you alright, is there anything I
can do for you?” Anna could feel a sharp pain in her chest. “Will you come to
the wake tonight, Anna? My mother always really liked you, and... I could use
your support right now.” Anna nodded, knowing that Brent could not see her. “Of
course Brent. I’ll do anything I can to help.” Brent sighed on the other end of
the phone. “Thank you. I just wanted to say, our date was amazing the other
day. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just... I’m just in a dark place in my
life right now.”
“I
understand Brent, I really do. I’ll provide all of the flowers for the wake,
free of charge of course.” She could hear Brent breath heavily. She could tell
that he was crying now. “You don’t have to do that.” Anna sighed. “I don’t have
to do it, no. But I want to do it. We’re going to get through this
together, I promise.” She could hear a small smile come through in Brent’s
voice. “Thanks Anna. I can’t even express how much that means to me. I still
haven’t really processed everything. I’m just so sorry.” Anna leaned on the
countertop. “There’s no need to apologize Brent. I’ll run some flowers over to
the funeral home right now, get ready, and then I’ll meet you there?”
“That
sounds great. Thanks again Anna. You... You mean a lot to me.” Anna closed her
eyes. “You mean a lot to me too Brent. Take some deep breaths. Spend some time
with your family. I’ll see you tonight.” They exchanged goodbyes, and Anna
stood in the darkened shop for a moment, staring at her phone as tears rolled
down her cheeks.
Anna
picked out some of the best flowers in the shop and stuffed them in the van.
The funeral home parking lot was empty, and she handed off her delivery to a
nice old man who graciously offered to set everything up. Anna dropped off the
van and sped home to get ready for the wake. She couldn’t believe this was all
happening.
As
she pulled into the parking lot of the funeral home again, she could see
Brent’s family members holding each other as they walked inside. Anna checked
herself in the rearview mirror and stepped out of the car, holding a bushel of
calla lilies in her hand. As she stepped inside, she immediately saw Brent
talking to one his brothers. Even from across the room, she could tell that his
eyes were red from crying.
Brent
turned his head and saw Anna. He excused himself from the conversation and
walked over to where she was now sitting. He sat down next to her and put his
elbows on his knees. Anna reached over and wrapped her hand around his. He
turned his head and did his best to smile. “Thanks for coming Anna, and thanks
for providing the flowers, they look amazing.” Anna smiled back. “It’s the
least I can do.” She squeezed his hand a little tighter and reached over,
grabbing the lilies from the empty seat next to her.
“These
are for you.” Brent wrapped his hand around the stem and looked at the bushel
of beautiful flowers. “Calla lilies. These are your favorite.” Anna raised one
eyebrow. “How did you know that? I don’t remember telling you what my favorite
flowers were.” Brent gave a shy smile. “I remember you telling me that in high
school. I couldn’t forget the love of my life’s favorite flowers, could I?”
Anna blushed a little. “I guess not.” They sat in silence for a few moments and
simply held each other’s hands as they watched family members and friends
confide in one another.
The
service was quaint, yet beautiful. Brent gave a stirring speech about his
mother, and even managed to make some of the audience smile, if even for a
brief moment. As the night waned and many of the guests left, Anna remained in
her seat. Soon, the room was empty except for Brent and Anna, and she watched
as he shook an elderly man’s hand before he left.
“You
didn’t have to stay here the entire time you know.” Brent walked over to Anna
and sat down next to her. “I know. I said I we were
Brenda Minton, Felicia Mason, Lorraine Beatty