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“Yep. I told Missy we’d spend time with Ayla and give her a break before we have to leave again.”
The next few hours flew by. Soon, Felicity was putting on her beautiful black dress and fashioning her hair into a loose knot on the back of her head. She added pearl studs to her earlobes and a matching necklace. Instead of heels, she chose black flats that would be more comfortable in the outdoor setting.
When she looked in the mirror, her face was pale, but she felt at peace. It was nice that her father had friends who cared enough to do a memorial service. Maybe her uncle would introduce her to a few of them.
Wynn and Felicity arrived at the campground half an hour before the service, but people were already gathering. Uncle Danny greeted her with a hug, his leathery face wet with tears. “I’m sorry, Felicity. I wish I could have done something more.”
“You were there with him,” Felicity said, hugging him back. “That’s what matters.”
Oddly, her uncle didn’t encourage chatting with the mourners. He led Felicity and Wynn to a spot on the front row. “We’ll start in a few minutes,” he said.
The service lasted just under an hour. Six people spoke, in seemingly random order. Felicity got the impression the eulogizers were folks who liked having an audience and liked her father. Anyone who had the urge to honor him was allowed to talk.
All the speeches carried a similar theme. Felicity’s father had been a good guy who enjoyed helping people.
Finally, it was over. Now Uncle Danny did introduce Wynn and Felicity to their fellow mourners. She shook hands and murmured her thanks.
One woman hung back until the small crowd dissipated. She looked oddly familiar.
When she approached Felicity and Wynn at the end, she had a strange expression on her face. She was midsixties with bleached blond hair and a tattoo of a cocker spaniel on her upper arm. Her sleeveless top bared skin that had been baked in the Florida sun for decades. She wore faded cargo pants and flip-flops.
“Hey, Felicity,” she said, her manner diffident. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m your mom.”
