Chapter 71 – Ring Around the Rosie

Bella

We finally were able to enter the Sanctuary, passing by the line of family who were thanking people for attending as they entered. I recognized one woman as Laurant's sister, Irina Dubois, from the newscast the other night. As Edward and I filed past, she looked at me and practically growled, "What are you doing here?"

I was taken aback by her animosity, especially in this place, at this time. Edward stepped protectively between us, as she moved toward me, red-hot anger flaring in her eyes.

"Irina, don't…" another woman said, as she came up beside her and pulled her back. Edward relaxed, only slightly, as the woman held onto Irina's arm. I recognized her as well from the newscast.

"I'm Jane Lebuteur, I was Laurant's fiancée. Thank you for coming," she said, trying to sound warmer than she looked. She extended her hand to shake mine, and when our hands touched, it was like dipping my fingers into liquid nitrogen. I felt an immediate dead coldness that went all the way to my core. Her face was familiar to me outside of the broadcast, and I wanted to look at her longer to try and figure out where I knew her from, but it was uncomfortable, because I felt as if I were looking at something otherworldly. Jane noticed my expression and smiled, which served to unnerve me even further. "You probably don't remember me, but I remember you. I'm Alec Lebuteur's little sister. I used to watch you and Alec playing with Laurant when we were small."

I nodded, as I vaguely remembered her now. She used to sit on their porch and glare at me, as Alec, Laurant, and I would ride our bikes and play tag in the front yard with the other neighborhood kids. She was the same age as Laurant and me, but she had been too prissy to get dirty, very unlike the tomboy I had been. She'd always had her fashion dolls in tow, getting angry and frustrated when Laurant would refuse to play "house" with her because he had wanted to play with me instead. I felt a shiver go up my spine that unsettled me beyond words, as I glanced back at her again. She still had that same look on her face from back then.

Edward pulled me away and led me to a pew towards the middle of the Sanctuary. As we sat in silence, waiting for the service to start, I looked around, mesmerized by the beautiful colors that played across the walls like a kaleidoscope. The center of the ceiling was amazing, an incredible work of art and architecture. It was a huge stained-glass, skylight-type dome that capped the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary itself was at the very top of the center tower of the hospital complex, which was slightly recessed between the other two taller, mirrored glass towers. This allowed the sunlight to bounce off the two taller towers and be reflected down through the dome and cast around the Sanctuary in multicolored dancing patterns. The colorful stained glass formed a pattern in the image of Christ with several children surrounding him. It was breathtaking.

Father Lebuteur came to the pulpit and raised his hands to silence the crowd before cueing the choir to begin singing the opening hymn. He offered an invocation and then began to speak, reading off the standard particulars of the deceased. His eyes connected with mine briefly before he began the body of the eulogy.

"Laurant Dubois was the beloved son of his late father, Pierre Dubois, and his dear mother, Annette Dubois, who we also remember today. A gentle soul, Laurant was loved by many, misunderstood by many more. From the time Laurant was small, he proved that his ability to love unconditionally would last throughout his lifetime, however short. He was devoted to his heart's desires, giving all he was, even in the end. He'll be remembered in many ways by those who knew him, as a private person who spent his entire lifetime searching and hoping for things just out of reach…a dreamer, if you will, endearing him even more to those who loved him most."

All through the eulogies, Father Lebuteur continued to glance at me, as if he were having a hard time focusing. As he finished, I caught the glimmer of a single tear that rolled down his cheek, as he quietly left the pulpit, his head bowed in sorrow. My heart broke for him, for this portion of his calling. He had seen more than his share of funerals recently, and I was in awe of him for being able to hold himself together in the face of all the tragedies to which he had ministered.

Each of the family members took a few minutes to speak about Laurant through tears and sobs. Jane finally stood at the pulpit for a few minutes, trying to collect herself enough to say something, but eventually, she just said, "Soon, my love. Rest now."

A memorial table had been decorated near the front of the Sanctuary, with the urns containing the cremated remains of Laurant and his mother set at center. As the family members gathered in front of it for last goodbyes, they each left a single flower on the table in front of the urns. They then moved to the back of the Sanctuary, and Father Lebuteur invited any others who wanted to pay their respects to come forward before sharing their condolences with the family as they left the Sanctuary.

Everyone filed past the memorial, some leaving flowers, a few others leaving envelops for the family. As we walked past the table, Father Lebuteur smiled sadly down at me. He looked tired and drained. The urns were beautiful and ornate, but what caught my attention was an unexpected flash of color as I passed. All the flowers that had been left around the table were an assortment of white flowers…carnations, daisies, mums, and calla lilies.

Except for one…a single red rose.