“You look better now, though.”
Ew.
“Real good.”
Please go away. “Thank you.”
“Better than good,” he clarified. “You…wow. And a doctor? Just wow. Beauty and brains.”
“Thank you,” Saga repeated, trying to emphasize the finality of the word and that she was not open to continuing that aspect of the conversation.
A moment passed before Elis leaned in and whispered, “This is where you say I also look good.”
“I don’t want to lie, we’re in a church.”
“Wow,” said Elis flatly, leaning back on his heels.
“You do look like you’ve had too much sun lately. I have some lotion in my bag if you start to peel,” she offered.
His hand clapped against his heart in dramatic mock pain. “I see. Lying is off the table but mortally wounding a man in church, that’s in good taste?”
“Good taste? You’re trying to pick up a woman half your age at your mother’sfuneral.” Saga returned the volley without hesitation.
Elis pursed his lips. “Touché.” He stood up straight and straightened his tie. “So you’re saying I should wait until the cocktail hour to ask for your number?”
Gross. Though it might prove useful to the investigation. “I can’t promise time is going to change my answer.” Turning away, Saga saw Avery approaching them and relief flooded her senses. “Ah, Elis, allow me to introduce you to my partner, Detective Inspector Avery Hemlock. Avery, this is Elis Goff, Eira’s son.”
Elis glanced between them. It wasn’t entirely clear if he was more taken aback by the title of Detective Inspector or “partner.”
Avery extended a hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sir, I am deeply sorry for your loss.”
Elis cleared his throat. “Pleasure,” he returned in a mumble beforenodding politely and excusing himself to sit. “I believe the ceremony is about to…”
“Charming fellow,” Avery mused with a cryptic grin. “You think I scared him away?”
“Oh no,” said Saga. “I don’t think we’re that lucky.”
The two took a seat behind Leigh and Reza as a smartly dressed man in his late thirties with prematurely silvering hair in a sharp suit and glasses walked to the front of the chapel.
“Good morning,” he greeted the group, who echoed back the salutation. He cleared his throat and struggled with a smile. “On behalf of the late Eira Goff, I would like to welcome you all. My name is Reese Bowen, and I have been charged to handle her estate in her absence. Today we mourn the loss, but more importantly celebrate the life of a great woman. A few close to Eira have prepared something to share, from there we will invite any to share their own stories or memories of Eira, and to close, I will read from a letter Eira wrote for this day.”
Leigh stood, a folded piece of paper in one shaking hand, a handkerchief clutched in the other. She positioned herself in front of the altar. Her usual presence seemed muted, smaller, and it took a moment before she drew her eyes up to look at everyone. “My name is Leigh Hudson,” she introduced herself. Even though she did not speak at her full volume, the vaulted ceilings added to the resonance so she was still heard. “I’m Saoirse’s youngest, and as such Eira was very much a second mother to me. Myownmother…” She faltered. “Can’tbe here today, so I’ll be reading on her behalf.”
“There has never been, nor will there ever be, another Eira Goff.
“She was my sister, my friend, and eventually, my business partner. Her parents, Osian and Mari, took me in as their own simply because they trusted their daughter’s judgment. I would not be who I am or where I am were it not for this phenomenal family. They ensured I was safe, taken care of, and, on more than one occasion, funded my trip home to see my parents at Christmas.
“Eira’s life was a pattern of excellence, empathy, and charity, and with itshe revolutionized the medical world.
“On a smaller scale, she also revolutionized my world. She ensured my wedding day was perfect, she was there for the birth of both of my two beautiful daughters, Audrey and Leigh. She…”
Here Leigh’s voice broke, her eyes welling with tears. She took a deep breath and continued.
“She helped me pick up the pieces when my William passed away too soon, and she was there to help Hudson’s stand on its feet again. I can only hope she felt as equally loved and supported by me when her mother, and later, Heath, passed on.”
Again Leigh paused as her voice tightened and the tears flowed down her cheeks. She tried to dab at her eyes with the handkerchief but it did little to help.
Reza began to stand, but Saga placed a hand on his shoulder and got up instead, moving to stand next to Leigh.
