I kept it simple—a black dress with elbow-length sleeves, modest neckline, and a flared skirt that falls below my knees. “Thank you.”
We stop at Alvin’s house and pick him up first. The guys are silent for most of the time as I drive the hour north to where Jacob’s parents live.
Chaser casts a hesitant look at the cemetery. Reporters are held back by wooden barricades, but plenty have cameras at the ready.
“Vultures,” Alvin grumbles.
They chase after my car for a bit but are finally stopped by security.
A large crowd dressed mostly in black announces where we’re supposed to go.
Chaser grabs my hand. Alvin looks so bereft, I slip my other hand into his and pull him along. He gives me a brief, sad smile.
Garrett’s standing with a young woman who looks an awful lot like Jacob. He lifts his chin when he spots us.
“Hey, Janey.” Chaser leans in and hugs her. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
She sniffles and accepts the brief embrace but doesn’t seem to be able to respond.
Alvin hugs her too and she ends up clinging to him until an older couple joins us.
“Hello, Mr. Whitfield,” Chaser greets.
“I don’t want to speak to you.” He glares at Alvin and Garrett. “Any of you. Stay for the service and then leave.”
“I’m sorry,” Jane mouths as her father pulls her away.
“Wow,” Alvin mutters.
“What’d we expect?” Garrett glares at the man’s retreating back. “He did fuck-all for Jacob. Why would it be any different now?”
“Let’s just get through this,” Alvin says. “We can deal with them later.”
Unfortunately for Jacob’s parents, they’re outnumbered by the very people they want to avoid. Musicians, models, actors, Jacob was more loved than I think he ever realized.
Thom tries speaking to the Whitfields, but their conversation looks brief and tense from where we’re standing. He finally retreats and joins us.
He gives Garrett and Alvin a fatherly hug and pat on the back before nodding at Chaser and me. “We’re going to have a gathering at The Palace afterwards. I tried inviting them, but …”
“It’s okay,” Chaser says. “Thanks for trying.”
“We’re not going to The Palace to fucking celebrate,” Garrett spits out.
“No, no,” Thom says quickly. “A memorial. Rich is shutting the whole place down. It’s only open to friends and family.”
“We were his family.” Garrett glares at Chaser. “And we treated him like shit.”
“You really want to do this now?” Chaser asks in a tired voice.
“Guys, settle down,” Thom urges. “This isn’t the time or place.”
Across the cemetery I spot a familiar figure. I whisper to Chaser that I’ll be right back and walk over to meet her.
“Hi, Val.”
“Mallory,” she sobs, pulling me into a tight embrace. “What happened?”
Practically choking on her heavy floral perfume, I draw back. “We’re not sure about all the details.” And the ones we do know are too gruesome to spill where anyone could overhear.
“Poor Jacob.” She pulls a tissue out of her pocket and swipes it over her nose.
“Hey, Val.” Chaser joins us, hands in his pockets. “Fair warning, his parents aren’t speaking to any of us.”
She snorts. “They never forgave him for dropping out of school when I signed you guys.”
“Nope.” He shrugs.
“Are you okay?”
“No, Valerie. I’m not.”
Alvin joins us next, hugging Valerie tight. “I can’t believe you’d show up after how we—”
“Not now, honey,” she says gently. “Of course, I’d be here.”
Chairs have been set up around the gravesite for the service. I spot a number of familiar faces—Vickie, and Dorothy, Holly sitting with Jacob’s sister, the two girls clinging to each other and weeping. I nod to Pamela and Vinnie but ignore Andrew. More faces that I vaguely remember from the nights they played shows on the strip. The owners of bars, members from rival bands, roadies, and bouncers.
The first row on the left side seems to have been reserved for us. Chaser and I take the last two chairs. Maybe he wants to be able to make a quick escape. He’s so blank, expressionless, showing no emotion other than squeezing my hand every now and then.
A priest reads all the usual funeral passages. After that, Jacob’s father stands. I brace myself for whatever he’s about to say.
“Today we join thousands of families who lay their loved ones to rest due to addiction. Our hearts are broken. We tried for years to save him and couldn’t.” He breaks down and finally returns to his seat.
Garrett stands up.
“Fuck,” Chaser mutters under his breath.
“Jacob’s my best friend.” Garrett’s voice cracks. “He was my only friend when I first moved to