Page 119 of The Art of Dying

Tylor laughed once. “Can’t wait to hear it.”

“Glad you could make it,” Ellie said, blinking. She was obviously trying to smile, but her confusion was commandeering her face.

“Oh, my God,” someone said.

I turned to see Hailey, Trex’s little sister, step out from behind the others. “You look exactly like…” She looked down at the kids and then back at me, wide-eyed. “Ma…”

“Karen,” I said, pointing to my chest and gesturing with my eyes to the kids.

Hailey didn’t understand. How could she? Coupled with the shock of seeing a ghost, all she could manage to do was stand there with her mouth hanging open.

“Hailey,” I said with a grin. “You’ve grown up.”

She tried to say something but couldn’t.

Taylor watched with mild amusement. “You know Karen?”

“I used to,” Hailey said, still in shock.

Falyn looked at us as if we were speaking a foreign language.

I was suddenly uncomfortable. “I should, uh… we should go inside. Kitsch is waiting.”

“Nice to meet you,” the twins said at the same time.

Hailey covered her mouth as we passed her, and I walked into the tent, already overhearing part of the discussion inside.

“Omitting is lying,” Sloan said.

“You’re right,” Kitsch said, “You’re absolutely right, but…”

“You can do this, Kitsch,” Agent Lindy said.

Kitsch continued, “The only thing more important to me than all of you is my family.”

“Kitsch,” Martinez said in a condescending, frustrating tone.

My husband had to endure that for years, and I couldn’t stand it for one word. I stepped forward to finally prove Martinez wrong, to exonerate Kitsch so he could get back the respect he deserved.

All eyes slowly fell on me, and in unison, everyone’s mouths fell open and they took a step back.

“Congratulations, Trex. I’m glad we could make it.” It wasn’t the wittiest or most profound comment, but it was all I could think of in the moment.

Caroline’s shaking hands flew up to her mouth, and she immediately began to cry. “Kitsch, what on earth?”

The bride looked stunning, a halo of flowers around her blonde hair, a simple silk and lace white dress gently hugging her form. Trex looked smart in a light gray suit and sage green tie, his bright white shirt pressed. I’d never seen him look so fancy.

His new wife looked up at him as he stared at me, all color gone from his face.

“Trex? Trex, what’s happening?” Darby asked, confused and a bit scared. Exactly what I didn’t want for her on her wedding day.

As if he could sense the guilt settling over me, Kitsch kissed my forehead. “You remember Karen.”

“It’s good to see you again. All of you.”

After a few moments of shocked silence, Darby finally spoke, “Whatis happening?”

“I…” Trex looked down at her once and then back at me, shaking his head.

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