The next morning Lucille woke up with a smile on her face. She rolled over and went to snuggle with her husband. Her eyes flew open when she realized she was alone. She looked at the clock and it read 8:30 a.m. She thought 'he's probably downstairs.'
Lucille got ready and check on Jacob. He was fast asleep. She smiled and headed downstairs with Jack. She looked all through the house and even in his work shop. She began to panic. She looked at the yard and saw his car gone. She ran back inside and called his cell phone. It just went to voicemail. She called Fred who came right over.
"Lucille calm down. I talked to him. He's fine."
She blinked back tears "he is?"
He nodded "he just needed to clear his head."
She frowned "what is it Fred? I know you know something."
Fred said "I'm sorry Lucille. You have to ask him. I need to get back to work."
She tried calling her husband again and left another message "Henry! Please call me back. I need to hear your voice. I just want to know that you're okay."
She hung up the phone and wiped her eyes.
An hour later her phone rang. She answered it without looking "Henry?!"
A male voice said "no. Is Mr. Langston available?"
She tensed "no he's not here at the moment. I'm his wife. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I'm sorry to do this over the phone but this is the funeral home. We were needing someone to stop by and identify the body before we cremate it."
She grabbed onto the counter "what?"
The man said "I take it he didn't tell you? He and his brother stopped by yesterday to claim the body. This is how we are taking care of the Returned...their choice of course."
Lucille realized why Henry was acting so weird "I'll identify the body!"
They hung up and Lucille drove to the funeral home. The thoughts in her head were swirling. Her heart was racing. She held the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were turning white. She finally pulled into the parking lot. Using all her strength she slowly walked into the building. She went into the lobby where she was met by an older man.
"Mrs. Langston?"
She nodded.
"Are you sure you're okay to do this?
She cleared her throat "no but I have to do this. I never saw his body I have to do this for me."
He nodded "very well. Follow me please."
He slid open the drawer and paused "are you ready?"
She nodded.
He pulled back the sheet and she saw her husband laying on the cold slab. Tears sprung in her eyes and she covered her mouth and ran outside. Unable to stop herself she threw up behind the building. The man startled her and she twirled around.
"I'm sorry. I thought this might help."
She took the bottle water and paper towel. She wiped her mouth and washed the taste out of her mouth with the drink.
"Thanks."
He nodded "believe it or not you're not the first person to react like that. I know it's hard seeing a loved like that. Your husband ran out too. He was pretty shaken up."
She cleared her throat "that explains a lot. He's been acting weird and last night he left. I'm scared to death. I can't get a hold of him but at least now I know why he's acting this way."
He nodded "I'm sure he will be fine. I'm sure it's not easy dying then returning. He just needs to clear his head."
She sighed "I know."
He said "can I get your signature to verify that you saw the body?"
She nodded and signed the paper after she read it. She went to her car and drove off. As though a light bulb went off she realized where he went. She smiled and drove to her new destination.
2 hours later she pulled into a driveway and made her way to a house. Her face lit up when she saw her husband's car at their vacation house. She smiled "I knew it!"
She parked and ran inside "Henry!"
He came out of the kitchen "I wondered when you were going to show up."
She flew into his arms and he slowly wrapped his around her. She kissed him passionately. She grabbed his face and said "my poor baby. No wonder why you left. I can't imagine what you went through seeing your body."
He pushed her away "did Fred tell you?"
She said "no. The mortician called the house. He needed someone to identify the body for cremation. I went down there and saw your dead body for the first time. It was awful. I actually ran out and threw up. I don't know how any of this works but I don't care. You're here and that's all that matters Henry."
He finally relaxed and took her in his arms. He looked at her and said "I'm sorry I left like that. I had nightmare and needed to leave. I was going to come back I just couldn't let you see me break down."
She frowned "why not? We've seen each other at our worst. I would never judge you for crying. If you ever need to talk about this I'm here. Just promise me you won't run off like that again."
He leaned his forehead against hers "I promise. "Ouch!"
He rubbed his butt "what was that for?"
She glared at him "for ignoring my phone calls! Don't ever do that again you bastard!"
For the first time in days he laughed. He pinned her arms beside her and dipped her "you're so sexy when you're mad!"
She relaxed into the kiss.
He eventually stood her back up and said "how are you feeling about the cremation?"
She tensed "I wish you would've talked to me first but it's your decision so I guess I'm okay with it."
He said "we can keep the urn on the mantel."
She said "you've really thought about this haven't you?"
He shrugged "it's hard not to. If it's too weird we find some place else for it."
She said "can we talk about this later? I just want to go home."
He smiled "well we are here. We could play for a while."
She was about to agree when the phone rang. She groaned and answered it.
"Hi sweetheart."
She listened and said "I had to leave but I found your father. Will be home soon."
She grinned "Jacob is at home with Maggie. I forgot to tell him I was leaving. Follow me and we can continue this at home."
He grinned "let me pack and I'll be right behind you."
She nodded and kissed him "I love you Henry."
"I love you too Lu. Drive safe."
He watched her pull out of the driveway and leave. He quickly packed and followed her like he promised.
7