Can't Hurry Love (Sunshine Valley #1) - Melinda Curtis Page 0,114

other side of the chapel. Drew shifted in his seat, prepared to move, prepared to stop whatever trouble Jane was about to cause.

Jane took her place at the podium. She was wearing a crocheted black sweater and a long black skirt. Her hair was spiked up, and her makeup toned down.

“I didn’t know Marcia Stephens very well,” Jane said in that deep voice of hers. “She hosted a party for everyone after high school graduation. She pulled me aside and told me I had talent. She told me that meant I had to make difficult trade-offs.” Jane hauled in a deep breath. “Like having a family or pursuing my art. She told me whatever choice I made, she’d always support me. And when I left town…”

Drew was several rows back in the chapel but he could tell Jane’s eyes were filling with tears.

“When I left town, she sent me care packages. Cookies. A gift card to Walmart. Notes of encouragement.” Jane looked at Barbara and tried to smile. “That meant a lot to me. As did her hug when I came back to town.” Jane’s gaze dropped down, and then her head lifted and her voice filled the chapel.

She sang “Amazing Grace.”

Over to the side, Lola cried some more. Next to him, Pris sniffed.

And Drew? He was deep in thought.

If Jane had taken the stage and simply began to sing, he would have sworn she’d done it for all the wrong reasons. But her story about Marcia…It seemed heartfelt. And as much as he hated to admit it, her efforts with Becky seemed genuine too.

He wasn’t in church but he was having a revelation. Lola had forgiven Avery. And Mary Margaret. And whoever had given her the pearl ring Randy had stolen. She might even have forgiven Randy. If Lola could do all that, Drew was going to have to forgive Jane for leaving and support her right to visitation. He was also going to have to forgive Gary and one overweight pig. It wasn’t Rosie’s fault she’d banged up Becky. He’d do his best to find her a good home somewhere else or convince Eileen that Tom’s intentions were good.

Spring-thaw madness is over.

Jane finished. She came down the steps and was met by Victor. He hugged his daughter and accompanied her to a pew. Forgiveness. It was in the air.

Pastor Mike stood behind the podium once more and spoke in a soft, whispery voice. “Marcia’s casket is going to be open one last time for friends and family to pay their final respects. Her image will also be broadcast on the screen above me. If you’ve already said your goodbyes, please move outside. Augie will be leading the procession to the cemetery with the white hearse.”

It was an announcement warning those uncomfortable with the face of death to head for the hills.

Most people got up and began to leave.

A string quartet played classical music. Overall, it was just the kind of service Barbara would have wanted had she died. If it’d been up to Marcia, a band might have been playing the Eagles or ABBA.

Mourners were still clogging the aisles when the image on the screen above the pulpit changed from the words of the last song the choir had performed to an image of Marcia, who looked more like Marcia than she had an hour before in the visitation room. Her makeup was more lifelike, and her hair had a streak of blue.

Whispers and murmurs rolled through the assembled mourners. People on their way out paused and turned.

Barbara made a keening noise. She rose to her feet and faced Lola. “What have you done? Did she look like this the entire time?”

Lola’s chin was up, her shoulders back, her eyes flashing in Watch-Out-World mode.

Drew choked on air.

Spring-thaw madness is never going to end!

“I honored Marcia,” Lola said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “This is who she is. You tried to make her into someone she wasn’t when she was alive. I won’t let you do that to her in death.”

“I’m going to hug that girl,” Darnell said.

Augie was trying to push his way down the aisle, followed by Mims and the Widows Club board. It was too congested. They weren’t getting very far, not as people turned to see what all the fuss was about.

“Barbara?” Kevin stood, looking perplexed. “I thought you did your mother’s hair and makeup.”

Too late, Barbara became aware she still had an audience. “I didn’t. I couldn’t. I…” She tried to put the