Chapter Thirty-Eight
For Beth, the cremation ceremony passed in a blur. She felt out of place at the reception afterwards. Lena had decided not to attend. The only other person she might consider to be a friend was Mark’s father, Robert, but he wasn’t there either. Beth assumed he’d been overwhelmed by his sorrow.
After ten minutes, Karen arrived. ‘Sorry I’m so late.’ She launched into a long explanation.
‘Never mind that,’ said Beth. ‘Just rescue me, will you? I can’t take any more of this.’
She made her apologies to Vanessa, then escaped out the door with Karen and the children. Sarah was crying again. Although Beth was concerned by her daughter’s distress, she was equally concerned about Rick’s lack of reaction. He was clearly in denial. She’d done some reading about grief and loss
