Susanna sniffled in her black maxi gown and black veil as the preacher gave words of exhortation to the minimal congregation of closely related well-wishers and the family of Alex White. She blew into her pure white handkerchief and shook her head pitiably.
"Mum, it'll be fine. You can stop crying," Peter muttered under his breath. He was dressed in a black suit as well and had his face drawn into a frown, betraying no emotion.
Pamela had no expression on her face, but her red nose showed that she had cried terribly as well.
"Shall we rise for the benediction?"
The less than thirty people gathered in the Whites' villa stood to their feet, and the preacher shared a brief prayer for the soul of the departed and his grieving loved ones.
The choir gave a short hymn, after which they all c
