Page 166 of Embracing the Change

Jamie grinned at her, took my hand and curled it around his elbow, then ordered, “Judge, escort your aunt inside.”

Judge offered his arm to Patricia, an offer she accepted, and in we went.

We’d timed it to be latecomers, and although there were a few people loitering in the vestibule, all of them turning our way with interest upon our arrival, Jamie didn’t delay in leading us inside the chapel.

Standing at the back, two highly attractive women, one my age, one younger, both clearly related to each other, both who appeared to be waiting for our arrival, made their way right to us.

“Reid,” Jamie greeted, giving the older woman a hug and me the knowledge of who she was.

Jeff’s ex-wife.

So the younger woman was Greer, his daughter.

They both looked shaken, but neither appeared to be overly grieving or haunted. Perhaps because Jeff had left them, without affection or support, when he was done with his marriage and family.

More hugs, introductions and surprise that Patricia was there were exchanged before Greer announced, “We’re up front.”

“I don’t think—” Jamie started.

“Damn straight we are,” Patricia declared.

She then marched up the aisle to the front.

I had a feeling I was very much going to like Jamie’s sister.

We all followed, and then I didn’t know whether to gasp in shock or bark with laughter when Patricia made it to the first row, stopped, clicked her heels, and saluted AJ, who had Paloma seated beside him, before she greeted loudly, “Commandant Father.”

There were titters among the mourners, and Jamie exhaled an amused sigh.

“On this day, we don’t need your dramatics, Pat,” AJ snapped, an interesting response to seeing his only daughter after decades.

“Of course, I forgot. This is a solemn occasion,” Patricia replied, her tone belying her words.

Apparently, no love lost between Patricia and Jeff either.

AJ shifted in his seat to look at Jamie, and I pressed closer to his side.

“What are you even doing here?” he demanded.

“My brother died,” Jamie drawled.

“Like you give a shit,” AJ spat.

“We all don’t consider family dispensable, AJ,” Jamie retorted.

Was it only me, or did AJ flinch?

I took a moment to regard Paloma.

She was steadfastly faced forward, which was very unlike her. Paloma enjoyed oozing around the edges of a drama, and she was far from a wallflower.

Hmm.

Interesting.

Jamie took me out of my thoughts as he started directing our group to the empty front row opposite AJ and Paloma, which fortunately had ten seats, and that fit our entire crew. Jamie put Reid and Greer closest to the aisle, Patricia next to them, then him, me, followed by Dru, Judge, Rix and Sully.

It wasn’t long before the service started, and it wasn’t lost on me that the pastor who spoke the words had no idea who Jeff was, the light gray casket looked a bit (no other word for it)…cheap, there was a meager arrangement of flowers on top of it, and no other bouquets sent by friends and acquaintances scattered around.

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