Read Sweetie for Free Online Page B

loud and tuneless as always.
    Chantal’s father Darren sobbed throughout the service, as did Aisha. Trinity, at four, was too young to really take in what was happening. Paul clutched her firmly on his lap in the second pew and, by breathing deep and hard, was able to contain his own tears.
    The Vicar intoned, deep and low, ‘ “ I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die . . . We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. ” ’
    His words washed over Michelle unheard. Only at the burial after the service, as Chantal’s coffin was being lowered into the ground, could she focus on what he was saying.
    ‘ “ Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay. In the midst of life we are in death . . . For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear sister here departed we 37
    therefore commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life . . .”’
    The Vicar nodded at Darren and Michelle, indicating that this was their moment to throw earth into the grave. They leaned into each other for support as they stepped forward to bid this final farewell to their little girl.
    Paul stood to one side and fought back a flash of jealousy. He knew he shouldn’t begrudge Darren this moment, Chantal was his daughter after all, but the way he and Michelle had their arms around each other made his stomach turn. What if this was the thing that brought them back together? He had always feared that his wife had never really got over Darren, and it was only when their little girl Trinity was born that he’d felt Michelle was really his now.
    Paul stared at his beautiful wife. For a moment he thought she might lose her composure, might hurl herself to the ground and beg God to give her back her daughter, but she stood firm.
    ‘ “ Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; we give thee hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thee to deliver our sister out of the miseries of this sinful world . . .” ’
    At these words Michelle straightened up and 38
    consoled herself with the thought that Chantal was out of it now, away from all the pain and the crap of this life on earth, away from the monster who did this to her.
    ‘ “ . . . may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Amen .” ’
    And it was over. The mourners drifted away from the grave in small groups with their heads bowed, men loosening ties and women fanning themselves in the heat with their Order of Service. Only Michelle and Darren stayed by the graveside, silently, side by side, unable to walk away from their little girl for the last time. Paul gently touched her shoulder and whispered, ‘I’ll take the girls and go on, I’ll see you there.’ He didn’t want to leave her with Darren but he had to allow them this. And besides, someone had to greet the mourners back at the pub.
    The wake afterwards in the Birdcage was a muted affair. It was not uncommon for funerals in the neigh bourhood to turn into parties as the beer flowed
    – a good send-off was considered standard practice locally. But there were no songs around the piano for Chantal today, no funny stories being told about things she had done. Instead groups of men and women sat in huddled groups, speculating angrily.
    Sue Williams was leading the lynch