Page 8 of Little Child Gone (Nikki Hunt #10)
FIVE
Rebecca shivered, clutching her brother’s small hand in hers.
Mama held Rebecca’s other hand while she sobbed into Aunt Elena’s shoulder.
She watched the beautiful mahogany casket being prepared to be lowered into the ground and thought about a conversation she’d had with Daddy after church a few weeks ago.
She’d asked him if he really believed people went to heaven and, if so, did they recognize people they’d known in life? Daddy had smiled and pulled Rebecca onto his lap.
“Of course,” Daddy answered. “Heaven is supposed to be peaceful and happy; I think we all have our own versions of heaven, with all the people we loved waiting for us.”
“But how do they stand to wait so long?” Rebecca asked. “Don’t they get bored?”
Daddy laughed his loud laugh, his dark eyes twinkling. “Time is different in heaven, I think. What seems like an eternity here is just moments in heaven. I think the ones who go before us are probably so peaceful they don’t realize time is passing.”
Her throat ached as Rebecca fought back the tears. Would Daddy be waiting for her when it was her turn? She was young, with so much time ahead of her. What if Daddy forgot about them while he was having fun in heaven?
Cold mist fell on her nose as a soft drizzle began to fall from the gray sky, creating delicate ripples on the sea of black umbrellas on the other side of the grave site.
Daddy had been liked by so many people that his funeral had spilled out from the church into the parking lot, and now the cemetery seemed filled to the gills with living people.
Little Jason sniffled beside her. He still didn’t understand why Daddy was never home. Rebecca didn’t either. Why had the person who killed Daddy decided to drive drunk instead of getting a ride home? Why had Daddy gone to the store that night instead of just waiting until morning?
Over the last few days, Rebecca had heard the adults talking about accidents happening close to home and arguing about things like manslaughter and second-degree murder. She didn’t understand any of it, but she knew it had something to do with punishing the man who’d killed her father.
The priest droned on, talking about how Daddy would be better off in heaven. Rebecca wanted to scream that it was a lie. How could Daddy be better off without them?
Rebecca couldn’t stop staring at the casket, a simple but elegant piece of polished wood where Daddy would be locked away from them forever.
The man who had been her hero, her protector, and her friend was now gone, and Rebecca didn’t know what they were going to do without him.
Memories of his warm smile, his hearty laugh, and the way he would lift her high into the air, making her feel like she could touch the clouds, flooded her mind.
Maybe if she stared at the casket hard enough before it was all the way down, Daddy could still come back.
Rebecca was old enough to know better.
After a few years passed, little Jason would forget Daddy, too. He would never remember how much Daddy loved him, or Daddy comforting them during a storm. One day, Daddy would be more of an idea than anything else.
Her mother’s hand squeezed her shoulder. Rebecca looked up at Mama, the priest’s words a distant murmur, lost in the patter of rain. Mama nodded at her. It was time.
Rebecca struggled not to tremble too much, because she didn’t want to crumple the perfect red rose in her hand. She stepped forward, her boots sinking into the wet earth, pulling her little brother with her. Her small fingers traced the rose petals before she laid it gently on top of the casket.
“Goodbye, Daddy,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain. “I love you.” She nudged her little brother, and he put his rose on top of the casket as well.
With one last look, she stood and returned to her mother’s side.
The world around her seemed a blur, but she felt her mother’s arm around her shoulders, a comforting presence in the midst of her heartbreak.
As they walked away clutching Mama’s hand, Rebecca turned back for one final glance, etching the moment into her memory.
What would happen to them now?