Scott reclaims his seat alongside me and we sit shoulder to shoulder. I can practically feel the weight lifted from him now that it's over. I'm glad it was him and not me. I don't think I could have kept it together; John would have found it tough, too. Gordon and Alan didn't even figure as options; Dad knew today would be hard enough for them, already.
As always, Scott doesn't dwell too much on the effect doing something has on him. He just does what needs to be done; stepping up to the plate to save us the distress of the responsibility. I'm sure he doesn't realise the irony of it, but he's our Shepherd too. The two of us shared a few drinks last night and we talked about today; about how we'd get through it. He confided he was worried that he might not be able to shoulder this one. I assured him he could, and he would.
And I was right. Grandma would have been so proud of him.
I catch his eye as we stand to sing another hymn and I try to tell him that I'm just as proud of him too.