Aunt Virginia was to pick him up a little after nine for the wake. Mac spent the time getting ready, showering, shaving, and simply making himself presentable for the many friends and relatives who would come to call. He felt a little bad that he didn’t have a suit to wear—he didn’t own one—but knew Gram wouldn’t have been upset with him in his khakis, button-down blue Oxford shirt, and blue-and-navy bow tie.
To fortify himself, he prepared a big breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon, just as Gram had always insisted on whenever he “came home.” In the smells that filled the kitchen from his cooking, Mac could feel his grandmother’s presence.
