Today was the funeral of one of my residents at the nursing home I worked at as a nurse. I wasn't ready to let her go but God had other plans. I had been standing in front of the mirror looking at my reflection for quite a while. I had a conversation within my head the entire time. I came to one conclusion; I hate funerals.

"Hey Rosa, it's time to go." Beth said from the other side of the door.

I looked at the door then looked at myself one last time. I opened the door and turned off the light. I really did not want to leave the house. I grabbed my coat and purse and walked with Beth to the car where Santino was waiting.

The car was silent the entire ride to the church. During the ride, I could feel Beth and Santino looking back at me whether it was through the rear view mirror or them turning completely around when we were at a red light or a stop sign. When I wasn't staring out of the window, I would catch Santino rubbing Beth's stomach or the couple holding hands while giving each other loving smiles. I wish I could be as happy as them right about now.

We finally pulled up to the church. I sat up straight and watched as people assembled inside the church. I noticed an older woman with a floor length fur coat who was being held up by two younger men. I recognized one of them as her son, David, who I had met before. The other must have been a friend. He was a bit taller than David, white with a long face and dark hair. His ears were a bit large as well.

As we got out the car, the group turned in our direction. I seen David whisper something into the woman's ear then motioned his friend to come with him as he walked in our direction.

Beth and Santino saw the men approaching. "Rosa, do you know those two?" Santino asked me.

I placed my hand on his shoulder as I stepped between him and Beth. "I know one of them, David. He is the grandson of Mrs. Irving. The other one I don't. Must be a friend of his."

I seen David extending his hand as he came to me.

"Hi, Nurse Mendes. I'm glad you could make it."

I shook his hand "I wouldn't have it any other way. Your grandmother was a great woman. And please call me Rosa."

"Ok. Rosa, this is my friend, Wade."

"How are you ma'am?" He had an accent. I wouldn't have expected that. I shook his hand. We locked eyes for a moment. His cologne was so strong, so enticing, as was his smile. I tried speaking but the words weren't coming out until Beth nudged me.

"I'm fine. It's nice to meet you Wade." I turn to Santino and Beth who were watching and trying their best not to laugh.

"These are my friends, Santino and Beth" I woke out of my trance.

"Hi" they said in unison. David looked back at the people entering the church. I heard a bell go off. Everyone looked to the top of the church to see the bell swinging. Judging from the number of rings, it was 3 o'clock. Time for the funeral to start.

"Well we better get inside. The funeral is about to start," David assured us. "It was nice meeting you all."

"Nice meeting you too," Santino said as Beth waved

David and his friend headed inside the church. Santino and Beth both turned their attention toward me. They had smirks on their faces that said everything.

"Don't you two start! We have to get inside the church." I demanded. I made my way inside the church when I heard Santino and Beth mocking my encounter with Wade. I heard Beth mention how good Wade smelled and how handsome he was.

"Is that so Mrs. Marella? He will never be more handsome than me, Santino Marella!" they continued to joke until we settled in the back of the church.

The service was beautiful. I'm sure Mrs. Irving would definitely approve of it. The pastor at the funeral was Mrs. Irving foster son Dr. Arnold. His mother was a crack head and his father had been killed from a dice game, or so it was said. Mrs. Irving had offered to take him in and his mother agreed. She took in a number of foster children while caring of her own four biological children. It seemed like her foster children were more grateful than her real ones. They were the ones who consistent in visiting her. It was David's father and her oldest son Leonard who placed her in a nursing home and never looked back.

Several of Mrs. Irving's friends and family had much to say about her. I caught Wade staring at me a couple times. I would give him a smile and a slight nod. When I went to speak, I seen him staring. He did not take his eyes off me from the moment I started until I sat back in my seat.

At the end, when Leonard took the podium, there were a collection of moans and whispers among the guests. It was clear he was not a fan favorite. He waited for them to settle down as he thanked everyone for attending. He also mentioned the funeral procession and asked those who wanted to participate to meet him in front of the church. He thanked everyone again said he will see the rest of us at the reception.

Before heading to the reception at six, we went back to my house for Beth to rest for a moment who said she wasn't feeling too well.

"The funeral was nice. Wouldn't you all agree?" Beth said. She and Santino were on the couch with him rubbing her swollen feet. I was sitting across from the couple.

"It was. Did you all hear the women in front of us talking about Mrs. Irving's daughter? How would have thought that such a sweet woman could raise a woman like that?" I asked them.

"I could definitely believe it. While you were talking with David, the woman tried to flirt with Santino but the Glamazon was not having none of it,"

"That's right! Nobody was going to flirt with my man in front of my face like that. I wanted to slam that whore right then and there." Beth was holding a fist and shaking it in the air. "Ugh Santino why didn't you let me at her!"

"Now Glamazon, we have a little Glamorella to think about. Even if did not I cannot risk my woman going to jail and possibly becoming, how do you say? A lesbiano?" he patted Beth's stomach.

"Like that would ever happen! I like dick so much that I married it and allowed it to get me pregnant. So no lesbiano crap this way." Santino laughed as he kept rubbing her feet.

Santino and Beth were not the most conventional couple but they worked. I hoped that one day I could have a relationship like theirs. So loving and understanding. Their child would be loved.

I looked at the clock above my fireplace and noticed that is was almost time for the reception to start. Santino and Beth were now fighting by throwing my pillows at each other.

"Hey lovebirds, it's time for us to go." I interrupted them.

"Really? Time went by so fast" Beth sat up on the couch as she motioned for Santino to give her shoes to her.

"Yeah it was like 4:30 when we got back. Oh well. Let's get ready to go," I signed. Santino helped Beth put on her shoes then her coat. They were still fighting with each other while heading toward the front door. I turned the alarm on and left the house immediately.

When I reached the car my cell phone started ringing.

"Who could this be?" I wondered. With the exception of Beth and David giving me directions to the church the night before, no one called me ever since I told them I was attending the funeral today. When I pulled out my phone, I seen it was a text message from David. I opened it and read it.

There will be a reading of the will after the reception. There is something here you will find interesting – David.

I closed the message and go into the car. I wonder what this could be about? And why would I be included in the reading of the will? I would find out why later.

We pulled out of the drive way and headed to the hall where the reception was being held. Little did I know, I was in for the surprise of my life.

The reception did not measure up to the service in no way shape or form. It was like I watching an episode of Jerry Springer, Cheaters, and Maury all rolled into one. Mrs. Irving's daughter Morgan, the one who tried hitting on Santino, was punched in the face by a woman because of the way she was dancing on her husband.

"That's what the whore gets. If I were that woman, I would have slammed her, hard" Beth said through her teeth. Santino patted her hand for her to calm down.

After the that altercation, another one came about. This time it was Mrs. Irving's brother Woodrow, who was clearly drunk, takes the microphone, and begins airing the family's dirty laundry. Secrets such as the paternity of an unknown woman's daughter who attended the funeral, her younger sister Acacia had been cheating on her husband with her brother-in-law Mrs. Irving's older sister Patience, and that his son was Milo was gay. David, Wade, and a few other men rushed the stage to as Leonard apologized to the guests for his behavior.

Wade had made his way over to our table and introduced himself again. He told me that he liked my speech and that it was touching.

"Mrs. Irving had become like a second mother to me. I could talk to her about anything and she would always give me great advice. She really changed my life in many ways. I'm just sad I couldn't thank her."

"You are thanking her by being here. More than you would ever know. Mrs. Irving was a special woman. She is a hard act to follow."

"She sure is. I'm going to miss her."

"We all are. I hope God will take good care of her."

"He is, I know it" I smiled at Wade who returned one also. Wade quickly changed the subject as we got to know each other better. Soon the reception was over and Wade and I exchanged numbers. He asked me to give him a call when I got home. I promised I would.

"It was nice meeting you Mr. Barrett" he takes my hand in his. I felt chills.

"The pleasure was all mine Ms. Mendes," he kisses my hand. I wanted to take him where he stood.

"Bye" I shyly said and waved.

I looked over at Santino and Beth who both had their arms crossed with their heads turned to the side.

"You two are so disgusting," Beth told me.

"Disgusting" Santino repeated.

When the reception was over, David told me it was time for the reading of the will. Santino and Beth were not allowed in but I did not want them to wait because I had no idea how long this would take. I told David about my ride situation and he said he would take me home. I dismissed Santino and Beth and told them I will call to tell them about the will. After a bit of protest due to her being overprotective of me from Beth finally agreed to go.

"Well I guess this can give you a chance to flirt with Wade a little. You little slut. You're not fooling anyone. I hope you know that?"

"Whatever Mrs. Marella. I will talk to you later."

"Later Mendes." Santino and Beth had left.

David walked up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.

"Rosa, it's time"

"Ok." David took my arm in his and lead me to an office in the back of the hall.

I felt my throat tightening up and sweat coming down my forehead with each step down the long hallway with the white painted walls. It felt was if David was leading me to my execution. I thought of the text David sent earlier. My mind could only conjure up the possibilities of what that will was about.

When we entered, there were people there already seated. Dr. Arnold was standing behind the desk and greeted us when we entered.

I could feel all their eyes on me as I sat next to David and his mother. I seen Morgan and her other sister, Kaprice whispering to each other and giving me dirty looks.

Dr. Arnold grunted and asked for everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for being here today. Before Mama Gene died, she entrusted me with her will. She told me to make sure everyone was present before I read it. And as I see, you are all here. Now on to the will."

Dr. Arnold had a white envelope in his large hands. He had a bit of trouble taking out the contents because of how thick it was. He placed everything on the desk except a folded sheet of paper. He unfolded it, adjusted his glasses and began reading.

What he would read would determine everyone's fate, including my very own.