The three sisters sat in silence, waiting for Hyacinth to arrive. Once they heard the dog bark through the window they knew she was in the privet hedge.
Rose tottered to the front door and let her sister and Richard in. Before Richard could get through the living room door, Onslow dragged Richard off to the pub. Both men didn't really fancy hanging around.
Rose busied herself by making tea while Hyacinth plucked up the courage to apologise to Daisy.
"I understand I upset you yesterday, Daisy dear. I sincerely apologise. It was out of order to accuse you of causing poor Daddy's demise. I know you did your best for him. Under the circumstances."
"Thank you Hyacinth. I accept your apology." Daisy said, just wanting to put all this behind her.
Despite making it up with Daisy, Hyacinth still wasn't best pleased with her youngest sisters. She still regarded their actions as selfish.
The discussion with Alistair, Violet's friend who was an undertaker was helpful. It was decided once the hospital had sorted the death certificate Hyacinth would register the death. Daisy would sort out all the paperwork and tell all relevant parties of their father's passing. Violet agreed to pay for the funeral and headstone. Rose offered to sell her box of engagement rings and the rest of her sample jewellery, to help put something towards it.
Several arguments later, the family had agreed on key details except where the wake would be held. Hyacinth wanted it to be held at her house or the church hall but the rest of the sisters wanted the British Legion. Since that's where Daddy had done most of his drinking.
The actual funeral went without a hitch. Under protest, Hyacinth allowed the funeral to take place in the church her parents married and not the church Hyacinth was a part of.
The eldest sister assumed the role of the chief mourner and her younger sisters followed behind. Hyacinth was so distraught with having to burry her father she never said anything about her youngest sister's attire.
The outfit in question was skimpy, a very tight, mini-skirt with fishnets, a black blouse and a black veil. Violet was dressed almost identically but her skirt went past her knees.
Daisy broke down giving the eulogy and Onslow finished on her behalf. Even Hyacinth thought he did Daddy proud, though he lost brownie points for the ill fitting suit.
Once the coffin had been lowered to the ground, the dirt was thrown on top and the flowers were laid beside his final resting place, they went to the Legion.
Wanting to be there for Rose, but not wanting to get in the way Emmet and Elizabeth met them at the wake. They hadn't really known the old man and as Rose said, her sisters would be there for support. Well two of them.
At the venue, the family were surprised to see how many locals and regulars had turned up to pay their respects. It was fair to say he was well known as the local character on the estate. The landlord admitted the area wouldn't be the same without him.
"Your father knew a lot of women." Emmet commented, looking round at the elderly females who were gathered round the book of condolences.
"He had a lot of lady friends, not all willing but quite a few chose to stay with him at the house.' Rose explained.
"Some of them spent more time in the house than you." Onslow commented, never resisting a chance to take a swipe at his sister-in-law.
The family enjoyed swapping stories with the regular pub goers and Hyacinth even joined her family for a drink. She mainly made conversation with Elizabeth, apologising that the wake was held where it was.
"It's what Granddad wanted." Her son replied. Despite getting on a little better with his mother and her allowing Tarquin to join them at the wake, (Richard put his foot down and made her) Sheridan wasn't putting up with her snobbish behaviour. Not today.
She was appalled when he refused to go home with his parents and Elizabeth. Instead he stayed at the pub and agreed to stay the night at his aunt Daisy's. Unlike his mother, he wasn't ashamed of his family. He actually rather enjoyed their company and how accepting they were of him and Tarquin.
It was a full house that night. Luckily Daisy and Onslow's daughter Steph had upgraded her campervan to a bigger motor home. So she, little Kylie and Violet's daughters slept in there. Everyone else rolled into the house and squeezed in best they could.