Walter says the break room at the factory is getting a plaque with my father’s photo on it before he sits down.

Shane and I get up then and Shane does the talking, holding me close to his side.

“Thank you on behalf of me and my sister, Jada, from the bottom of our hearts for coming today. It’s very sad that our father’s life was cut short. That he won’t be around to someday become a grandfather, to walk my sister down the aisle. His job and his friends meant a lot to him. In fact, he left wishes that you all head to He Ain’t Here for a drink after the service, a drink on him this afternoon. I hope you’ll do that. Thanks, again.”

We’re dismissed, so Shane and I walk out together, arm in arm. Austin walks behind me.

I tell him I hate that he has to go back so soon.

“Doesn’t matter,” he says, and hugs me goodbye in the lobby. “You and me will have a drink together later. Maybe some virgin pina coladas and then we’ll go for a spin in the Mustang.”

“Sounds good,” I whisper. “He wants us to scatter his and Mom’s ashes together at a lake we used to go to when we were small. Do you know which lake that was?”

He shakes his head. “Not a clue. I remember us going to a lake though. Check the photo albums. Mom always wrote stuff on the back of pictures she’d put in there.”

“I’ll do that,” I say.

I hug Shane goodbye, telling him I’ll visit in a few days and bring him some more clothes. I ask if he can have any other comforts and he tells me he’ll find out.

I say goodbye and express my thanks to Dr. Lexington, who stands on the sideline talking with Adele and Carly. And then I shake the plainclothes cop’s hand and thank him for coming, getting a kind smile and an offer of condolences before he and Shane head for a dark SUV at the edge of the parking lot.

Austin then approaches with his group.

“Jada, this is my father, Quentin and his … Alice.”

“My Alice,” Austin’s dad whispers into her ear and she beams a big smile and extends her hand to shake mine.

Austin’s father is tall, very CEO-looking in an expensive suit. He has salt and pepper hair and chocolate brown eyes with lots of laugh lines. They look good on him.

He takes my hand next. “So nice to meet you. Sorry we’re meeting you today.”

“Thank you for taking the time. I appreciate that. How are you feeling? Austin told me you were just in the hospital.”

“I’m doing better. Thank you for asking. I’m so very sorry about your loss.”

Alice is a well-dressed curly-haired redhead who reminds me a little of Stevie Nicks. She has an accent. I’m not sure if it’s English or Scottish but it’s from somewhere in that direction.

Carly pulls me into a hug. “It was a nice service.”

“Thank you for coming. I can’t believe you guys did that. I’m so touched.”

“Of course I came. This is my mom, Charlene, and my aunt, Susan.” Carly presents me to her mom and aunt who look like older versions of her.

“Hey Austin. How are you, handsome?” Charlene asks, hugging him, and then reaches for my hand. “Very sorry for your loss.”

Carly’s aunt greets me similarly and then Adele hugs me for a long time. “I’m so sorry, honey,” she says, patting my back.

“I can’t believe you guys came all this way. You shouldn’t have done that,” I whisper.

“Of course we did,” she says.

I look at Austin. He’s looking down at me with a look in his eyes that startles me.

“Ready?” he asks. “Or you want more time in that chapel before we go?”