At the front of the chapel there were a pair of framed portraits of Bianca and Erica standing before the tiny urns that held the cremated remains of the two women found at the bottom of the ocean. The room was filled with flowers; more still had spilled out into the churchyard covering the grass, sent by well-wishers from all over the globe. The room was crowded. Every seat was taken and there were more people standing at the back and looking in at every doorway. Erica and Bianca had touched a lot of people with their lives.
The funeral was long but moving. They wanted to give anyone who wanted to speak a chance to come forward and say a few words. The parade of speakers was astounding. To commemorate Erica were the rich and famous; journalists, writers, producers and celebrities. Those that came forward to speak for Bianca were journalists too and celebrities, but there were also women who'd been helped by the Miranda Centre, there were speakers from leading charities, and then Miranda, AJ and Gabby stepped forward because they had rehearsed their own tribute to their mother.
The three together began to sing Marissa's lullaby Forevermore bringing the whole congregation to tears.
…
Krystal had sat through the whole ceremony hating that her daughter was going through all this if Bianca was alive.
She felt Jesse grip her hand tightly. He could tell what she was thinking.
"You cannot tell her." he whispered.
"How can I not?" sobbed Krystal.
"I told you she will be being watched."
"How do you know that?" she whispered harshly, her voice almost a hiss. "How can you possibly know?"
"That man there." said Jesse nodding to a figure at the back of the room looking conspicuous in a black suit amongst the bright clothes. "Do you see him?"
"Yes."
"He's Marissa's body guard." explained Jesse. "I've also got people watching Dixie and Leora because if this is about Orpheus I'm not taking any chances."
"Why are you telling me this?" Krystal asked.
"Because I want you to know how seriously I am taking this. I want you to know that this isn't something I take lightly. I am not keeping this a secret because I'm cruel. I am trying to save lives."
"But Marissa has to know." said Krystal.
"And then she will want to tell the children… and they will tell others. It won't stay a secret for long."
"You can't ask me to keep this from my daughter."
"Even if it is for her own good?"
"She won't see it that way. I'd be betraying her."
"You could be saving Bianca's life." insisted Jesse. "We will find them and we bring them home, but right now they don't even know we are looking. Things will get a hell of a lot harder if they suspect we are on to them."
"I can't." sighed Krystal.
"Just a few weeks that's all I ask. We are getting closer. Just a few weeks more."
"A few weeks might as well be a lifetime." sighed Krystal.
Jesse squeezed her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
"I'm not going to force you." he said sincerely. "I just need to you to understand what you do next could mean life or death for Bianca, Erica and David."
Krystal looked back to the service, frustrated and torn about what to do. Marissa was now walking to the podium to say her piece. She had a sheet of paper in her hand which she rustled nervously as she gave the congregation a sorrowful smile.
…
"I didn't know what to say today," Marissa said with a faltering voice. "I didn't know what sort of sentiment Bianca would want me to share. Should I share my grief or should I share my love? Fortunately I think I found the words I needed in a poem by David Larkin which I would like to read to you now.
She is Gone…
You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on."
Marissa swallowed nervously and gave everyone a wider smile, although tears still pricked at the corner of her eyes.
"I think that is what Bianca wanted when she asked for all the bright clothes and the flowers. We should not mourn that she is gone but celebrate her good works, remember her love and live with her heart is ours. Then it will be like has never gone at all."
Marissa nodded her thanks before retreating from the podium and taking her seat back beside the kids.
Opal stepped up, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"That was beautiful," said Opal, giving Marissa a consoling smile, "And so true. Erica and Bianca will live on forever through all of us. Now I want to thank all of you who have come to this memorial today. If you want to join us there will be food and drink at Krystal's after, so please come to that… and… and… I would like to read a final poem of my own to my best gal pal. It's by William Henry Davies and it's to remind us not take this life for granted because it holds more wonder and splendour than we will ever know… Two great and beautiful souls have already departed from us much, much too soon."
Opal cleared her throat and wiped her tears.
"What is life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows
No time to see when woods we pass
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass
No time to see, in broad daylight
Streams full of stars, like skies at night
No time to turn at Beauty's glance
And watch her feet, how they can dance
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."
…