The other mourners had left, and now it was just the five of them, Rose and the four children. Rose held baby Annabelle, while Inna and Alisa held onto each other and sobbed and Liam stared bleakly at the ground.
"We ask ourselves why...but words are insufficient." The words the Russian Orthodox priest had spoken mere minutes ago haunted Rose. Over the past several days, she'd asked herself over and over again how a sudden heart attack could have taken a thirty-three-year old father of four with so much to live for.
She glanced over at her three stepchildren. Inna, the oldest, had resented her at first, but over time, Rose had won her over. There had never been a problem with either of the two younger children.
Unaware of the tragedy, birds sang in the trees, and flowers blossomed in the field. It was a beautiful day, but standing beneath the tent, staring at the lid of the casket, the only thing Rose was aware of was the pain in her heart.
"Is Daddy in heaven now?" asked Liam.
"Yes," said Rose. "We have to be good so we can see him again someday."
Liam hugged Rose. "You're not my real Mommy, but I love you anyway."
"Thank you, sweetheart," said Rose. "I love you, too."
The baby began to squirm and whimper, and Rose knew she'd have to feed her soon. As badly as she wanted to remain beside her husband's casket for just awhile longer, she knew she couldn't.
"I'm going to the car to feed the baby," she announced. "I'll come right back."
"I'm staying right here," said Inna.
"Me too," said Alisa.
Liam accompanied Rose back to the car and sat in the back seat while Rose fed Annabelle in the front seat. When she was finished, she returned to the casket. She and the children stayed until it was lowered into the ground.