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the man said, what the people behind her whispered, or even what any of them thought of her carrying on like a little girl.
    “First, I’d like to convey the family’s thanks to everyone in attendance today. It is Mrs. McCullough’s wish to have a secular service. As such, we will be proceeding directly to Hillside Cemetery. Directions are available at the front podium.”
    “She’s no atheist anymore.” A creaking elderly voice silenced the room. “God has shown her the error of her ways.”
    Riley’s tears ceased. She leaned up from her father to peer over his arm at the people seated behind them. The man who’d handed her the bible was on his feet, imperious finger aimed at the coffin. She stared at him in utter disbelief.
    “He is watching. Behold the fate that awaits all who deny Him. She’d still be alive if she had not turned her back on God.”
    A few mourners gasped.
    Riley wanted to scream and curse at him, but all she managed to do was start crying again.
    “Have some respect, dammit… her daughter’s right there,” muttered some guy.
    “The poor girl’s just lost her mother, how dare you,” yelled Mrs. Harris.
    Dad jumped up and spun with one foot on the seat of his chair and his fist drawn back. He seemed about ready to pounce on the old man and beat him senseless, but a brief glance back at Riley took the fire from his eyes. He exhaled and lowered his arm.
    “Sorry… if we weren’t in a funeral home.” He glared at the geezer. “Don’t they teach you in that church of yours not to speak ill of the dead? Have some respect.”
    “I warned her, but she refused to hear the word,” said the man.
    “Mr. Hensley, that’s quite enough,” snapped a full-figured brunette. Riley had seen her at the bank before, in the back glass-walled office, but wasn’t sure what she did there. “You should leave.”
    “She got what she deserved. You all will,” muttered Mr. Hensley.
    Dad started around the row of chairs, headed right at him with murder in his eyes. Riley shivered in her seat while some people from the funeral home ran over to separate her father from the old man. Victor Samuels and a man that could’ve been his brother escorted the bible beater to the door.
    Mina scowled at him. “With her daughter here? You should be ashamed of yourself.”
    Whispers wafted around about the old man. He owned a bookstore next to the bank, and Mother’s unrepentant atheism had fuelled a years-long rivalry between the two. Not that Mom ever went out of her way to discuss it with anyone. That wasn’t her way. She spent more time dodging him than anything, but he kept trying.
    Dad backed away from the crowd toward her, staring at Mr. Hensley while opening and closing his right fist. Victor offered apologies to everyone for the disruption and rushed into a murmured conversation with Dad. It took her father a few seconds to peel his eyes away from the door.
    Others stood, getting ready to join the procession of cars to the graveyard. She rushed to the back of the room and grabbed Mother’s hand.
    As stiff as a wooden statue.
    Riley recoiled and clutched the edge of the casket.
Could God really have struck her down for not believing in him?
She never talked to her about religion, or her lack of it. The only thing she’d ever said was it would be her decision to make whenever she felt like making it. Riley stared at the not-right face propped up on a small violet pillow. The sound of people shuffling out through the foyer lit a sense of urgency in her heart. She wanted as much time as possible with her mother before they took her away forever.
    I’m sorry, Mom.
A dozen minor arguments over the past school year replayed themselves in her head. Bedtime, curfew, cell phone bill, getting a C in math… so trivial, but how much stress did they pile on? The guilt was worse. Whenever Mom said she was too tired to spend time with her, Riley would sulk and walk away without a fight. That had to have made mother