Chris stands solemnly beside his mom and his two siblings. Kate has been with him almost all day but now she has to go back to her own place to freshen up. Chris has insisted on Kate going home and rest for a while. She’s been a tremendous help and he may need her later. Chris is the oldest, so the responsibility for making everything run smoothly relies heavily on his shoulders.
His mom plays the role of a grieving widow so perfectly well. She looks distant, and fragile, and forever confused, and almost unapproachable. She doesn’t reply to any offer of condolences that have kindly been offered her. She just looks at the people coming and going with a blank stare. People find it understandable, after all, she just suddenly lost her husband.
Chris has no time to think about how to react w
