Abandoned Souls

by Marianne Spitzer

  Taylor also dressed in a simple black dress, and Hunter wore a navy blue suit and tie. All three were ready, but Kellie held back when it was time to leave.

  “I know I have to do this, but I’m not sure if I can handle seeing him in a casket and his mom’s grief.” She took a deep breath and climbed into the car. “We can go. I owe it to Randy.”

  #####

  Hunter pulled into the parking lot and stopped near the doors to drop off Taylor and Kellie. “It’s a relief they are having the funeral here. I think it will be easier for Mrs. Jensen. No one is comfortable at funerals.” She climbed out of the car and walked as slowly as possible to the doors of the church.

  Andrea and Cole were waiting outside. The five friends walked inside together. Kellie stopped and stared at the front of the church. She could see a mahogany casket surrounded by more flowers than she had ever seen in one place. Everyone in the county must have sent flowers. As she walked closer, she noticed a basket similar to the one she ordered sitting on a small stand directly next to the casket.

  She whispered to Taylor, “I think Randy’s mom had the flowers I sent placed right next to Randy. I wish I could sit down, but we should speak to Mrs. Jensen first.”

  Kellie approached the casket, and her breath caught when she saw Randy lying there in a new blue suit that would have accented his eyes, if they were open. The thought of never seeing his eyes again brought tears to her own.

  Sue turned toward her and Kellie said, “Mrs. Jensen, I don’t have the words to tell you how sorry and sad I am.”

  Sue Jensen threw her arms around Kellie and hugged her tightly. When she released her hug, she took Kellie’s hand. Kellie followed her to a group of people Kellie didn’t know. “Mom, Dad, everyone, this is Kellie the love of Randy’s life. They were just about to become engaged. She’s a lovely girl.”

  The group of strangers encircled her offering condolences and introducing themselves. She’d never remember all the names except for Randy’s grandparents. They insisted she should call them Grandma and Grandpa Hammond. After receiving several more hugs, she found her friends and sat in the second row of pews.

  “I feel like such a fake. Mrs. Jensen had my flowers placed closest to Randy, and his grandparents want me to call them grandma and grandpa. How can I do this? It’s a lie.” She dropped her head. “I’m going to go to hell for deceiving these people at a funeral.”

  “No,” Hunter whispered, “hell is what you will cause if you tell them the truth now. It appears to bring them comfort knowing Randy had you in his life. It’ll ease their grief. Let it be.” He reached for her hand, and she nodded.

  “Okay, but I need a vacation after this. What if I run into these people in town? I wouldn’t know what to do or say.”

  #####

  “Kellie.” She heard a soft voice whisper her name. Looking up, she saw one of her college friends, Marilyn Price.

  “Marilyn, what are you doing here?” Kellie stood, and they hugged. Taylor hugged Marilyn, too. All three had attended classes together. Marilyn remembered Cole and Hunter, too. They insisted she sit with them.

  “Randy’s construction company is known all over this part of the state and they ran an article and his obituary in our local newspaper. When I saw you were engaged to him, I had to come.”

  “You live nearly two hours from here. It was so sweet of you,” Kellie said.

  #####

  Sue Jensen approached Kellie and handed her a piece of paper. “Would you read this at the funeral tomorrow morning? It was Randy’s favorite.”

  “Of course,” Kellie said without looking at the paper. As Sue walked away, Kellie glanced at the words. It was the Twenty-third Psalm. It was also her mother’s favorite. She knew it by heart and read it at her parent’s funeral. She took a deep breath and thought, I can do this. I owe Randy that much.

  Pastor John walked to the pulpit and the service opened with a prayer. Chris followed Pastor John, slowly making his way to the pulpit, and giving Randy’s eulogy. It was heartbreaking, and Sue could be heard sobbing.

  Kellie fought her tears but lost. Taylor and Andrea held her hands. When Pastor John said the closing Amen, everyone walked past Randy for a final goodbye. The next morning the casket would be closed. Kellie’s knees buckled, and Cole caught her.

  He whispered, “I have you, we should leave now. You need some food and rest.”

  Kellie hugged Sue and walked out of the church with her friends.

  Marilyn stopped Kellie. “I want to say goodnight, but I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “I called the motel out on the highway. They’ll hold a room for me.” She smiled at Kellie.

  “You can’t go there. Everyone says it’s falling apart. I have four bedrooms at home. You can come home with me and use the guest room. It would be nice not to be alone, and I guarantee you’ll like it better than a motel.”

  “I’d love that, thanks.” She hugged Kellie again.

  “We’re going to Cooper’s for a light meal, pie, or whatever you’d like. You can ride with us, and we’ll pick up your car on the way home. It isn’t far.” Kellie linked her arm in Marilyn’s and headed for Taylor’s sedan.

  #####

  Kellie and Marilyn settled on Kellie’s sofa, and Kellie explained why they listed her as Randy’s fiancée.

  “I’m sorry you need to pretend to be the fiancée of a man whose funeral you are obliged to attend. Having to read in the morning will be twice as hard,” Marilyn said.

  “Yes, it will, but I’ll get through it. What I need is a vacation where people don’t know me by sight.” She sighed and leaned back.

  “Come stay with me for a while,” Marilyn suggested. “I inherited my grandma’s house. It’s as big as yours except it’s an old farm house. It’s updated and comfy. It sits in the woods on several acres. You’d have peace and quiet. The company would do me good, too.”

  Marilyn explained about her nightmares and the dead would-be burglar she found in her backyard.

  “I’m sorry you’re going through that. It’s frightening. Some relaxing time will do both of us good.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  Kellie agreed. “I need quiet and we can leave right after the funeral. I know my phone will be ringing off the wall. Getting away is the perfect answer.”

  #####

  Kellie woke to the aroma of coffee and waffles. She grabbed her robe and headed to the kitchen. She found Marilyn pulling a fresh waffle out of the waffle iron.

  “Good morning, you didn’t have to make breakfast.”

  “You’ll need the food to keep from fainting this morning, and I love to cook. It reminded me of college when I made frozen waffles in my toaster and brought them to your room to barter for the coffee you, Taylor, and Emma always made. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up Emma’s name. It’s hard to believe she turned out to be a criminal.” She placed the waffles on a plate and set them on the table.

  “Emma was the last person I suspected. I haven’t always made the best choices in people. I thought Drew was Mr. Perfect, and you know how that turned out. It’s why I wanted to slow things down with Randy.” She sat down and pulled a waffle off the stack and set it on her plate.

  “I understand. It’s why I’m still single. When I was only writing articles for the local paper, I had a couple of serious dates, but when my novel took off guys stayed away. One moved away for a better job, and I had hoped we might get serious. He must have had other ideas. I think my success scares them. When I started the second book, I didn’t have time to date. Well, I did, but I didn’t feel up to it. The nightmares began, and I holed up in the house.” Marilyn poured cream in her coffee and stirred it while staring out the window.

  “As part of our peace and quiet, we’ll make sure we go out and tear up the town a few times,” Kellie smiled.

  Marilyn laughed. “That’s a plan.”

  #####

  An hour l
ater, Kellie and Marilyn placed their suitcases in the back of Marilyn’s car and drove to the church. Kellie glancing at her watch hoped they would arrive a bit early. “I wish I could sit and hide in the back pew, but I have to read, so I need to ask Pastor John where to sit.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Marilyn said. She pulled into the parking lot. A few cars were parked near the church. Kellie stared at the trees. Some of them were beginning to bud, and the few fall leaves that survived under the winter’s snow blew in the breeze. The nearly empty trees matched her heart at the moment. She felt numb. Watching a loose leaf skitter across the blacktop brought her back to the church as Marilyn shifted into park.

  Kellie climbed out of the car and stood looking at the church. The stained glass windows were breathtaking. The stairs to the front doors caught her eye. Eight cement steps leading to sorrow. Might they have been the steps leading to joy if she had said yes to Randy? Guilt washed over her again as the steps made her feel cold and alone. Her knees were shaking. Marilyn’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  “Taylor and Hunter are here. With all of us, you’ll be fine.” She reached for her hand, and Kellie held it tight.

  Kellie’s eyes searched for refuge, but all she saw was the vast, cold blacktop of the parking lot. A few more cars had arrived. People dressed in black. She said, “It’s too much like my parents funeral. I don’t know if I can do it.”

  Taylor heard her and replied, “If it is too hard, we’ll go home. Hunter can tell them you’re ill. It wouldn’t be a lie. You’re pale and shaky. People will understand.”

  “No, I owe it to Randy. I have to attend.” She began to walk to the church with Taylor on one side and Marilyn on the other.

  #####

  Pastor John’s assistant suggested Kellie sit in the front row near the pulpit. She’d have a shorter walk when it was her turn to read. Her friends had her sit at the end of the pew. She wouldn’t have to move past them all to get up. However, she sat directly across from Randy’s casket. She silently said a prayer of thanks that it was closed.

  Kellie did her best to listen, but the guilt she felt made her mind travel in more directions than she could count. She kept thinking “what if.” The more she told herself to stop, the louder her thoughts became.

  When Pastor John introduced Kellie, her hands were shaking along with her knees. She walked to the pulpit and turned to face Randy’s family and friends. Randy’s mom was quietly sobbing again, his grandmother was wiping tears from her eyes, and Kellie thought his grandfather might have a heart attack any minute.

  Her throat was dry. She laid the paper on the pulpit. She could see the casket out of the corner of her eye. She knew the Psalm by heart and closed her eyes just before she spoke. She saw Randy’s blue eyes. The next thing she saw was Taylor bending over her and Cole picking her up.

  “What happened?” Her eyes were trying to focus.

  “You fainted,” Taylor said. “We’re taking you home.”

  Cole carried her out of the church. She asked him to set her on the steps to get her bearings.

  He agreed, but said, “Wouldn’t you be better off at home?”

  As Kellie began to feel better, she said, “No, I can’t go back home. There’s the burial and luncheon. I have to attend.”

  “No, you don’t. You’ll faint again. I know you, and you’re at your breaking point. You need to rest,” Taylor insisted.

  Hunter added, “Go with Marilyn. Taylor, Cole, Andrea, and I will go to the burial and luncheon. We’ll explain Marilyn took you home because you weren’t feeling well. It isn’t a lie. Go on vacation. Leave now. I have everything to take care of Rufus. Please, I don’t ever want to see you lying on the floor again.” He helped her to her feet and hugged her.

  “Maybe you’re right. I need that vacation. I’ll leave with Marilyn now. Call me whenever you want to talk. Please tell Mrs. Jensen I’m sorry.”

  Her friends watched her walk to Marilyn’s car. The car left the parking lot heading toward the highway.

  “I hope she’ll be okay,” Hunter said.

  Andrea replied, “I think she will if she can put it behind her and enjoy some peace and quiet.”

  Chapter Five

  Twenty minutes into their drive, Marilyn pulled into a convenience store/gas station. It appeared clean, and both she and Kellie hoped the restrooms would be as well kept.

  Needing to change from their depressing black dresses they grabbed the duffle from Marilyn’s trunk. Hurrying into the rest room, they pulled on jeans and sweaters. The black dresses disappeared into the duffle, and they were on their way again.

  Kellie brought up the funeral. “Do you think it was okay for me to leave that way? Mrs. Jensen is most likely angry with me.”

  “How well do you know her?” Marilyn asked.

  “I met her once a few weeks ago. Randy said she seemed to like me.” Kellie slid down in the seat. “I doubt she will now.”

  “That could be a good thing for both of you. Avoiding each other will keep you from discussing Randy. Also, Taylor was right. You needed to leave. When you were standing at the pulpit, you looked the way you did at your parent’s funeral. I was worried you might faint.” Marilyn said flipping on her turn signal and pulling onto a smaller highway.

  #####

  Thirty minutes later Marilyn pulled onto a road that disappeared into the woods. Five-hundred feet further down the small road, she pulled up in front of the old but beautifully maintained farmhouse. Painted a soft yellow with white shutters, flower boxes, and a wraparound porch, it sat in the midst of the woods. It reminded Kellie of a house from a fairytale.

  “The house is as lovely as I remember,” Kellie said.

  “I forgot you visited my grandma once when we were in college and we spent the weekend at my parent’s house.”

  “I nearly forgot, too. We were supposed to housesit while your parents were out of town, but we didn’t stay home much,” Kellie smiled at the memory.

  “No we didn’t,” Marilyn smiled back. “I think you’ll like the updates I made. The city incorporated the land around here from the town when a developer wanted to build a new subdivision down the hill to the north. Of course, my taxes went up, but my services remained the same. I showed up at a city council meeting and threatened to get a lawyer if they didn’t add city services to my property.” Marilyn pulled her suitcase from the trunk.

  “Good for you, did it work?” Kellie followed Marilyn up the porch steps.

  “It sure did. Since the development is close, it wasn’t too much of an expense to bring natural gas and city sewer and water up here. I already had the electricity and phone cables buried when the development was under construction. I was happy to have the propane tank removed. I have a better view of the back gardens now. We should go in unless you want to sleep on the porch?” Marilyn said as she unlocked the door.

  “Wow,” Kellie said when she walked in the parlor. “You did update. The place is pretty and comfy.”

  “It didn’t take much. A little more paint, a little less floral wallpaper, new furniture, and a new room. I haven’t changed the upstairs so you’ll have to sleep in a floral wonderland.” Marilyn smiled, and her blue grey eyes sparkled when she teased Kellie about the bedroom.

  After preparing and enjoying a warm meal, Marilyn and Kellie decided to turn in early. The stress of the day had worn on Kellie.

  Marilyn helped Kellie settle in and walked to her room. She undressed, lay down on her bed, and was asleep in minutes.

  #####

  Kellie had another nightmare of Randy falling and not being able to help him. She woke with a start and sat on the edge of the bed. Moonlight lit the room, but not enough to allow Kellie to see the time on her watch. Light streamed in the window next to her bed, and she walked to the window to check the time.

  Looking out the window at the quiet wooded area, she was happy she decided to visit Marilyn for a while. The direction she was observing led to the old cemetery that bordered M
arilyn’s property.

  She began to turn and head back to bed when a light caught her eye. It was far enough in the woods to be someone walking through the cemetery. She wondered who would be out there at this time of night. Maybe kids, but it’s nearly four in the morning. I hope it isn’t someone headed for the house.

  She walked to Marilyn’s room and knocked on the door. “Door’s open, Kellie. Come on in. Is something wrong?”

  “I’m not sure, but since you had an intruder I thought the person walking through the woods might be a problem.”

  “What?” Marilyn jumped out of bed and ran to the window. She saw the light bouncing and moving back and forth as if someone was working their way through the woods toward the house. “It’s not important enough to call 911, but I’m going to watch it. If whoever that is comes on the property, I’ll call immediately.” She pulled on her robe hoping to stop the chill she felt run down her spine.

  “I’ll watch with you. I wonder if it’s someone taking a shortcut or up to no good. Isn’t the old cemetery in that direction?”

  “Yes, it’s also where they found me when I was kidnapped.”

  “I could never understand that either. Why would the man who kidnapped you just let you go and walk into the sheriff’s office and turn himself in and tell them where you were?”

  “No one ever figured that out and he died in prison without ever saying. It’s a creepy mystery. It caused me years of nightmares.”

  “I can imagine. The light faded. It’s good you left all the outside lights burning. We can see anyone who comes close, but with the light I doubt they will.”

  After thirty minutes of watching without seeing anyone, they went back to bed, but decided to investigate the area in the morning.

  #####

  The morning broke bright and sunny. Kellie could see the cemetery, mausoleums, and the brick bridge clearly from the second floor bedroom. It hadn’t rained or snowed in days, and she decided she wouldn’t need boots to walk through the woods. Her jogging shoes would work, and she slipped them on and went down to the kitchen.