Undertaking Love Page 0,85

her.

‘Thanks, lovey.’

He picked up his mug and held it in his gnarled, shaky hands. Marla noticed that his checked shirt had grown a little threadbare, a tiny hole at the elbow. Dora would have had her thread box out the second she saw that, Marla thought.

Who would take care of Ivan now? They hadn’t had any children; he really was alone in the world now that Dora had gone.

‘How have you been?’ she laid a hand on his forearm.

He shook his head and stared into his mug for a while. ‘She was my best pal.’

Marla held back the tears that threatened. ‘I know she was. I know.’

‘I’m no good on me own, love. Can’t cook. Can’t work that bloody washing machine.’ Ivan pulled a big, slightly grubby handkerchief out of his trouser pocket and blew his nose.

‘Not that Dora was much of a cook, either, mind.’ He laughed, sadly. ‘Bloody awful actually, but I was fond of it all the same.’

‘We all miss her so much at the chapel. It’s too quiet without her.’

They sat in companionable silence for a couple of minutes.

‘I’ve written something down, for tomorrow like. I can’t stand up there and say it myself, so young Gabriel is going to read it for me.’ Ivan glanced up at Marla. ‘If that’s alright, ’course?’

Marla nodded. ‘Of course it is. I’ll let Jonny know.’

Jonny was to lead the ceremony, and it would seem that Gabe was to be a speaker too.

She’d never held a funeral service in the chapel before, but when Ivan had asked, she hadn’t hesitated for a moment. Dora was one of their own, and it would be an absolute honour to give her the send off she deserved.

Emily was relieved to find Melanie missing when she pushed open the heavy funeral parlour door. It was Gabe himself she found in reception, and he smiled widely when he saw her.

‘I’ll just be one tick, can you wait? Sorry, Melanie’s down at the florists.’

Emily laid the yellow dress across the reception desk in its plastic cover and glanced around the tastefully decorated room. She’d thankfully never had cause to visit a funeral parlour, but it was obvious that Gabe had made this place as welcoming as he could, given the sombre nature of his business. It was such a shame that circumstance had set them all against each other. She had a hunch that he’d be a good friend to have in your corner, not to mention a perfect match for Marla if she weren’t so stubborn.

He was undeniably easy on the eye too, which even in her very pregnant state she couldn’t help noticing as he came through the door and smiled at her again.

‘Hey, Emily.’ His eyes dropped to her bump. ‘Wow, that’s coming along nicely. I don’t need to fetch hot towels and water do I?’

Emily laughed. ‘Don’t panic, you’re safe. There’s still a few weeks to go yet.’

‘So. What can I do for you?’

Gabe’s eyes softened as Emily explained about the yellow silk dress and the jewel box.

‘Of course.’ He picked the dress up carefully by the hanger. ‘Leave it with me, I’ll see that Dora has them.’

‘Thanks.’ Their business was finished, yet Emily lingered. Something in Gabe’s expression held her there, as if there was something more he wanted to say.

Eventually, he broke the silence. ‘So, is Marla well?’

Gabe kept his voice deliberately casual, even though he was desperate for news. Marla had kept their interactions to a bare minimum over Dora’s funeral arrangements, and she’d made damn sure that they never had a moment alone.

‘She’s fine, I think.’ Emily nodded. ‘The trouble with Rupert knocked her about a bit, but she seems okay again now.’

He wished he hadn’t asked; the last thing he wanted to hear was how Marla missed Rupert. ‘Break ups are always rough.’

‘Rough?’ Emily said. ‘Rough? He was lucky she didn’t have him locked up. I bloody well would have if he’d done that to me.’

Gabe stilled, as if someone had pressed pause. ‘What did he do?’

‘He’s such low life. Called her all sorts of names, and then he lunged at her in the chapel.’ Emily shook her head in disgust. ‘You should have seen the bruises on her arms.’

I’m going to kill him with my bare hands.

‘Bastard.’

‘You can say that again.’ Emily turned as the door opened. Melanie came in, her neat Kelly bag over one arm and an enquiring look on her face. Emily took it as her cue to leave.

‘I’ll leave that with you,