Notes [Initially released March 20, 2015, last revised October 18, 2021]:
○ This story has been revised prior to releasing the new chapter.
○ No significant plot changes have occurred.
○ All characters are made up and over eighteen.
© 2015 MindsMirror, All rights reserved.
Tuesday, November 10th
~ Bert ~
I was surprised with a call on Tuesday from my sister. She was pretty upset while telling me our aunt Nan had passed. I found her mood a little out of character as our aunt was relatively old. She was in her late eighties. The news wasn't really hitting me the same way as Beth but I chalked it up to me not being as close to Nan as she'd been. She gave me some details about the funeral but much of it went right through me. I was paying more attention to the tone and timber of how Beth was taking to the news. Her husband couldn't get off work for the death of a spouse's aunt and she couldn't stand to go there alone.
I couldn't understand why she was saying that she couldn't do it alone but I immediately agreed that I would try to be there for her. To me it was to give her my support more than any feeling of closure. I advised Beth that my very pregnant wife wouldn't be able to make the trip since she was on bed rest; so it'd just be Beth and myself going to the funeral.
When I got off the phone I went to Trina and discussed the situation. I told her I'd basically given Beth my assurance despite not stayed close with Aunt Nan because Beth sounded like she needed the support. Nothing had been finalized so if she needed or simply wanted me to stay away, I would. Trina love my sister Beth and I couldn't even get a word in edgewise as Trina told me how important she felt it was that I go to see her and my relations.
When I finally reached the airlines they arranged a bereavement flight as soon as I could. It was a red-eye with a layover at O'Hare; it wasn't the best solution but it was a very timely flight leaving Thursday evening. I also reserved a car for me and a couple rooms for us to stay in while we were there. When I called Beth back with my flight information, she said renting a car was silly. So I agreed it'd be more economical and fun if she picked me up at the airport. I had to fly from San Francisco California. She was going to drive from a town outside Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The funeral was in a small town outside of Pilot Virginia. The plan was for her to meet me towards the end of her drive at a small airport in Roanoke. There was no decent hotel in Pilot, so I told her I'd booked two rooms in Christianburg. She reminded me the funeral was to be after the church service on Sunday. She was well aware I never retained any of the timing details; so she made sure I'd booked all three days Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, November 13th
~ Bert ~
My flight arrived in Roanoke shortly after noon Friday. I always pack light and never check bags, so I was out front within a couple of minutes after landing. I called her when I reached the parking lot. She was on her way but was running a little behind schedule and my plane had been just a tad early. By the time she got there I'd taken off my jacket and rolled up my sleeves. Even though it was late fall, it was Indian Summer in the south this year. I'd expected it to be warm, but it was even warmer than I'd thought.
Putting my small overnight bag and suit roll in the back seat, I said, "Hey, Sis, this weather is crazy".
She nodded her agreement and said, "The A/C in the car is out, but we've been using the heat at home."
"So, was it a bad drive?" I asked.
"No, I don't mind driving and it'll be good to have some time away from Tony for a while," she said.
I never liked him, but I didn't say so at that moment. Instead, I tried to remain upbeat.
There is going to be enough grieving later,
I thought. "It is awesome to see you. It has been like five years".
"Yeah, well you moved out to California when you took that research position," she seemed upset.
"We both moved away Beth; I just moved farther and into a better climate." Smiling all the while I changed the subject. "You look great, you must have kept up with your swimming."
"Bert, what are you buttering me up for, this is a funeral we're going to you know?" her demeanor was unchanging.
"I love you and wish things were better in your life." I just couldn't understand the semi-hostile attitude I was getting. I started to suspect things were worse than what little I had heard. We were really the only two on our side of the family left. Our mother had passed when we were teens and our dad died about five years after that. Our aunt had taken care of us off and on as we grew up. Nan was the one that had caught us playing doctor in fact. "How are your kids doing? That Brian was sharp as a tack when I was up there." Brian was her oldest son, he was born just as I started in Medical School. "What is he, eleven now?"
"He is the bright spot in my life, Bert. He is getting A's and B's in all his classes. I think he's going to college with all the extra stuff he's doing at school and even in the community helping folks. He reminds me of you in a lot of ways."
I had gone to see her and the new baby Brian just after he'd been born. I'd been to see them off and on over the years, but after my taking the position at the research hospital, I had neglected them. The work was demanding but I was also busy with my daughter and wife. We were expecting our son next month. "I am sorry I haven't been back to see y'all," I finally said.
"I'm sorry too. I have missed being able to talk. You always used to cheer me up, big brother."
The undertone of what she'd said spoke volumes.
Used to cheer me up.
It'd always been like that when we were young, I had always cheered her up. We played all the time. There were days spent time doing things I liked, trucks in the sand pile or climbing trees. Other days we'd play with dolls or have tea parties. We just did what ever made the other happy at the time. As we grew, it didn't change much really, we just supported each other in whatever the other one was doing. The three year age difference never seemed to be a factor. When I got old enough to drive, I took her with me most places I went. I also made sure she got to all her swim meets and ferried around some of her few friends. All of that changed shortly after our mother got sick.
She continued driving down I-81. We sat in near silence for a while. I was looking out the window and trying to remember the area, but that old saying is very true; you can never really go home again. Beth looked kind of distant too, so I let the peace continue unabated. There would be time to talk at the hotel and there was some kind of tension. We were always best friends. I figured our time apart may have changed all that. Although, I'm a total social misfit, so that could have been it as well.
When we came to the hotel, I got out and went inside to see where the rooms were. They had put us in adjoining rooms on the second floor. I couldn't remember if I'd asked for that, but it was nice. The lady at the front desk looked familiar and I kept trying to put a name to that face. After scanning my credit card, she handed me the card-keys for each room and told me it would be best to park at the end and the keys will get us in to the building. Finally, looking at her name tag, I said, "Thanks, Alice." Having the name didn't do my memory any better, so I just chalked it up to the familiar yet different surroundings.
Back out at the car, I noticed Beth looked tired. I couldn't quite tell but she might have been crying. In any case I told her, "The nice lady, Alice, at the front desk told me we should park down at the end." So we pulled out of the arrival area and down to the end of the building. I got my jacket, travel bag and suit roll. She had several items in the hatch of her Escape.
"Do you want me to get some of those?" I asked.
