Dust In The Wind
"He wanted you to be happy."
Stephanie breaks into tears. The usual crowded house feels eerily vast and empty now that Frank is forever gone. Valerie washes the lump in her throat down with a sip of coffee. Edna holds her silence. The scent of the freshly baked pineapple upside-down cake dances in the air. Rex the hamster keeps running in his wheel. A thousand thoughts race through Stephanie's mind. Will dinner still be served every day at six? Will there still be pot roast, gravy, and creamy smooth mashed potatoes? Why couldn't her father just call 911 and pray? Why did her over-weight and under-exercised father jump into the river? Why did he have to die?
"He loved you very much."
Helen's voice is very soft. It was a small and quiet funeral. The flowers were perfect. The weather was mild. Joe Morelli stood at the farthest corner. Angie Morelli didn't show up. No one said much. Everyone remained respectful. Helen went back to the hospital when the ceremony was over. She sat by Stephanie's bed. She said prayer after prayer. She was grateful Stephanie was still alive. She couldn't decide if she hated or loved Frank more.
"It wasn't your fault."
Helen hugs her daughter tighter. She hasn't told the whole truth. She left out the part about Frank's affair. Maybe one day Stephanie will find out. But right now she just wants to keep everything intact. Life is so fragile and she, too, is tired and scared. She's now a widow. She knows all along death is inevitable. She isn't naïve.
But still.