were mourners. There were hundreds of them, it seemed.
Sean pulled his gaze away and looked out the window. A gleaming limo pulled up and a driver with white gloves opened the door.
“That’s the teacher?” Maura asked. In the chaos of the past few days, she hadn’t met Lily and the children.
“Yes,” he said, and felt himself settling back to earth, grounded again. “That’s Lily. Come on out and meet everyone.” He strode toward the car.
Cameron emerged first, followed by Charlie, who looked taut-faced and terrified. “Uncle Sean,” she said, flinging her arms around him.
“Hey, you.”
“I’m scared,” she said, her voice muffled against his coat.
“Me, too.” He had discovered very quickly that it did no good to lie to Charlie. She saw right through him, every time. “Let me help Lily with the baby and then I want you to meet somebody special.”
“I’m Maura Riley,” he heard Maura say as he bent to unbuckle Ashley from her car seat. The baby crowed and said, “Hi!” with a big smile. He lifted her out and set her on the ground, and Lily took her by the hand.
Sean straightened up and introduced Maura to everyone. She had the awkward manner of someone unaccustomed to children, though her smile was genuine. Charlie regarded her warily, Cameron dismissively. Ashley hid in Lily’s skirts. “Did you know my mom and dad?” Cameron asked.
Maura shifted her bag from one hand to the other. “No, but I know they were both terrific. I wanted to be here for your uncle Sean because I care for him a lot. I hope you’ll tell me all about your parents.”
“You bet,” said Cameron. “Love to.” He headed for the reception room.
His sarcasm took Maura off guard, but at the moment, Sean had no chance to make his nephew apologize. He felt stupid for expecting something to happen, some magical poof of chemistry and they’d all be one big happy family.
“Time to go inside,” he said quietly.
Jane Coombs was late, which seemed to be a pattern with her. She came rushing in and swooped down on the kids, weeping and needy, the way she’d been all week. Sean bit his tongue, wanting to tell her to chill out, that her crying was upsetting Charlie and Ashley. But who was he to criticize the woman? Maybe she couldn’t help it.
Three people he didn’t recognize arrived, even later than Jane. “My parents and sister,” Lily explained. “Excuse me for a moment.”
She went over and greeted them. Her parents were a handsome couple, impeccably dressed and treating Lily with a curious reserve. For God’s sake, give her a hug, he found himself thinking. Can’t you see she needs it?
Fortunately, the sister seemed to, grabbing Lily and reeling her in, holding on tight until Lily’s hat fell backward off her head.
“Sean Maguire,” he said, retrieving the hat and then shaking hands with each of them—Terence, Sharon and Violet. “Thank you for coming.”
“Grandpa, you made it,” Charlie said, her face lighting up as she rushed toward the door.
“Hello, gorgeous, of course I made it.” Sean’s father, Patrick Maguire, had arrived the night before. He greeted Lily and the others, then shook hands with Sean. “You holding up all right?”
For a second, Sean had a wicked urge to say no. As in, No, Dad, I’m in big trouble here. How about you give me a hand? He would never say that; he knew better, because he knew the answer he’d get. His father would hem and haw, enumerating all the reasons he couldn’t possibly help with Derek’s kids. “Yes,” Sean assured his father, “all things considered.”
“Sorry I couldn’t get away sooner,” said Patrick. “I had some things to finish up.”
Of course he did, thought Sean. “No problem,” he said to his father. What he really wanted to do was to grab him, shake him, demand to know had happened to their family. Like that mattered now. He disengaged his hand and rested it on Charlie’s shoulder. “We need to get started.”
As everyone assembled to proceed into the sanctuary, Sean paused to have a look at them all. The children appeared scrubbed and apprehensive in their best clothes. At the same time, there was a heartbreaking air of dignity about them. Cameron looked like a junior version of Derek in a new suit and shoes hastily bought for the funeral. Charlie wore a dark green dress with a black ribbon and Ashley had on a miniature version of the same outfit. Lily was in dark blue, with low-heeled shoes,