Page 5 of Dance in the Light
By next week, things would be back to normal. For now, I only wanted to get into town, pay my respects, see my sisters, and get out, but hardly a day in and I couldn’t avoid Ryan Lee.
On the other hand, I could check offrunning into the ex-best friendfrom my bucket list for this small town visit. Surely, the rest of this trip would proceed without a hitch.
FOUR
THE VIEWING
RYAN
The Hale sisters stood in a reception line from oldest to youngest, with Marcie closest to the casket. Next to her was Megan, with her husband, Robbie Kerrigan. Megan also sprouted a baby bump with child number three, so the two sisters almost looked like twins pregnant at the same time with their blonde hair and fair skin.
Both the oldest daughters were married, and I knew Tom Hale worried little about them in his final days. “Robbie and Travis have their hands full of them. Better them than me,” he’d say, laughing on his front porch as we’d sipped lemonade after a day of mowing hay.
The two youngest sisters, Daphne and Gabrielle, he had every right to worry about them, both still in high school, coming of age without a mother around.
Hell, on their phones at the start of the reception line, they’d probably take care of themselves with the way teenagers grew up faster these days.
Gabby, I knew well, was the outgoing one who’d often babysit little Rose for me on nights or weekends. She’d be fine. Daphne, on the other hand, was the quietest sister of the bunch. Introverted and moody, it was tough to say if she’d need more help to get through this time now that Tom’s gone.
“Hi Daphne, sorry for your loss,” I said as I started at the end of the line to pay my respects. She surprised me with a sad smile and a hug.
Gabby was quick to hug me, too. “Oh Ryan, isn’t this the worst day?”
“Take care, Gabs,” I nodded.
Of course, in the middle of the sisters stood Cindy, sticking out with her red hair and freckles. If one didn’t know better, she looked adopted among the blondes, but Tom claimed she got her coloring from his side of the family. And she was the one he worried about the most of his five children.
“She’s lost in the city,” he’d say, after complaining that he hadn’t heard from her in a while. “I don’t think she’s ever coming back. But I still hope. Promise me you’ll take care of her, son,” he spoke these last words to me not long before he passed away.
I doubt he knew how difficult of an ask that’d be for me, but it wasn’t a promise if I verbally hadn’t agreed. At least, that was my mind reasoning about it, even if my heart silently gave him a million promises.
In front of Cindy, I nodded. Her lips curved, acting as though she was strong, but the telltale signs of little to no sleep couldn’t hide behind her makeup.
“Sorry for your loss, Cin. Tom was a good man, and a great friend to me.” I moved in to hug her, but she awkwardly put her hand out between us instead. Without words, she only looked right through me and fought back tears, defiant with her nose in the air.
I smirked and shook it, but hell, the feel of her hand in mine set my pulse at a pace I couldn’t sustain. If only she’d let me give her a little of my strength, just enough to see her through, but she’d rather be dang stubborn and push me away.
What’d I expect?Her to open her arms, open her legs, and let me slide right into her life?
Despite a million things on my tongue to say, I couldn’t speak either. All of them were better said in private. Things like, your father loved you and wanted you to come home, but was too proud to ask.
I’d leave out the part about my heart promising him I’d take care of her. Something told me that wouldn’t go over well.
So I stayed quiet and moved on, hugging the older sisters until I came to the casket.
I stood only briefly there. The funeral home made Tom up nice, in the best suit Megan could find in the closet for him, even though the man had likely not worn a suit in years. Mr. Hale wasn't known for his outward formality.
After only a moment of respect, I intended to leave, since I’d stopped in almost daily to visit him at the farm, often with Rose in tow. Toward the end, we’d had plenty of time to say what needed said, maybe even more than he’d had with his own daughters.
Like a father to me, Tom Hale often called me son. I’d miss his wit, and our chats about Boston ball teams. Rose probably wouldn’t remember all the times I’d be out doing a chore for him on the farm, only to return to see them together, napping in his rocking chair.
Yes, the old guy taught me everything I knew about raising a daughter, and since raising five of them, he knew a thing or two. Like how important it was to give them space, and that’s exactly what I intended.
Before I could step away, though, Marcie turned me around.
“I know you’re not rushing out, Ryan,” she hooked her arm in my elbow and led me back to the line with her. “Travis couldn’t be here this week. He and Jace are in the middle of a case at work, besides he’s saving his days up for when this little one pops out. So come on, I need a man to lean on for a while.”
There I stood, awkwardly at the head of the line, even though I was far from the head of the family. Marcie leaned on me more and more, tired on her feet in heels. Every one we knew in town paraded by commenting on her glow, asking about her due date, and asking where Travis was. All my smiling muscles wore out by the end of the viewing.
